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Author Topic: Review Vienna 24th June  (Read 8945 times)
Ben the piper
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There can be miracles, when you believe!


« on: June 25, 2011, 02:50AM »

So... this was my first concert! Good things and bad things happened. Oh yes and as it's my first review, please be a bit patient Smiley For those of you that don't want to read this whole part below, I've marked the place I start with the actual review of the show. Wink Cheesy


My journey to Vienna starts early Thursday afternoon, after I'd finished my second written exam. I rush home and quickly check the train timetables again. And then I see it, an e-mail from Anthony and he says he'll meet me at the merch table 45 minutes prior to the show! Wow!
The journey was rather uneventful and boring. Well nearly 7 hours in the train.

I finally arrived in Vienna at 11 pm and my brother and his girlfriend Vicky collected me from the station.
The whole of Friday I was excited and also nervous. Time just didn't want to pass. Do you think I could have studied? No chance! Cheesy So I decided to play on my brother's Xbox. But then at last, time to get ready. Had a shower and put on my piper's outfit. It was now 6:45 pm So still half an hour to go before meeting with Anthony. No problem, as it takes only 10 minutes with the tram from where my brother lives. My brother accompanied me.

So and this is were the first bad thing happened. The tram came as planned but half way to the venue there were some technical difficulties. “Ok, don't panic” I told myself. “You've still got enough time”. But slowly we were running out of time... Gosh already 7:10 pm.Huh MOVE YOU STUPID TRAM!!!!! Finally it did but it was already 7:20 pm
So we arrived at the City Hall and I rushed in to get my ticket and then hurried to the merch table. People were staring at me, a lad with kilt and forum buttons? Guess they've never seen anything like it before. Nearly 7:25 p.m. I looked around, no sight of Anthony... I asked the guy at the merch table and he told me that Anthony had just left about 2 minutes ago! NOOOOOOOOO!

I was destroyed! A feeling of emptiness filled my body and I was unable to speak for a while. I missed him... I missed him! This can't be true! Ok now you guys might think this is a bit weird because others feel similar feelings when not able to meet the girls. Well you must consider the fact that I'm a piper as well and it would have been a great experience to talk to someone like Anthony... Besides he extra took time off for this, well yes, private M&G more or less...

So I was standing there at the merch table and the guy said he was sorry. With a heavy heart I bought Anthony's CD, a program booklet and a t-shirt. It was 7:45 pm now. This is when I first looked at my ticket to see where I was sitting. Row 31 seat 7... Not the best seat... (Another bad thing...) As I wanted to go up to my seat something else caught my eye. 3 other lads entered, also with kilts and shirts. I didn't know them but I went over there and we started talking to each other. 2 of the lads also played the pipes in a different pipe band in Austria. Cool!!

So my brother and I took our seats. The kilted lads had seats just a a few rows below us. I was sitting on the right, so band side.

5 more minutes to go... And finally, the lights dimmed...


REVIEW START Cheesy

Ok now I don't know the exact order of the songs but I guess it's always the same in Germany and Austria. I'll talk a bit about every song. Just the things I still remember. The audience was a bit slow and boring but more to that later. They also had the “Two Towers” Cheesy set up with the drums on them.

So first song was Níl Sé'n Lá. The girls come out with candles and everything's dark. An then the tune gets a bit faster and the spotlights show the girls. Yes, I can't believe it! It was amazing to hear them live!! Wow!

Fields of Gold: Lisa has a great voice and I love the way she sings this song... So great!!

The Coast of Galicia: Well Máiréad had the audience going for sure. This song sounds really Spanish. Cheesy Wink

Galway Bay: Chloë came out and introduced the song. And Anthony starts his drones (the ones that make that constant sort of humming sound Smiley) and begins to play. Wonderful. Chloë sings with so much emotion... Beautiful!

Orinoco Flow: I love this song. The CW version of it is fantastic!

My Lagan Love: Lil Lambe started it with a poem and then began to sing. As somebody mentioned in another review I miss Lynn's voice here. I've never heard or seen Lynn live but I know the song with her voice from the CD... Nevertheless Lil Lambe did a great performance!

Tommy Martin gets himself a stool and sits down between the drums. Ok that means time for The New Ground / Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears. The slightly haunting sound of the ullean pipes immediately makes you think of Ireland. Then Chloë comes out and sings the first part. Lisa and Lisa joined in a bit later.

My Heart was home again: I can just say stunning and beautiful...

Granuaile's Dance: “Oh there's that weird fiddler again” I heard my chair neighbour say. I couldn't help but grin. Máiréad really had the audience going on this one! Cheesy Half of the audience started clapping me of course amongst them. And she charges down that stage, jumping around like a lunatic (sorry for saying so Smiley) She must have something on her high heels that gives enough grip! Cheesy

The next song I think was Goodnight my Angel: Not much to say here either... Simply beautiful.

And it continues with Danny Boy: A really great performance too! And for a short time I had to think about my pipes version of it. Smiley

The familiar drum beats to Mo Ghile Mear. What? Already?? I looked at my watch. Indeed, nearly 9 pm? How can this be possible? Well anyway great great song... Cheesy

INTERMSSION We went down again to the merch table, don't know why. Well I wanted to meet Anthony but of course he wasn't there. We did meet two of my brother's mates he studies with.

And the show goes on. Máiréad is on stage and starts to play The Call. I think this song has an even stronger effect on you if you hear it live. Beautiful anyway.

Then the stage is all dark and the girls are standing there. I know which song comes now! I look back to where the spotlights are and yes, I see a familiar silhouette of a piper. Amazing Grace. Anthony walks down the stairs and onto the stage. The second time Tommy falls in with his bagpipes. I'm amazed about Tommy! He plays so many different flutes and pipes!! How long it took him to learn all of them??
Anyway Amazing Grace was... yes amazing Cheesy
Standing ovations from me and the other kilted lads. Cheesy Some other person in our “block” stood up as well but in total we weren't even 10 people. And couldn't be seen from the stage... Sad

Dúlaman: You have to love Lisa Lambe!! Cheesy The song is introduced in German and English and of course she makes the joke with the seaweed which is always good for a laugh! And it didn't fail this time either. She has an amazing voice and as many said before me, she totally owns that song! And the way she moves her arms like seaweed and plays the spoons! Fantastic! Smiley

Walking the Night/Give me your Hand: Also I long to see and hear these versions recorded! They are magnificent and how to explain? Well they touch your heart. Smiley

It's Lisa's turn again with The Moon's a Harsh Mistress. Not much to say here because there isn't much to say. Great job and fantastic voice! Hm I think I'm slowly becoming a Lisaholic as well! Cheesy

Oh yes, Chloë's up next with When You Believe. And I immediately think of my pipes version. Did she see it? What really annoyed me was that the audience suddenly clapped half way through the song. WHAT THE HECK??? Shut up will you! I want to listen to the song!! Thunderous applause for Chloë! And yes, she did the melodramatic part at the end as well. Sat down on the stairs, held her heart and then shouted “Wohoo” and off she was.

Haha the next song made me grin and smile and laugh. At the Céilí. Now I couldn't really believe how much was going on down there! If you follow one of the girls for only 5 seconds then something else happened at the other end of the stage! You don't know where to look. Everyone on stage gets involved in this one which makes it hard to choose yourself! I mean where to look of course. Wink Cheesy This is more like a musical now! Cheesy But I totally loved it! And Chloë, that must be a new record! How did you change your dress so quickly?? Shocked All three of them spinning, jumping and dancing around... Great!!

Ah another Máiréad solo. The Lost Rose Fantasia/The Mason's Apron. Last one got the audience going as well. I was clapping away like mad all the time! Cheesy Even though I still think that would be a great duet with Anthony on his pipes! But nevertheless really stunning! Cheesy

Non C'è Più: Italian eh? Cheesy Wonderful. The pronunciation and everything... I can only say wow!

Wenn Du In Meinen Träumen Bist: Lisa Lambe introduced this one and it was amazing!!! She told the audience to sing along too, I guess some of them did. German is a hard language but the way they sing you'd think they've been talking it for a few years! I'm so impressed! And due to the slow rhythm of this song you can understand every single word.
Clapping and people whistling for a few minutes! The ladies were taken aback (at least they looked like that!) Cheesy

The next song was introduced by Máiréad. Yes I was gaping down at the stage. Luckily it was dark and nobody could see my open mouth. Cheesy She has a really sweet voice. You know you've heard it on videos and so on, but live... Wow! And yes, I'm just too familiar with this song. You Raise Me Up. No, which meant the concert was nearly over. I really enjoyed this song. And guess what? Yes of course my pipes version came to my mind as well for a few seconds. Cheesy
After this song it was like a storm started! Standing ovations from all of the audience. At last!!!! Took them long enough to realize! The clapping and whistling continued for at least 5 minutes. The ladies tried a few times to say something but the audience wouldn't stop. They looked at each other down there like saying: “What shall we do?” Cheesy

Finale/Mo Ghile Mear Encore: Everyone in the audience was now on his/her feet clapping along! Yes that's the CW spirit I wanted to see! Cheesy

Spanish Lady: By now my hands were red and soar from clapping so much but I didn't care! Cheesy It was worth it! And the girls had us clap even more (if it was possible?) Cheesy



So the girls waved good bye and blew kisses. And then they were gone... Wow! What an amazing show!! Cheesy

When we went down into the foyer I could see the people waiting for the M&G. There were quite a few, more than 10, maybe even 20 or so? Not as many as in the USA I'm sure but still... I so wanted to go with them...

Instead I went back to the merch table again because my brother's mates wanted to buy souvenirs Smiley And I was telling them all about CW, everything I knew and the woman at the merch desk was quite amazed how much I knew. But she'd already seen the forum buttons so I guess she knew Cheesy
Anyway she asked me if I had had any luck with meeting Anthony somewhere and I said no.
And then she said the most amazing thing. “You know what, I'll go back stage and see if I can find him for you!” WHAT??? So cool!

But five minutes later she came back alone and said that Anthony was really busy now and didn't have any time. I'm sure he had and of course was disappointed. But I also had (and still have) the feeling that it somehow had something to do with me not turning up earlier. Sad

I thanked the woman and my brother, his mates and I went into an Irish pub to drink a guinnes and then off home. This time the tram wasn't delayed Roll Eyes


Anyway it was an amazing show! Not the best way to start with your first CW concert but it was still a great experience. This may have been my first but there are still many to come! Cheesy
But next time, no free tickets! I want a M&G next time! Cheesy
« Last Edit: June 25, 2011, 02:40PM by Ben the piper » Logged

Dinozzzo
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« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2011, 04:04AM »

It's a great review I'm so sad for you about Anthony Sad ! But next time I'm sure you will meet him Cheesy don't worry ! Cheesy
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dutchfan
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« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2011, 04:32AM »

Ben, what a amazing review......
So sorry that you missed Anthony, next time you will be on time for sure. Congrats on your first show Wink
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Jennifer
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« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2011, 08:34AM »

That was an amazing review! Sorry you missed meeting Anthony! Sad Congrats on seeing your first show! Smiley
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MaryNorth93
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« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2011, 02:53PM »

Great review Ben! The first concert feels amazing doesn't it?  Cheesy I'm sorry that you missed Anthony, but probably there will be another chance  Wink
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Ben the piper
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There can be miracles, when you believe!


« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2011, 03:08PM »

Thanks guys.

Yes the first concert is something special, even though it didn't go entirely as planned... But few things do in real life.

Yes I'm rather frustrated about me missing Anthony. That would have been a great experience, I would have got a signed CD and a few photos with him. And not to forget advices and guidelines from an experienced and world class piper!

I do hope he'll give me another chance someday and that he understands. After all, I can't be blamed for the technical difficulites. And we left early enough.

@Henny: Next time might be in Utrecht! Cheesy If I make it I might see you there? Smiley
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Kaneyoshi
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« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2011, 03:00AM »

Really nice review Ben. I'm glad that you enjoy have got your first amazing show.  Smiley Grin Smiley Grin Smiley Sorry you missed the chance to meet Anthony.
Then on the next show. Wink Cheesy 
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~~~Ready, all to give, so as to feel once again the sun in my heart~~~
dutchfan
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« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2011, 03:22AM »

Thanks guys.

Yes the first concert is something special, even though it didn't go entirely as planned... But few things do in real life.

Yes I'm rather frustrated about me missing Anthony. That would have been a great experience, I would have got a signed CD and a few photos with him. And not to forget advices and guidelines from an experienced and world class piper!

I do hope he'll give me another chance someday and that he understands. After all, I can't be blamed for the technical difficulites. And we left early enough.

@Henny: Next time might be in Utrecht! Cheesy If I make it I might see you there? Smiley

That is my goal Ben, Utrecht, would be great to meet you there , i know Mary will be there she's living nearby. I hope for you that CW will do Italy in the future, it's a beautiful country and i'm sure once they are there , they never want to leave. Wink
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Ben the piper
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There can be miracles, when you believe!


« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2011, 01:07PM »

Thanks Udo. Yes if he gives me the chance again... Undecided

Well got to finish my exams first and then I have to check flight dates, book tickets and so on... Cheesy
Evi will attend the show as well.
Italy... hm well depends what you class as beautiful Henny. Anyway I don't think there are enough Italian fans around? Besides, I more or less live closer to Munich than I do to any other big city in Italy. Unless they perform in Bologna or so, it roughly takes the same time to get there as it does to Munich from my place.
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MikeyK
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« Reply #9 on: July 07, 2011, 11:22PM »

Wonderful first review, Ben! I can see you had the same excitement as I did for my first show. I'm sorry you missed meeting Anthony, but the reaction from the crowd sounded so positive that I'm sure the girls will be back and you'll have another chance to meet him. Congrats on the first show and thanks for sharing your experience!
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