Celtic Thunder in Little Rock

CELTIC THUNDER CONCERT

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

NOVEMBER 6, 2011

I arrived early for the concert but there was already a large crowd in the lobby.  The doors to the auditorium were locked so everyone had to wait which was a boon for the concessions.  I meandered over to a table selling memorabilia and bought a program.  An attractive young lady waited on me.  More about her later.  I noticed that the crowd was about 80% female.  This coincides with the audiences on the Celtic Thunder PBS concerts.  Finally the doors opened and I made my way down to the second row on the aisle.  This was a great seat.  The front row was offset and I had an unobstructed view of the stage.  Eventually, the auditorium filled up.  A lady from the state PBS affiliate went on stage and introduced the show.

 As the lights went down a spotlight hit the stage and three lovely ladies appeared seated at the back of the raised platform that served as the set.  One had a cello, another a violin and the last one a harp.  There was one drummer, a guitarist and a keyboard player.  The first piece was a musical interlude which included fog rolling down the steps at the front of the platform.  Then all the guys came on stage and the mostly female audience went wild.  I thought “this is like the second coming of the Beatles.”  At least no one passed out.  The first song was in Gaelic and was very good. 

Then Emmet Cahill sang a beautiful ballad titled “Kindred Spirits.”  He is the perfect replacement for Paul Byrom.  He really nails the ballads.  Next came Keith Harkin with a pretty ballad of his own, “The Dutchman.” The ladies went wild with applause.  Keith has an innate ability to traverse back and forth between ballads and pop music.  After that violinist Nicole Hudson came down to the front of the stage and played a nice violin solo.  She moved around quite seamlessly and even did a couple of spins.  Neil Byrne then sang another beautiful ballad, “Noreen.”  Well, if the ladies weren't energized enough  Ryan Kelly made his appearance and sang “Black is the Colour.” Nicole sat on the steps of the set and played while he sang.  There was nice interaction between them and once he stroked her hair.  Ryan has a definite theatrical flair in all of his presentations.  Again, the audience went wild.  Then the newest and youngest member of the group, Daniel Furlong sang “Over The Rainbow.”  He still has a child's voice and it was one of the best solo renditions of that song that I have heard.  Everyone was charmed. 

The next three songs were Irish pub songs and all the boys joined in.  Then Neil sang “Past The Point of Rescue” which was popularized by country artist Hal Ketchum.  But Neil's version had more of a pop music tone  and was quite good.  Keith then followed with a hard driving rock tune and really wore out his guitar.  All the boys joined in on “Galway Girl” to end the first act. 

Earlier just before the show started the young lady that sold me the program walked down the aisle and sat in front of me.  During intermission people kept coming up to her asking to have pictures taken with her and complimenting her on her music.  She complied with all who approached her.  I had the opportunity to speak with the lady from PBS and asked her about the girl.  It turns out she was Rebecca Harkin, sister of Keith and a budding musician in her own right. 

Act Two started with the beautiful ballad “Song For The Mira.” All joined in except Ryan who was waiting in the wings and followed that with his famous version of “Desperado.”  Needless to say the ladies were enthusiastic.  George Donaldson then sang “Cat's In The Cradle.”  It sounded so much like Harry Chapin that it was eerie.  Great rendition.  Emmet then sang another fun filled pub song “My Irish Molly.”  Neil sang a great rendition of “She's Always A Woman.”  When the song flowed from the verse to the chorus it was outstanding.  All the boys then joined in with an a capella  version of “Danny Boy.” Then came “Whiskey In The Jar.”  Keith and Neil had great fun with this by singing, running across the stage and firing up their guitars.  The audience went wild.  Next was a fun filled version of “You've Got A Friend In Me”.  Keith sat on the steps playing a tiny guitar while Daniel sang the song and pestered him to no end.  In what may have been the surprise of the evening Ryan then sang the well-known country tune “Friends In Low Places.”  He also played guitar.  The girls went wild.  Move over Garth Brooks.

Next all the boys joined in on a hilarious drinking song.  They took turns staggering and holding each other up.  I never caught the name of that song but the audience loved it.  Next Keith sang the pop tune “All Out of Love.”  Again the girls went crazy.  George followed up with “500 Miles.”  He is a pleasure to watch and listen to.  He involved the audience in the song.  Then Emmet sang the pretty song “This Is The Moment.”  The show was now in the home stretch.  Next came “A Place In The Choir”  which included everyone.  This is highly entertaining and the audience responded in kind.  In a true change of pace next was an instrumental interlude “Dream-Teller/Fantasy.” Harpist Seana Davey came down and danced to the music.  Not being an expert in dance my best description of this is a mix of an Irish jig and ballet.  It was beautiful.  Then came the grand finale “Ireland's Call.”  Everyone left with a feeling of having been truly entertained with an eclectic musical feast.  A great show.  I am not quite a Thunder Head yet but I am getting there.

Hubert Boddie

Ladies of Longford - Columbus, Ohio

I once again had the wonderful opportunity to see Ladies of Longford perform. For those who have not read my previous reviews on Ladies of Longford, let me give you a summary of these talented women. The Ladies of Longford is an Irish group of five women in central Ohio. They are led by Hilda Doyle (vocals, acoustic guitar) who is also the mother of two more members, Stephanie Doyle (vocals, bass guitar) and Heather Doyle Fraser (vocals, percussion-including djembe, shaker, and tambourine). Two more members are Elizabeth Blickenstaff (fiddle) and Molly Pauken (drums, bass guitar), though Molly is currently on tour with another group so she was not at this show.

This was an outdoors show and those familiar with Ohio weather in October, it can change at the moment. It was a cool week with highs in the low 50’s with rain. The day of the show started with rain and I was praying that it would clear up by evening. And it did! I did my usual of getting there early so I could get a good seat which I found front center. The day before the show I shared information about this show on the Facebook pages of the local TV stations in hopes that locals would head on down to hear these women. The crowd rolled in slow which may have been the weather but it did not take long before it was full.

The stage sat next to the river with several levels of cement walls or seats for the audience to sit on. I could see why some brought their own chairs. As I mentioned, I was sitting front center because that is the best seat in the house and I planned to get lots of photos to share with everyone. Prior to the show, Hilda came out and talked to me. We chatted for a bit and she thanked me for coming out in this cold weather. I also got a great surprise. I love this song “Fiddlers Despair” and she said they were going to play it tonight for me. I was so happy. We chatted some more before she had to head back stage to get ready for the show – and a show it was!

Now I admit, I know what I hear and see, but I am not the best when it comes to putting it into written words. When I write reviews on more than one person, I never want to show favoritism toward one over the other, so what I did here is start on stage right and listed them as they were standing on stage.


Hilda Doyle (vocals, acoustic guitar)
The mother of two other members, she plays the acoustic guitar and is a lead vocalist on many songs. When guitar players are discussed, many visualize an electric guitar. But let me tell you, Hilda has that special spark on her acoustic guitar that would put many electric guitar players to shame. It is not hard to hear her sound within each song. She really puts herself into her songs. She moves about the stage as she connects with the other ladies and I think it exhibits great stage presence.


Heather Doyle Fraser
(vocals, percussion-including djembe, shaker, tambourine)
Fabulous Voice!! The first time I heard Heather sing I could just hear the power in her voice. I put Heather’s voice up there with Lisa Kelly and Hannah Waddington. You gotta hear her. I am also very impressed on how she plays her various instruments.Truly a gifted artist.


Elizabeth Blickenstaff (fiddle)
I love the fiddle. I admit that I was one of those who viewed the fiddle as a slow and boring instrument. That goes to show how ignorant I was for so many years. It was not until a few years ago when I started to listen to Irish performers, which includes the fiddle. I realized how unique this instrument is. Some of my favorite songs by Ladies of Longford involve Elizabeth’s great sound. Though I love all her songs, I cannot wait until the CD with “Fiddlers Despair” comes out. I recorded this song with my camera and was so upset when the sound was poor. Camcorder next time! I could see Elizabeth on stage with Máiréad Nesbitt, Cora Smyth, Liz Carroll and other great players as Elizabeth ranks right up there with them.

Stephanie Doyle (vocals, bass guitar)
When it comes to electric guitars, I think the bass guitar really adds some of the most creative sounds to any song. I would love to hear Stephanie do a solo as I know she would rock the stage. Though Stephanie plays a bass, I can picture her playing along with Jimmy Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Van Morrison.


 
The Band
As a group and individually, these women are fabulous. I believe three areas excels any group above others. These are talent, interaction with fans and stage presence. Let me tell you, these ladies have it all. First, they are talented! I would support each of these women individually and as a group. As I said in my last review, they come out into the audience and interact with the fans. But they do not stop there. Even on stage they are all smiles and they look out into the audience and talk to us. Very cool! But their stage presence is something we do not see with many groups. They are not just standing up there playing an instrument as if they are in a studio. All four of these women enjoy what they are doing and it is easy to see that they put their heart into not only performing, but they make sure they give the fans 100%. I will repeat myself by saying that Hilda, Heather, Elizabeth and Stephanie are top ranked performers and the main event at any show!!!

In the first half, Hilda mentioned the song “Fiddlers Despair” and said they are playing it for a new fan and mentioned me. Now I knew before the show they were going to play it, but for her to mention it on stage made my heart skip a beat because that was so cool. I even heard someone behind me comment so he must have known the song too. But at the end, it was for everyone because the fans broke out in cheers and I heard many more positive comments. I just wish the sound was not messed up on the video I recorded. Trust me; I will get it next time.

At the end of this show, the seating area was full. Even on this cold night, fans came out to hear these ladies perform. Now I am going to tell you the truth. I was chilly when I got there and wished it was warmer. But, when they started to play, I became totally oblivious to the temperature. That chill was gone. I think I can speak for others when I say that the ladies gave us such a perfect and beautiful show, that the cold weather was no longer an issue.

I took many photos and some videos. I used my digital camera for both and when I got home I found out the sound on the videos was poor. After talking with a friend, I was told that internal microphones can pick up a humming sound from the stage lights. So this week I plan to go buy a camcorder and will make sure to get an external microphone. So I was upset that the sound for Fiddlers Despair and the others did not turn out. Man was I upset! But the next time I see them; I will take my camcorder and will have some great videos to share with you.

So why two reviews within a few weeks? Ladies of Longford has the talent that has placed them in my "favorite artists" group. There are a few artists I would love to go to Ireland to see perform, but I am blessed that I have one right here in Ohio that I will never get tired of hearing them perform.

Again, if you ever see Ladies of Longford performing in your area, go see them. I will even go a step further and recommend traveling to go see them. You will not regret it. In addition to this, each of these ladies also are members of other groups which I will share below, so make sure to watch for these names too.


Lone Raven: Hilda, Stephanie, Heather and Elizabeth
Vinegar Hill: Elizabeth
Grafton Street 5: Stephanie

SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS SHOW
PHOTOS FROM DUBLIN IRISH FESTIVAL (AUGUST)
PRIOR REVIEW

Poor sound, but if you would like to hear a few videos, check them out
Fiddlers Despair
Heather Singing Slow Melody

Sharon Corr and Oxfam Ireland

Oxfam Ireland Unwrapped is a program to help supply needed items to those in poverty so they may have a better life. What makes this program better than others is that it provides them with the resources to move forward and have a future. This is accomplished by providing them with drinking water, seeds to plant vegetables and fruits, a cow for milk and chickens for eggs. The gifts are developed locally so that in turn helps the local economy.

Donate To Oxfam Ireland

 

Ladies of Longford - Brynes Irish Pub (Columbus)

Last night I went to a local Irish pub in Columbus called Brynes Irish Pub to see the Ladies of Longford perform for my second time. I do not drink any more so my only purpose to come to the Pub was to see these ladies perform again. The first time I got the chance to see them, or even hear of them, was at the Dublin Irish Festival (DIF) in August.  I planned to get there early enough to get a seat near the front which was about an hour before the show would start. When I arrived the front seats were already taken because this night was also a Buckeye’s game as some were there to see both. So I just located a stool and sat off to the edge of the stage but still a great view.

The Ladies of Longford are five women with great talent. They are led by Hilda Doyle (vocals, acoustic guitar) who is also the mother of two more members, Stephanie Doyle (vocals, bass guitar) and Heather Doyle Fraser ( vocals, percussion-including djembe, shaker, tambourine). Two more members are Elizabeth Blickenstaff (fiddle) and Molly Pauken (drums, bass guitar), though Molly was not at this show.

I believe one great quality about any artist is how they interact with fans. I noticed all four women moving around the audience talking with fans which I thought was cool. Before the show I had a chance to talk to Elizabeth briefly and then got to meet Hilda who I have communicated via emails before this show and shared my photos from the DIF. We talked more about the group and Lone Raven, who a few of these ladies has also worked with. Hilda introduced me to her husband, Francis Doyle, and he was also a very polite person.

Since I am a new fan I am still learning all their songs. Some I recognize and some are new to me. Let me say that Ladies of Longford plays Irish/Gaelic music but also does many tracks that are not Irish. So in my opinion, if you love listening to any type of music, you will love Ladies of Longford.

I will be honest, I did not hear a single song that I did not like. They performed The Devil Went Down To Georgia and added a nice twist to it and the audience loved it! I was watching Elizabeth on the fiddle and her fingers were moving like lightening. On top of that, I did not hear her miss a note. They did another song where she also had a very fast pace on the fiddle and again – perfect. Believe me, she can play!!

Now Hilda, Heather and Stephanie all had songs where they sang lead vocals. Each has their own sound and though this was only my second time to hear them play, I could hear an audio now and know which one is singing. That is how unique the voices are for each of them. Hilda also plays the acoustic guitar and anyone can tell she puts her heart into it. She had some of those strings just vibrating away. Stephanie plays the bass guitar and I admit that I have not seen many women play the bass but Stephanie has my vote for being totally awesome. Heather held center position on stage as she would sing and play her many instruments. But watching her play the djembe drum was a show in itself. She would give it her all with a big smile on her face. They sang this one slow melody toward the end that was so beautiful. The guy sitting next to me took out his lighter and had it lit like many have done at concerts in the past.

Brynes does not have a dance floor but some did not let that stop them. It was cool to see some couples get up and dance to their songs. Elizabeth did this one song and I noticed MANY people from the other room come over because she is just that good. I was sitting next to a doorway and I heard some comment on how great she is on the fiddle. After the first break I found a seat so I had a view of all the doorways. Many times I would again see people from the other room come over to hear certain songs. Seriously, when the audience is that receptive that they dance, lite their lighters and come from another room because the songs caught their attention, then these ladies are doing something right,.

I love Irish music and think the fiddle and bag pipes have a sound that stands above all other instruments. But the Bodhran and the djembe drums can bring the quality of a song up several notches when played with passion such as Heather can do. During break I had a chance to talk with Hilda some more as I purchased four of their CD’s. I already bought one at the DIF so I only needed the other four. They even autographed one of them for me. Now I have the complete collection. Hilda went to do something so I talked to Heather for a few minutes. She was also so kind. I asked her how they came up with the name Ladies of Longford and she told me her grandfather was an immigrant from Longford County in Ireland. After the last set I went up and thanked Hilda and her husband for a great show. I do regret that I did not get a chance to meet Stephanie so I will make sure to say “Hi” to her the next time I see them perform.

So what are my personal thoughts? These ladies are very talented, Point said!! Now I am not sure how far they travel, but I think they are all form central Ohio. But they have the sound that would make them an international group. I will see them again and I recommend that if you ever see the Ladies of Longford on any entertainment list, GO SEE THEM. I promise that you will love them!!

If you would like to read what I mentioned when they performed at the DIF, scroll down my blog to the Dublin Irish festival dated August 7, 2011. You may also see the pictures from that show at Dublin Irish Festival

Here are a few links to samples from their web site so you can hear them.

http://www.hildadoyle.com/summerfly.mp3.mp3

http://www.hildadoyle.com/Puirt.mp3.mp3

http://www.hildadoyle.com/time.mp3.mp3

Please check out their web site and sign up for their newsletter so you will know when they come to your area.

http://www.hildadoyle.com/TheLadies.htm

http://www.hildadoyle.com/Lobby.htm

Next Columbus Show: Waterfire on October 1, 2011 (Behind COSI) 

Hope to see you there

See Waterfire Web Site For More Information

Celtic Woman "Believe"

Máiréad Nesbitt. Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe and Chloë Agnew just completed recording their next DVD titled “Believe” at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. For those who were able to take part of this recording, I know you will always remember it. 

Believe will be their 2012 tour with tickets going on sale later this year. Make sure to check with your local PBS station for their fundraiser schedule if you want to obtain a meet and greet pass. Most start around Thanksgiving, but do not wait until the last minute because meet and greet passes go fast. 

I have posted a few pictures and reviews of the recording on Pixie Land, so check it out. 

Celtic Woman Believe Review

Irish Fair of Minnesota

A friend recently attended the Irish Fair of Minnesota and took some great photos of The High Kings and The Outside track. You may visit the fair’s web site here http://www.irishfair.com/content/

Thank you Destiny for your great photos.

The High Kings

http://www.thehighkings.com/

The Outside Track

http://www.theoutsidetrack.com/

New Directions Of Blog

Since I became a fan of Celtic Woman I have found a new love for music. Before Celtic Woman I never listened to Irish music but now I realize how much I have missed. I know that I still have a lot to catch up with, but I am getting there. So I have decided to change the direction of my blog to cover Irish music. But the fact is there are many groups that may not be Irish decent but still very talented with Irish music and dance. So I will also include them as they are equally gifted. 

I already started to include some in the right margin and plan to add more. If you know of any, feel free to let me know.

If you have something you would like to share, let me know and I can place in in my blog for you.

Thank you

Dublin Irish Festival - 2011

The Dublin Irish Festival is an annual event held in Dublin, Ohio which is right outside of Columbus. This three day event is claimed to be the second largest Irish festival in the world. The music performers are local, national and even from Ireland. One can not only listen to music, but also take in world champion Irish dancing, Irish education on music and history and Irish food. This is my second year attending the DIF and I look forward for next year already. I will share with you some of the performers that I had the chance to see, but this is not the complete list that was actually there.  Also, I will share a few pictures here, but if you go to the link provided, you can see more pictures of each performance that I mention here. This year I did not get to watch many of the Irish Dancing like I did last year so I do not have many photos of that. There are also groups that I heard but not mentioned here. I listened to one guy play “Wipeout” on the fiddle. He really made it sound great.

See all photos

http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac156/maireadnesbittpixieland/2011%20Dublin%20Irish%20Festival/

The Ladies of Longford

I am going to start with this group because they are one that I went in knowing nothing about and came out as a fan. It consists of five women and they can play. I was really impressed the moment I started to hear them play. Though they all participated as backup singers to all the songs, three of them also had their own songs as a lead vocalist. The mother, who I believe has two daughters in the group played the acoustic guitar and sang, One daughter also played the congo drum and sang. The other daughter sang and played the bass guitar. I am not sure of the fiddle players name and the one on the site is not the one I saw here. This lady is blonde and she performed a song titled “Fiddlers Dispair.” She was magnificent on this song. After the show when I went to purchase a CD, I wanted the one with that song but was told it was not released yet. Well, I will be watching for it. The drummer who I believe is Molly, was also awesome. But the last song she came out and played the bass guitar and just blew me away. Needless to say, this group has my vote and I will make every effort to see them perform every time they come to my area. Please check out their sites.

http://www.hildadoyle.com/TheLadies.htm

http://www.myspace.com/ladiesoflongford

Tartan Terrors

I saw this group last year and was impressed and made sure to see them again this year. Their bagpipe player is a two time world champion player and I can see why. Very talented group with a sound that I think is unique. They are very interactive with the audience and have no problem speaking directly to a specific fan in the audience. They also are comical. They love to tell stories and joke with the fans around the world. It is all is good taste and the fans seemed to enjoy it.  But their sound is not what I call Irish rock but they do have a fast and upbeat sound to them. Another great point about Tartan Terrors is that a portion from all CD sales goes to breast cancer research. They mentioned last night that over $100,000 has already been donated.

http://www.tartanterrors.com/

Liz Carroll

I have heard of Liz many times but never sat down and listened to her music. In all the pictures I have seen of her see always looked so serious. Liz is the first Irish/American to be nominated for a Grammy which I thought was cool. Before every song she would share a story and tell us about the song. Liz was full of smiles and very interesting to hear her talk and play. She has a young gentleman travelling with her that does some tapping to specific songs. She told us that awhile back she was doing a show and saw this young boy off to the side dancing away to the music. He impressed her enough that today he is now dancing right alongside of her and has created his own style of dance and tap. Her music was beautiful and I think her warm personality added to her wonderful sound.

http://www.lizcarroll.com/fr_home.cfm

Moya Brennan

Another warm and talented artist. Moya has a voice that would awe any person who could hear. She did a version of “She Moved Through The Fair” that was so angelic. I admit that other than Moya, Orla Fallon is the only one I have heard sing this but the styles were on total different ends of the spectrum. Moya had a keyboard player that echoed a slow, inviting sound that just added that special touch to the song. So who do I think did a better version. I love Moya and Orla’s version because as I said, two distinct styles. Moya also did her own version of Dulaman. But Moya went into details about the song and the seaweed. It is about one who sells seaweed and one who buys it. The guy who buys the seaweed was in love with the daughter of the one who sold it. He wanted to buy her things but she and her father were not impressed with this. When you look at the photos, you will see a woman playing the guitar. This is Moya’s daughter. For those who remember her first cd and the baby on that CD are one and the same. Yes, this is her daughter today all grown up.

http://www.moyabrennan.com/

Gaelic Storm

What can I say. This group rocks!! This is my second year hearing them perform. Gaelic Storm is the DIF main performer and they fill the tent to the maximum. It was a hot night and there is no sitting when you watch them unless you go way outside the tent. So you can imagine everyone shoved in like sardines on a hot and muggy night. But if you are inside, you will stand! I am not going to say a lot because if you love Irish music, than you know about Gaelic Storm. My daughter went to the festival this night because she has never heard of them and I wanted her to check them out. She left the tent before the last song so she could get us a spot in line to meet them after the show. When I got out there I noticed she already bought herself a CD. So I knew right there that she liked them. While in line I told her about last year when they asked me who was on my shirt (Máiréad Nesbitt). When we got up to them they asked me again. It was funny. I told them that I just was telling my daughter about last year. They had a laugh too and said,. “we are predictable.” I started up a chat with Steve and Jesse than moved down to Pete and Ryan and had problems getting my camera to work right. I got the picture finally. At the end I spoke to Patrick than moved on so others could have a turn. It looked like a long night for them. I believe this was the eleventh year at the DIF so I bet they will be back next year. They did mention they will be back in Columbus around St. Patrick’s day so if you have not seen them – you must!

 

http://www.gaelicstorm.com/welcome.html

 

 

Pixie Land Changes Coming Soon

It has been awhile since I posted a blog and thought it was due time. Máiréad and the other ladies are getting their much needed rest. Time goes fast before they are once again back on the road. I am taking this down time to make changes to Pixie Land and the Máiréad Nesbitt Fan Newsletter, Bow Echoes.

The month of October will bring many new things.

I get many wonderful compliments about Pixie Land but I can see some changes that would make it even better. I am currently rebuilding the whole site from the ground up. This means a new design. Currently the videos are listed by category. But the new site will have them listed by the year. This will provide everyone the ability to watch them in order from the beginning.

I try to include all her music, but some are not on YouTube. What I plan to use is a jukebox that will have the audio of her music that is not on YouTube. In addition to this I want to add iTunes so everyone can download her music from iTunes.

Her biography will include more information from her professional career. As in the past, no personal information will be in her biography. It will always remain on her professional career.

Bow Echoes is a newsletter that started in January of this year. But these few issues were more of an experimental issue so I can see how to really make this the best newsletter on Máiréad. This will include a new design and look to the newsletter. It will also go public. Up until now, fans had to sign up to receive Bow Echoes. But that will change. It will now be available for all to read. Fans may still sign up which will give them an advantage to have each issue come to their email box. This will give those one step ahead of seeing each issue.

Another change is the name. In October it will be called “Bluelights.” The reason for this change is to make it more familiar with her music. Bluelights is a track from Raining Up so what better connection.

A chat room has been added to Pixie Land and is open to everyone. You may sign up and use it to chat with other fans. Please remember that I am able to go in and view chat transcripts so please keep it on Máiréad and with respect to her and other fans. Scheduled chats will be listed soon.

When you visit Pixie Land, make sure to drop a comment in the guestbook. It is always great to hear what you have to say. 

Other new things will also come in October so please keep watching. I think you will be pleased. I cannot mention them at this time because they are not finalized.

Thank you for supporting Máiréad. She is a wonderful artist and a great asset to humanity. She overflows with compassion for others and shows humility in all she does.

Please continue your support…share her music with a friend today.

CELTIC WOMAN CONCERT, MAY 14, 2011 BOSSIER CITY, LA

I would like to share the second show review from Hubert, Enjoy -

I left home about 3:30 for the nearly 120 mile drive to Bossier City.  It was a clear cool afternoon which is very nice for mid May in this part of the world.  I was returning to the venue where I first saw Celtic Woman live in 2008.  So a lot of thoughts and emotions were stirring around in my mind.  I was returning to a familiar place.  There was very little traffic until I entered the outskirts of the city.  I stopped at a fast food restaurant and got a couple of sandwiches to take to my motel room.  I stopped at the same motel as three years ago.  After I unloaded and got settled I noticed that it was nearly 6:00 P.M.  Since I wanted to leave for the arena just before 7:00, I only had an hour left.  So I ate my sandwiches and changed for the concert.  I departed about 6:50 for the CenturyTel Center which was five and one half miles away.  I drove down to the parkway and turned left along the Red River.  I thought of the severe flooding which plagues Louisiana at the present time but not at this location.  The Red River was well within its banks.  It actually looked inviting with parks along the banks and freshly cut grass.  When I arrived at the arena there were already a lot of cars parked out front.  Although this facility lacks the intimacy of some venues I love the many acres of free parking and the easy access in and out of the parking area.  I went inside and brought along the program that I had purchased at the concert on Wednesday night.  There were a lot of people inside but most were at concession stands or at tables buying Celtic Woman merchandise.  I went on to the front row and sat right in front of the piano where Brian Connor is stationed and Ray Fean's percussion platform is just behind that.  There were already a few people sitting on the first three rows.  Soon I was chatting with with several.  “Where are you from?  How many concerts have you been to?”  The usual dialogue.  I met way too many people.  I cannot remember names when thrust into a situation like that.  I should have had a note pad with me.  A man sat to my immediate left that had not seen the girls live before but had seen the concert from Powerscourt on PBS in recent months.  He was very excited.  Him and some others saw my program and asked where they could purchase one.  I told them that I had brought it with me but to go back to the lobby and they could find a table selling them.  Several times I was tapped on the shoulder and nice people on row two introduced themselves to me and we chatted.  Then a very tall man wearing a Celtic Woman T-shirt arrived and sat to my immediate right.  He was carrying a tote bag which I later discovered was full of goodies.  He recognized several people and vice versa.  So he was tied up in conversation for a long time until he finally got a break and then I spoke with him.  He is Roy Kindred from Houston who travels all over America to see the girls in concert and even attended one in Canada last summer.  We had a nice chat and I soon discovered that his bag was full of Celtic Woman buttons.  When he started handing them out he became even more popular, somewhat of a Celtic Woman Santa Claus.  I received four of them.  What a nice man.  I met a lady named Sandy that is involved with the operation of the Méav Ni Mhaolchatha Forum.  Then the public address announcer said “your concert will begin in five minutes.”  After that I was turned around talking to someone on the second row.  When I turned back to the front there was Ray at his station.  Instinctively I pointed at him and yelled “Ray Fean!”  He laughed and waved back.  Then the first three rows on my side of the center aisle became very loud.  I could almost read Ray's mind:  “There's a rowdy bunch.”  The show was fantastic as usual from “Nil Sen La” to “Spanish Lady.”  Everyone in our section was yelling and clapping.  During the first song Lisa Kelly was on our side of the stage and smiled at Roy and he waved at her.  If I went into all the details about individual songs this review would be ten pages long.  But a few details are warranted.  I told people who had not seen Lisa Lambe before to be prepared for a real treat, especially her rendition of “Dulaman.”  Of course, she blew it out of the park.  Chloe's talent and passion always impress me. Her rendition of “Galway Bay” makes me misty eyed.  But she was also funny.  She talked of them visiting the casinos in the area and the luck of the Irish not applying at all.  She said they were so happy to be in Louisiana using her best Scarlett O'Hara accent.  I love to hear Lisa Kelly sing “Fields of Gold” and “The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.” The ensemble pieces I mentioned in the last review were great of course.  I never cease to be amazed at Máiréad’s talent and energy.  Words cannot describe it.  If “Coast of Galicia” doesn't get you going, then nothing will.  After I returned to my seat during the intermission, I was chatting with someone and then looked up.  There was Ray at his station again.  I pointed at him and yelled “Ray Fean!”  He pumped his fist and then motioned to the audience to start making noise.  I think “The Call” is the perfect start to the second act.  It gets everyone pumped up and in the mood to cheer again.  After another great concert it was time for the Meet & Greet.  Dustin led a long line of people to a conference room off of the lobby.  There were at least 50 people at this M & G.  This is by far the largest group I have ever seen.  I was in the middle of the line.  Then Chloe and Máiréad came into the room.  So I got to see Máiréad twice in succession.  As I approached the table she looked at me quizzically and I said “I met you Wednesday night.”  Then she said “yes, I met you before.”  This time I asked her where all of her energy came from.  She replied “I don't know.”  After hesitating she then said “from the audience.”  Since there is another “Máiréad” in the show I asked her how common that name is in Ireland.  She said it was quite common.  Then Chloë interjected “Máiréad is Irish for Margaret.”  So then I realized that it was a common name.  I chatted briefly with both girls.  I told Chloë that she was the coolest cat in the house.  Dustin was standing by the table and said “thanks.”  I said “no, not you, Chloë.”  Then Chloë said “Dustin is pretty cool also.”  It was great fun but the line was so long that I could not linger.  I left the table and spoke briefly with Roy who was near the back of the line taking pictures.  He said they would be posted on the Celtic Woman Forum.  I thanked him again for the buttons and said that I would probably see him again down the road.

Hubert Boddie

CELTIC WOMAN CONCERT, MAY 11, 2011, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

I would like to share with everyone a review from Hubert who had the honor to see Celtic Woman in Little Rock.

I left home at 3:30 for the 100 mile trek to Little Rock to see Celtic Woman in concert.  This was an hour earlier than last year as I hoped to avoid the traffic jam I encountered then when entering the underground parking garage next to the auditorium.  I stopped at Sheridan to eat at the same Chinese restaurant that I did last year.  With a full stomach I headed on to Little Rock.  I also had the bright idea of approaching from another direction in hopes of avoiding the jam.  Well, none of this worked out very well.  I still encountered a long line heading into the parking area.  But I was an hour earlier and this time there were officers directing traffic which made the whole process much smoother.  I made it into the auditorium and took my front row seat an hour before start time.  I was the only person across the front row at that time.  Soon one of the main personalities from the statewide PBS network stopped and chatted with me.  We talked about Celtic women past and present.  I told her that I wanted to yell “Ray” when he walked up to his percussion platform.  He is usually the first one to get to his station.  I told her not to let anyone kick me out if I did this.  She said it was okay.  Soon two ladies sat down to my immediate left.  They were both from out of town and one had driven further than I to get to the show.  They said they had seen every Celtic Woman concert in Arkansas.  The auditorium gradually filled up.  Lastly, the two empty seats to my right were filled by a lady and her daughter in law both from Little Rock but originally from Wales.  They had also seen the show multiple times.  It was nice to converse with fellow fans.  Then the lady from PBS walked onto stage to introduce the show.  As she finished all the band members walked to their stations at the same time.  I yelled “Ray” but at just that instant the lights went down and I did not get to see his response.  The show was on.  In life's experiences how often do you anticipate an event six months in advance and then the realization actually far exceeds all expectations?  In my life only Celtic Woman meets that criteria.  My sixth concert was definitely the best.  It was the same show as last year but somehow outdid that one.  The girls were in great form and exhibited an energy and enthusiasm that is remarkable considering that they are near the end of a long tour.  The highlight of the show for me was Lisa Lambe performing Dulaman.  She sang it as well as Lynn and Méav have in the past but added some unique touches.  First, she gave a long introduction which was cute and funny.  The audience laughed.  She did not just sing the song.  She was prancing around the stage and then she went into a spin like a figure skater.  Máiréad does that when she plays “Coast of Galicia”.  Now there are two spinners in the show.  Then someone gave her a pair of spoons and she started playing them up against Ray's shoulder.  After it was over she received a thunderous ovation.  The girls added a new little twist to “Orinoco Flow” that was nice.  When they sang “Danny Boy” there were several ooh's and aah's to be heard nearby.  “At The Ceili”  involved all the choir members as well as the girls and was highly entertaining.  Chloë talked more than ever and really charged up the audience.  She challenged everyone to yell louder and louder.  The show reached a fever pitch and ended with a bang.  My voice held out okay from all the yelling but I did have some slight bruising and swelling on my hands from the clapping.  What a great show.  You just have to see it for yourself.  I wish to mention that I truly miss some great performers that left the show since last year.  Vocalists Alex Sharpe and Lynn Hilary plus band members Nicky Bailey and Des Moore will be missed.  Do you realize that in addition to the two Lisa's in the show there are also two Máiréad's?  The lovely Máiréad Maguire is part of the choir.  After the show those of us attending the Meet & Greet assembled at one side of the auditorium.  Team member Dustin came out to direct us to a side room.  We went inside and waited.  Soon Máiréad and Lisa Lambe came out and took their seats.  Dustin and another guy directed the M&G.  I miss the lovely ladies from last year.  Where is Rachel?  I was in the middle of the line and chatted with others waiting our turns.  I reached the table and got to shake hands with both girls and get some autographs.  I spoke briefly with each one.  Lisa has a background in dance and theatre which enriches her performance.  She is at ease with the public one on one or performing on the stage.  It was an honor to finally meet Máiréad after enjoying her work for several years.  I asked her a question or two and made a few comments.  I told her that I had an email friend named Rick Shears who was a big fan of hers and had a blog dedicated to her.  Both her and Lisa lit up.  They both knew Rick and Máiréad said to say “hi” to Rick from them.  Then I had to move on.  But I stayed until the end of the M&G.  Finally, the girls were led out of the room and those of us still there gradually dispersed.  And just to think that I get to do this all over again on Saturday night, May 14.  Life doesn't get any better than this.

Hubert Boddie