So in flipping thru the TV last night, my local PBS station was finally showing Postcards from Ireland.  Too bad for them as I had not only ordered the DVD, but went to see the show on March 4.  I would have  rather supported my PBS station, but they were late to the party.

I went to the Celtic Thunder tour last night in Clearwater, Florida.  Some general comments -- not a review.

My first thought was whoever was producing this show was in charge of the DVD of Postcards from Ireland.  What I mean is there were a number of videos of Ireland playing behind the group during most of the songs..  In addition, I thought the sound mix was not great -- it was hard to understand the vocalists because of the volume of the band.

Stage was simply two platforms for the band.

This was, I think, the 3rd show on the tour.  They did say how great it was to be back in front of their fans again.

I did not buy a program, but they did several familar Irish songs.  Mo Ghile Mear, Caledonia, Danny Boy, Galway Girl, Streets of New York.  Interesting that they also did Isle of Hope.  The intro I thought was interesting.  Something like: While this song is about immigrating from Ireland, it's really a song about just about everyone in this County (meaning the US).  Just about everyone here had ancestors, and maybe even some of you, who came from someplace else. "

Oh yeah, and Ireland's Call has to be one of the greatest closing numbers of all time!!

Sorry, I screwed up.  I saw that Mairead NESBITT was doing a couple of shows.  Wrong Mairead.

Concerning 2022, you raise some valid concerns.

One of the reasons I fell in love with CW was due to the Meet & Greets.  I've spent a lot of money over the years traveling to shows where I could get a M&G ticket.  And, over the years, the girls recognized me.

My belief is we have seen the last of the M&G's.  The risk is too high for the crew and cast.  I went to a show the other day here in Tampa, and you had to either show your vaccination card or a current test.  Does that really mean anything?  No.  A couple of the Tampa Bay Bucs got 3 game suspensions for fake vaccine cards.   

There are maybe ways the tour can proceed, although what happens if someone gets COVID?  I don't know if there really has been a plan if someone gets sick.  I was at a show years ago when Ray Fean did not come out after the intermission.  Someone filled in, but it was more of a keeping time drumming.  And that was when they did the back and forth druming on Mo Ghile Mear. 

I would guess that the Ontario Canada show is not going to happen.  Crossing the border is still going to be tough, especially for 1 show.

Since they have typically started the tour here in Florida, I've got tickets to 2 shows.  I tend to believe I will get to see these.  I have tickets for 2 shows in mid-April.  I'm holding off making non-refundable travel arrangements until a lot closer to the date.

So I went to the Atlanta Pops show featuring John Driskell Hopkins and CHLOE AGNEW on Sunday.  Overall, I really enjoyed the concert.  Some new, updated arrangements of old Christmas songs.

Going back to the 1970's, one of the greatest female singers was Karen Carpenter.  I have a couple of her records.  She did a song called Merry Christmas Darling.  Chloe did that song Sunday night!  When I got home last night, I dug out the Karen Carpenter record and listened to her doing that song.  OMG, Chloe's version was eerily close to Karen's.  I loved it!!

The tour is going to be "interesting" on a number of levels.  Tours are brutal.  Every night in a different hotel. Minimal time off.  For this year especially, what is the COVID impact going to be?  And lets not even get into the mask/vaccine differences.  Then you have a new person in the group.  Yes, that's happened before, but not with all the other things going on.  New musical director. 

Depending on the specific girl, some really seemed to like the interaction with fans.  Other, not so much.  I don't expect to see M&Gs this year, and maybe never again.  One of the reasons I have been to a lot of shows was I was willing (and able) to pay for a M&G ticket.  This year, I'm going to two "local" shows and two out of town shows.  The out of town shows I bought tickets for back in 2019.  I just let them roll over.  I have mixed feelings about the out of town shows after listening to the CD.   Do I spend the money on airfare, hotels, car rental, etc?  Granted I said this same thing a couple tours ago.  Since I live in Florida, I usually have the opportunity to see a couple shows very early in the tour.  If I want to go to more, I have time to plan.  Granted, M&Gs were becoming hard to get.

I went to my first show in 2007 so I've seen a lot of the changes.  Some I liked, some I didn't like as much.

Saw my first live show in 2007 after seeing the show on PBS.  In 2008 took my then 16 year old daughter to New York to see the show along with some Broadway shows.  In 2009 went to NYC again for 2 shows.  How many Dads can say their kid likes to travel with them? 

Then later in 2009, got first M&G, again with my daughter in Fort Myers, FL.  Front row seats!  PBS did a little reception after the show while waiting for the girls to show.  It turned out to be Chloe and Mairead!  Both incredibly friendly.  My daughter was a little shy.  After Chloe told her "I saw you singing along", Chloe became her, and my, favorite performer.

Fast forward to 2017.  Chloe was now doing solo shows.  Had a M&G with her.  My daughter was graduating from college the next weekend.  Asked Chloe to sign a card for my daughter.  Not only did she do that, she gave me a T-shirt and CD for her!

Have some great pictures and memories.

I have to say Believe, mainly because I was in Atlanta for both nights.  I also think this was the first show that used The Parting Glass as the finale.  The mass bagpipes, confetti cannons, etc was kind of impressive!