My Thoughts on the 20th Anniversary Show

Went to the show on Monday, the 29th.  Hate me if you will, but as much as I looked forward to it and wanted it to be great, I was pretty disappointed.  It's probably just me, but I thought it was a somewhat cheesy version of past shows.  I realize they can't have every show at a great old castle location with a full orchestra all the time, but it just didn't do anything for me.  The set background was horrible.  The music drowned them out several times.  They only did 5 maybe 6 songs after the intermission.  They had smoke wafting around almost the whole concert.  Everything seemed like it was canned and there was no excitement generated.  The song selections weren't what I'd hoped for, as I like most of the old songs they have done over the years.  They only did a couple of their old staples, but not the ones I had hoped to hear.  How do you do a show without doing "The Voice", "Nil Sen La" and many others?  Maybe I was expecting too much this time, but I walked away feeling empty. 

I really hate to complain about it, but in my view, it just wasn't up to the Celtic Woman standard we've come to expect over the years. 

I have to agree with you there was way to much stage smoke years past they placed small fans across the front of the stage to blow it around but now they replaced the fans with small speakers, and they were way way to loud and at times sounded like they were being over driven. I also thought the stage was very lack luster they could have had there video screen in the background and used out photos and short video's instead of the star net background. I also thought the song choices were not the best. Also, the number of songs was kind of short the shows used to run 2 1/2 hours our show was just 2 hours long even with the break. The venue I was at the floor seats cost $175.00 per seat to me that's a little high for a short show. I talked to Mairead after the show and I talked to her about some of these things and she told me I was not the first person to bring the issues up. I also had M&G tickets and there were only 5 pairs sold so 10 people and the M&G started 25 mins late so in turn there was no signing of anything at the M&G all you got was a photo. I did go last and got to talk with the girls and you could just see it in Seths face as he was getting mad I was taking so long but I kept talking to the girls and while walking away with Mairead she asked me how I was doing with my health. So in short the M&G was the same as always shorth and to the point but I did love the Girls they did nothing wrong but then again they always look and sound Great.

I agree completely.  I wasn't going to complain about the cost, but I also paid $175/ticket X2.  Didn't seem like a good return on my investment.  I do agree also about the girls.  They were trying.  I went to hear them sing, not watch the three guys dance to two songs.  For that matter, I really like Tara and her fiddle, but did they need to have her do 3 or 4 solos?

I have just one more question.  Does anyone else think at least some of the music was pre-taped? Not the singing, just the music.  There were several places where it seemed like it was and the instruments were just assisting.  I don't know, I was just wondering.

I'm going to shut up now.

Well I can tell you what I know Yes they have some canned music the Piano player controls all that with the extra keyboard on top of his piano and the Girls hear a click track in their ears or tempo track so songs that have sounds of Brass instruments and alike that is canned music along with the taps of the men dancing the floor is not a sound floor so there tap sounds are canned if it were not canned you would hear nothing as they dance on a rubber mats on the stage floor so the girls and guys while dancing don't slip and fall on the stage floors. No you don't have to shut up now by all means ask any question you have by us answering your questions other people may learn some more about Celtic Woman from the answers we give I have been a fan for about 18 years and have met all the girls but 2

@smith3184
No need to feel bad about voicing your honest opinion. All opinions welcome. Did you see the 20th anniversary show on PBS? That kind of set my expectations. So I'm guessing it will be a tour version 'copy' of that. I'm going later this month.

@GlenS
Sorry to hear about the M&G. Starting late doesn't help when they're already under a time crunch. I just got my PBS package, and they said they will try to have time for autographs but limited by time, venue, mgmt, etc.

I've been to 2 shows this year.  One show had front row; the other was row 4.  I generally agree with the comments made above.  I almost don't want to be so close to see if it's a different experience; partially from the music standpoint.  A number of years ago, I gave someone (my boss at the time) my 2nd row tickets.  He was blown away by sitting that close.  Said it's a totally different show, and I tend to agree with him. 

The M&G's are generally not worth my money any more.  They are way too rushed.  You could argue some of it was COVID.    You just don't get the connection you got years ago.  Last year I went to Lisa Kelly's Masterclass in December.  She knew me when I walked in.

I've been to 2 shows this year.  One show had front row; the other was row 4.  I generally agree with the comments made above.  I almost don't want to be so close to see if it's a different experience; partially from the music standpoint.  A number of years ago, I gave someone (my boss at the time) my 2nd row tickets.  He was blown away by sitting that close.  Said it's a totally different show, and I tend to agree with him. 

The M&G's are generally not worth my money any more.  They are way too rushed.  You could argue some of it was COVID.    You just don't get the connection you got years ago.  Last year I went to Lisa Kelly's Masterclass in December.  She knew me when I walked in.

Bummer that's so disappointing to hear but awesome gift your boss had to forever remember ❤️

The M&G's are generally not worth my money any more.  They are way too rushed.  You could argue some of it was COVID.    You just don't get the connection you got years ago.  Last year I went to Lisa Kelly's Masterclass in December.  She knew me when I walked in.

My PBS released the unsold tickets to the general public. I can see I paid about $65 over face value essentially for the M&G. That's right on the edge of is it worth it or not. You just have to consider it a donation to PBS, as many have said before this thread.

At sports conventions, you can easily spend $100-$300 for an autograph ticket. Rushed, no photos, and sometimes the player won't even acknowledge you (although that's never happened to me). 30 seconds to sign your item and say one thing.

Bummer that's so disappointing to hear but awesome gift your boss had to forever remember

Well, he did "pay me back"  he comes in my office and asks what my wife and I are doing Saturday night.  I said nothing special as far as I know.  He then hands me 2 tickets for the Barbara Streisand concert!  Ended up being on the floor (it was an arena show) in Row 12.  You could see her without looking at the TV screens!

Someone gave the tickets to him.  List price was over $1k each.  His wife wouldn't go.  This was back in 2016.  His wife was a huge Trump supporter.  Since Streisand was very much anti-Trump she wouldn't go see her.