Keeping in mind I'm old, this post reminds me of the ads I'm seeing now for various live shows.  These shows are marketed as a Tribute to XXXX.  I've been to one or two, mainly because I remember the original group.  Were the shows good? Absolutely.  Were they the same? No. 

So we have this same situation with CW.  I know someone (CWazyTom?) did a list of all the shows and who were the performers.  So, who's the "original" group?  According to CWazyTom's list, Eabha, Mairead C, Susan and Tara did 219 concerts.  The first tour was Chloe, Deirdre, Lisa K, Mairead N and Orla and they only did 38 shows. 

Having said that, this thread started as "I'm in love with Alex" or more specifically her music.  I know CW was a global  phenomenon.  Like a lot of groups, one member left and was replaced.  Then another, etc.  So when is a group no longer a group?  Plus, when someone leaves, how successful are they? 

I have attended a lot of CW shows where Alex performed, and met her a number of times.  Of course, I've also seen Chloe and Lisa K in a lot of shows, and have been to their individual shows. 

Just take last years Christmas show where Lisa L was in it.  Interesting that she remembered me! 

What am I going to do going forward?  Well, I have a ticket to see a CW show in March.  Will I go to others?  Don't know yet.  I'm in a position where my real question is how much hassle do I go thru?  I kinda wanted to go see Chloe in South Carolina in December, but it's like a 9 hour drive for me or a flight to Atlanta (two hours early at departure, 2 hour flight, 1 hour to get a rental, and another 2 hours to the venue).  Weather can be an issue and who knows how flights are going to work out.   

And as I think was mentioned, there's something about a live show that can not be duplicated.

I went ahead and bought tickets for the March 25th show in Clearwater, FL.  Have seen the girls there before a couple of times; mostly via PBS tickets.

So, since I am not a member of the venue, I couldn't buy tickets until Friday.  I was able to get tickets in Row J.  Most of the closer seats required you to become a member, with, of course, an additional fee.  I the tickets (2) were $92 each.

As I was checking out, I had the option to purchase a M&G.  OK, what the heck. Paragraph of you get a photo, opportunity to talk the the girls (not holding my breath), etc.  They wanted $100 a person.

So after you add State Sales Tax, "Tourist" Tax, and a Service Charge, 2 tickets with M&G cost me just under $450!  I've paid this much in the past, but it was for better seats, plus I could sometimes get a tax credit for a donation to PBS.

In the past I have gone to 10 to 12 shows a year.  I know this is a short tour right now, so we shall see how I feel after seeing this show. 

I was considering go to the Christmas show in Atlanta.  I have some conflicts that I can work around but I really don't want to fly that close to Christmas.  PLus, the M&Gs have typically become a photo op.  I'd rather go to a "tour" show, especially since I can maybe do 2 back to back.  If I have to travel, make the most of it.

My first exposure to CW was via PBS.  I was simply running thru the TV channels on night.  I think this was late in 2006.  This was the pledge drive.  During the pledge break, they said they were coming to my town.  So, bought tickets.  Over the years, I bought a lot of tickets from PBS, primarily because you got really good seats and a M&G! 

Some years later, it seemed like a lot of the venues were not allowing PBS to have the good seats.  At one point, I was like 20 rows back.  The venues figured out that they could sell the tickets to their premium members instead.

Then, going back to COVID, we know everything went down the tubes.  The last M&G (tour) I went to was in 2020, a couple days before they stopped.  I did do a M&G last year in Washington for the Christmas tour.

I think PBS had a lot to do with CW's success.  Too bad they haven't been able to film a show for PBS recently.  I was probably a member of maybe 6 PBS stations all over the country when I was going all over to see shows.  If I counted right, I've been to 33 different cities to see the show.

This whole AI thing is going to ultimately cause a lot of problem, IMHO.  I tend to call it AUI (artificial un intellegence).  Google has AI enabled and you can't get rid of it.  Kinda same thing with Facebook. 

They are offering a M&G after the show for $75.  Did one a year or so ago when they were in my area.  I thought it was expensive, but, hey, minimal travel involved.  Anyway, they brought out 2 of the guys, who answered questions.  Then we go a photo op with them.  Maybe 20 or so people at the M&G.

They were also offering a sound check pass before the show.  Don't remember what it cost.

Kind of low attendence.  Guess is WV is a bit on the economic down side.  Plus, as LakersCeltics said they are not in their prime.  I'm thinking maybe you could say the same thing about CW as well.  I can place some blame on COVID, and some on the current economic situation.  I always budgeted at least $1,000 per out of town CW show (ticket, travel, hotel, food, etc).  I would guess not a lot of people are comfortable with spending even $100 for a ticket anymore.   

I went to the CT show on Friday in Wheeling, WV  (don't ask).  Couple of random comments.

*  Theatre seats about 2,000.  I doubt there were over 1,000.  Nice theatre.
*  The band was down to 5 members; violin, pipes, guitar, drummer & piano.  If I recall from last years show, that's down by at least 3 people.
*  Ronan (Mairead's hubby) is now the musical director.  He plays piano on a few songs as well.
*  Show was about 90 minutes.
*  My biggest objection was they did not do Ireland's Call as their closing number.  The couple times I've seen it live, it's one of the best closing numbers I've ever heard.   They did a medley in the first half that it was in, but only the first verse.
*  Paul Bryum was the Special Guest performer.
*  I think WV was about the furtherest South they got on this tour.  It looks like they almost drew a line across the country.  I had an opportunity to be in the area, so worked out the timing to do.