COBB ENERGY PAC
ATLANTA, GA
DECEMBER 13, 2009
The weather may be cold, wet, and foggy but when it's an Irish Tenors
concert you're traveling to it just doesn't seem to matter so much.
Thank goodness the temperatures stayed above freezing this time
since I didn't learn my lesson from the frozen roads problems at
Anthony's Denver solo show. This concert was at a large and modern
concert hall called the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, located
actually in Smyrna, not in downtown Atlanta. Finbar mentioned onstage
that the last time they performed in Atlanta they were in Chastain Park
with the bugs. The songs were the same as the other shows but
there was certainly one very noticeable difference in the show right
off the bat. When the men walked onto the stage you saw Finbar and
Karl in their matching cream jacket, black bow tie and slacks, white
shirt attire...and Anthony in an old fashioned formal black jacket, black
slacks with the stripe up the side, white shirt and bow tie. It didn't
look tailored to him and strongly hinted at some sort of backstage
wardrobe disaster. Sure enough, when he came out for his solo, he
apologized for looking like part of a chess set and thanked Delta
Airlines for losing his luggage. Seems like I've heard of this happening
to him before. He didn't let it affect his performance and seemed to be
in a great mood with lots of smiles and joking all evening, especially
at Karl's expense. As reported, the songs were prefaced with a brief
story about their origins, a nice touch. Finbar mentioned that "Kathleen"
was written by an Irishman with a drinking problem "an unusual Irish trait."
Karl talked about his upcoming Christmas family reunion and how
frustrating it was to see things in the stores here that he'd like to buy
for them but that it won't fit in his suitcase. Anthony was full of
mischief and added some changes to the songs like in "Sleigh Ride"
they're having whiskey and pumpkin pie instead of coffee and pie.
After the halftime...oops, too much football...I mean intermission... all
three made some festive wardrobe changes. Finbar had his beautiful
dark red vest, Karl changed from a black cummerbund with red
stripes to an all red one, and Anthony changed from a white bow tie
to a dark red one. It didn't fit him either, judging from the way he was
pulling at it and pretending to choke. I'm afraid that probably hastily
assembled outfit just didn't suit him. He looked like one of the ushers,
but I'm sure he preferred that to doing a formal Christmas show in jeans.
At the end of the show he said they had to leave and he had to be back
in the store window by 11. All three sang beautifully. Their harmonies
are breathtaking, just as melodious in person as on recordings, and
even more dynamic. As has been noted many times before, you hear
so many glowing words of praise from the people around you after
the show. I can't wait for the next concert and cd...and the next...
and the next, etc.
Susan Roberts
