AURORA UNIVERSITY
Williams Bay, WI
August 5, 2006
Since there were more than enough to go around, I am happy to share
some Fun Memories from my Williams Bay, WI, concert experience.
First, all that we've been hearing about Karl and his voice is true...it's
truly a lovely thing to hear. His sound reminds a *little* of the young
Anthony, but the two voices are still very distinct. He has nice stage
presence and will come along well with his onstage silliness
under the tutelage of those other two rascals, I'm sure.
Finbar welcomed the audience to "Willow" Bay (but all of Williams Bay
quickly forgave his wee faux pas) and said a special “hello” to those
on the lawn section well above and behind the seats. He said he couldn't
see them but he hoped they could see him, and they let out a collective
cheer at being mentioned. He said he could certainly hear them, anyway.
Then he said they'd be listening to the concert tonight via satellite
The tent theater was located on a hilly area on the gorgeous Williams
College Campus, with an especially treacherous incline (decline?) path
leading from the main road above the campus directly down to the lake...if
one wasn't careful If you turned off, whether walking or riding in one
of the golf carts, you were fine. Finbar joked that he and the others nearly
ended up in the lake on the way in. We all laughed, but having walked
the roads before the concert I'm not so sure he was kidding! Finbar won
the crowd immediately with his humor and warm welcome, while Anthony
and Karl used their own considerable charms to draw the audience in as
well. It didn't hurt that all three sang like angels!
They began their first trio song and wouldn't you know it, but the cicadas
started, too! The funny thing was that after a bit the locusts sounded like
hundreds of little maracas ...so I just figured they'd heard that Finbar
would be singing South of the Border and were warming up Curiously,
the bugs stopped their accompaniment when the show broke for
intermission and again at show's end.
At one point, after a trio song, Finbar and Anthony left the stage, leaving
a startled Karl by himself. He turned to Arnie, then to the place the
other two disappeared, then said into the mike "Guys, I'd *like* to do
Irish Rover by myself, but...". On walked Anthony and Finbar, looking mighty
sheepish, with Anthony claiming that he was only following the
leader, with a gesture toward Finbar. Karl seems to be passing
all of the “tests” nicely!
Others have mentioned the bit of silliness during Stone Outside
Dan Murphy's Door re: Anthony pointing to it in one spot on stage and
Finbar pointing in a different direction...sitting a distance back I'm
afraid that was lost to most in the audience. I knew what
to watch for, of course, so I giggled all on my own (probably with
those around me wondering at my loony state).
At one of the several breaks for the men, Arnie readied the
orchestra (he thought) and began a musical interlude only to tell the
orchestra "no, no, no". He turned to the audience, saying "they can do
better". They started again and indeed they did do better.
Fireworks began in the distance near the show's end, over the
lake, prompting Anthony to comment that someone was trying to tell
them something, so they would be winding up soon. Nearing the end of
an Irish Tenor concert is always a time of such mixed feelings.
The tenors seemed to forget to come out for their encore...the orchestra
was playing the beginning to God Bless America and out ran Karl to start
the first verse of the song (no preamble?) and the others came in, literally,
after. I was surprised that the audience didn't stand for the song, or sing
along - I was in the back row of one of the sections so although I stood I
wasn't able to start the trend. However, everyone was
on their feet at the end of the song and again at the end of Danny Boy,
and sent the men off to loud applause. Sadly, the sound guys turned
off the mikes so no one heard Anthony thanking us and telling us to all
have a safe home (I've been to one of these before ;o)) .
I should say that before the show I ran into Vicki, the sweet lady who
has brought Anthony to Rolling Meadows, IL, for several solos. She
said she had special permission from Sean to get a small group together
to meet the tenors after the show. We were more than a little excited!
My friend, Mary, who had been to several of their shows but never a
M&G, was especially excited. This would be my second M&G, but
definitely my favorite of the two. As luck would have it, before the concert
began a voice over the PA told us that there would be a signing after the
how in the very place we knew the guys would be. Thinking we'd have
to fight off hundreds of others for a moment with the guys, we
were a tad crestfallen. As it turned out, most people left in the opposite
direction and the worst we had to contend with at that time was "swimming
upstream", going toward the appointed meeting spot with others passing
us the other way. There were remarkably few in line, so we each did have
our moment! My friend, Mary, was positively giddy - she had stitched a lovely
map of Ireland for Finbar several years back, using forty shades of green, and
obtained some kind help in getting it to him. She'd received a thank-you from
him at the time, but wanted to tell him that she was the one who made it for him.
The security man at the line's start was extremely kind and introduced Mary to
Finbar as "one of his biggest fans". Mary did explain her earlier gift to him
and his face just lit up, like he was meeting an old friend. He told her he
had it in his studio (or was it his study?) and was so pleased with it,
and so happy to meet her. He asked if she is still stitching, which she is,
and she went on to Anthony with a huge smile. I had Finbar sign my new program
and thanked him for a wonderful show. I also told him and the others they still
looked fresh as daisies, since Wisconsin turned the thermostat down just for their
visit – it was between 75 and 80 degrees at showtime, with the most gentle breeze.
Anthony was in a fun mood and was especially kind to Mary. Something interesting
that he does is look directly into the eyes of the person he is meeting and
extend his hand for a handshake. Basic, you might think, but necessary for
many an Anthony Fan. I believe he does this to break the "spell" some of
us are in, and to perhaps remind others that he's happy to meet us and that
he’s so much more than just an "autograph machine". I had my camera
in one hand (just having taken Mary's picture) and my program in the other,
so when he held out his hand I did some juggling of things and was more than
happy to take his good lead. Good for him for reminding us of our manners!
When I met Karl (ah, young sweet boy) I welcomed him to the group. Now,
I wondered if I should say that because I wasn’t sure it was really my place...but
that's what came from my mouth. He looked up at me with what I might
describe as the most sincere look on his face. He seemed pleased to hear it,
and I wondered if he was searching my face for sincerity, as well. It was there,
believe me. As adorable as he appears to be in his
pictures I have to say he's even more so in person, speaking of his "baby" face
and unaffected personality. I asked him if he was at all nervous during the
performance (and I would have added that he hid it nicely - although he
did seem, understandably, the smallest bit "deer in the headlights" for
the first few songs of the show ;o). Before I could add that he hid it well,
Anthony nudged him and said something about his nerves. I said "well, if
Anthony would stop poking you, you'd come along a whole lot faster".
They laughed - it's fun being the cause of a bit of Tenor Laughter!
I met Sean before the concert, and he really does seem to be a great guy –
an asset to the tenors and a “friend” to the group members, it would
seem. He was happy to talk to me and to anyone else who had
questions or a good word. Someone earlier mentioned that he reminded
them of Mattie (the previous, wonderfully fan-friendly Irish Tenors’ manager),
and I’d have to agree. I think the tenors have found a gem in him.
We tenor fans seem to be riding the crest of a very special wave right now!
My wonderful husband drove Mary and me to and from the concert,
an hour drive each way, and enjoyed himself as well. He's not a
"tag-along, put-up-with-this-stuff" husband. He really likes the tenors.
He happened to have a pair of talkative women next to him during the
concert and when it got to the point that I thought he might take some
lives I reached over to tap the hand of the woman closest to us
(she was turned away, talking, so I did this to get her attention),
said "please" and put my finger to my lips. They stopped, and no one died,
but they weren't at all pleased with being "spoken to". You can’t help
but wonder why people like this attend concerts if they don't want to listen
to the music - and why they think we might not want to hear the concert, either.
The performance was held on the grounds of the beautiful George Williams
College campus, on the shores of the even more beautiful Lake Geneva.
The tented stage and seating area weren’t very big, really, and I was very
pleased with my spot beyond the tent but directly in front of the men. The
staff (both volunteer and paid) at the college was amazing - I've never been
to a performance with as many helpful, friendly folks ready to assist, or just visit.
I was ready to do it again the next night!
Judy Matzke