PART 1

All good things must come to an end. So for a final time, I was privileged to see and hear the greatest performing artists of our era, as they did their second and final show of the Spring 2009 Tour at Red Rocks.

I woke at my hotel in Lakewood, which is about 10 miles from the venue. The first thing I did was look out the window. Clear skies! Yayy!! Then I turn on The Weather Channel and see the forecast: afternoon thunderstorms. No!!! I remembered how the weather the previous night had impacted and almost ruined the Wednesday night show. And I recalled how several other Forum fans, much more local to Colorado than I, had said that tonight's weather was likely to be the worse of the two nights. Resignedly, I prepared for my day.

After writing my review of the Wednesday night show, I made my way back to the Red Rocks venue to look at some of the areas of it that I had not seen yet, and then did some light hiking around the parklands, taking in the panorama of the scenery... which is, by the way, nothing short of breath-taking.

As the day wore on, overcast skies, scattered raindrops, and occasional thunder came and went. I began to think about the night ahead. I would have fifth row, bandmembers-side, and I knew it would be better than my 14th row offcenter that I'd had the night before. My fifth-row seat was courtesy of Mr.Peabody. I had already bought a pair of 11th row seats, and a month ago I had offered Hap my extra ticket. Now, with me being up in fifth row, Hap would have two seats... plenty of room to spread out and enjoy his show. But I kept thinking about how CelticKit and her husband Brad were stuck with 38th row. They had had 15th row for the Wednesday night show, and it would be a sad thing to settle for 38th row. Then I hit upon a brainstorm... I would check at the box office to see if they had any single tickets left, closer than 11th row. I could get one, give it to Hap, and then Kit and Brad could get the adjoining 11th row seats! I caught up with Hap before the box office would open, and he remarked offhandedly that Moscapoet still had an available 7th row seat. Moscapoet arranged to give that seat to Hap, and Kit and Brad got 11th row. A great solution for everyone.

I also caught up briefly with CelloSteel, Jilliebeans and Hannah as they were walking around the venue. Talked to Dalton, Melanie, and others as they held up their huge cloth banner welcoming the girls back to Red Rocks. Had a fine light dinner with forum people (again, thanks to Moscapoet and Melanie for arranging everything). I had the pleasure of finally meeting Dakota, who I had chatted with on and off for almost 3 years now. Dakota had not seen the "Isle of Hope" show yet and was initially skeptical about how good it could possibly be. I smiled and said I'd check back with him after the show.... hehehe

I made my way over to the main concourse, and looked up at the sky. Several of us started debating about the ominous dark clouds hanging over Lakewood about 10 or so miles from us. We were of course concerned about what kind of weather we'd have for the show. Brad commented that rain of some sort was almost inevitable now. I began to think that only a minor miracle would keep this show from being cut short, as it had been the night before.

I made my way down the long stairwell, got a big hug from Sandy at her second row seat as I passed by, and worked my way over to my own seat, a bit before 8pm. It was early, but I wanted to get comfy. And it was a good thing that I did, because at exactly 8pm, the lights went down, and the show started within 30 seconds. This was my 20th CW show over a three-year period, and this was the ONLY time I had ever seen them start at the listed showtime.

As Mairead stepped out, there were immediate applause. I fell in love one more time with the haunting opening to "The Sky And the Dawn And the Sun." The power and intensity of the song somehow felt even greater than usual. There were great applause as all the singers made their way onto the stage. The crowd was getting into it from the very beginning, which was exactly as I had hoped. Almost half of the first 10 rows gave them a standing ovation after the song ended.

Again, "Coast of Galicia" started in it's usual, simple style and built to it's thunderous climax. It was clear that Mairead was pulling everything out of her bag of tricks, knowing that tonight was the end of the tour. Although I have no way to determine it in a technical sense, I would wager that Mairead's spins were faster than she had ever done them before. They certainly seemed to be to me, anyway. Absolutely amazing. I adore this song... and to think, I didn't believe anything could possibly replace "The Butterfly!"

I will get to "True Colors" later... I hate to review things out of order, but this is one time that I'll do it.

"The Blessing" had a very special occurence: on the last high note, Lisa did what Chloe had done the night before in "When You Believe"... Lisa's voice absolutely bounced off the canyon walls around us. It was, in my opinion, Lisa's best rendering of "The Blessing." Ever.

"Danny Boy." Absolutely perfect harmony. 'Nuff said.

As I said before, I was closer to the front for this show than I had been the night before. In fact, I was right in front of the big speakers. When Ray hit the drum for "Mo Ghile Mear," even I jumped! And I was ready for it, too! I'm no amateur, but it was LOUD. Wow. Standing ovation ended the first act.

PART 2

The intermission was declared as being 20 minutes, but after about 5-7 minutes, we received the "please take your seats, the show will resume in 5 minutes." They were obviously quickening the pace due to fear of the weather... which, up until now, had not become a problem. But then, the previous night the first act had been weather-free too... so we were far from out of the woods, yet.

"Carolina Rua." What else can I say about this song? It has become Lynn's signature song to me, much as Chloe's is "Nella Fantasia."

The trilogy of "Last Rose/Interlude/NellaFantasia" began, and I began to realize that this would be Chloe's last solo of this magnificent tour. She breathed even more life into this song than ever. I screamed myself hoarse as I gave her my standing ovation.

"At the Ceili" was more playful than ever, with the soloists, choir members, and even the bandguys fooling around with it, as Alex made the funniest expression at Des the guitar player. Our section saw it clearly, and everyone laughed their heads off. I hadn't seen something so genuinely funny during their shows since the early days of the '07 tour. I wish they would do more of that!

"The Voice." Again, Lisa bounces her final note off the walls of the canyon. It was nothing short of incredible.

By this time, I had been looking up at the sky between almost every song, and couldn't believe it... still no rain, no lightning, no thunder. The impossible was happening... the show would not be cut short and we all would not be denied.

As "Sing Out" came to it's jubilant ending, Chloe as usual thanked us all for coming, but added (like the previous night) how much she and the others loved coming to Red Rocks. But this time, she also thanked so many of us for following them, show after show, to so many cities on this 100-show tour. For those of us who have done this, journeying so far and often to get to these shows, I don't think there was a dry eye to be found. I wiped my eyes with my shirt.

"Oh America" didn't have the weather pyrotechnics that we had experienced the night before; but then, having no rain was nice too. The girls gave the song some unidentifiable extra ounce of power, making it almost as perfect as the previous night. It would have been a scandal if there had NOT been a standing ovation.

It was time for "You Raise Me Up" so soon? I screamed myself hoarse once again as the end came. There is little more I can say about this song, which always has and always will mean so much to me.

Now for the two songs that need special attention.

First, "True Colors." By now, I had heard Alex sing it on this tour many times. I liked it well enough, but I had always considered it the step-child of her two solos, compared to "You Will Be In My Heart" which I think was almost made for her and which I think is, all together, a better song and more fitting for a CW show. But tonight, the lyrics in "True Colors" hit me, and a number of things in my life back home, which had been bothering me a little even while I was in Colorado, suddenly seemed to just... recede from me. I almost broke out crying. Chloe's music has done this for me before, but this time... thank you, Alex. You have a fan for life now. When you listen, sometimes the magic of Celtic Woman touches a part of you, when you expect it least but when you need it most.

Second... as Mairead came back out for the "Encore Medley" the crowd continued applauding, and started clapping along as she went into her best "JimiHendrix" imitation but something else happened... the crowd didn't sit down. Almost everyone in the whole place was on their feet, clapping along as Mairead and the choir carried the incredible song through us. This is what I had wanted for this song at every show I had been to for three years, and finally it happened, at the very end of this tour. Then as the singers came out, the applause and cheering were thunderous. It was the most fun I had ever had in one song at ANY of their concerts.

"Spanish Lady" brought it's equally thunderous applause. The girls waved as they made their way off the stage. And just like that, the Spring 2009 Tour was over.

At first I was at a loss at how to bring this review and this tour to a close (likely this is one of the last Forum member reviews to be written about this glorious tour that started way, way back in February), but I find myself thinking about what could bring a person thousands of miles to be there for these performances, as I have done several times, and as others have done. It wasn't just to hear someone sing or to watch someone fiddling on a stage, though others who don't understand would think that's all it is. I didn't journey because they have changed my life... they have changed my life because I have journeyed. I have been to places far from home that I had never been to before, seen things I had never seen before, done things I had never done before, and met great and wonderful people along the way who I count as friends. Celtic Woman has enriched me far more than I ever have enriched them. When Chloe says "you all are now a part of our family," the truth is that they are now a part of us, their devoted fans, individually as well as collectively. They have spoken to our hearts, and they are a part of who we are.

As we go our separate ways until next time, I give thanks. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my reviews. Thank you to the great Forum friends I have met up with on this tour for all the wonderful times we have had, in so many places. Thank you to the entire CW team, with special thanks to Rachel Davis for helping make the Wilkes-Barre M&G a once-in-a-lifetime reality. And most of all, thank you to the special ladies - Alex, Lynn, Lisa, Mairead, and Chloe - for being here for us and bringing happiness to so many. "Be not afraid, come follow me/Answer my call and I'll set you free..."

Celtic Woman.... FOREVER!

Well-said, Scott, and Chloe's speech before "O America" in the first Red Rocks show was really something special. So was the thunder and lightning during that show.