The Cherrytree Review

CELINE CARROLL
The Cherry Tree
Walkinstown
Dublin

Saturday December 12th 2009

CELINE CARROLL filled this venue in the middle of the office Christmas party season and the final stages of the X-factor.

I should imagine that most of the party goers would end up with a night to forget, while the telly viewers will end up forgetting what happened on Dec 12 in a few months from now , but those who witnessed Celine Carroll with her band will have unforgettable memories of what was one helluva gig.

That taken-for-granted term, full house, doesn't tell you much about the tremendous amount of hard work and the struggle over recent times that went into making this night happen. Had she done this a while ago, Celine , to use her words, would have "Fell on her arse in her own back garden". But thanks to the hard work of the few , there was now many waiting to attend this gig.

So, at around 10pm , Celine entered the stage. She seemed to be taken a bit by surprise, yet at the same time relieved at the size of the awaiting audience. How fitting it was to start the show with Home, to welcome the faithful to her patch. It's the first track off her previous album , Itch. A brilliant song to open with because it begins with just Celine and her acoustic guitar and the rest of the band gradually come in.

As for the band , 3 lads popped up from Cork to assist Celine with the instrumentation, Paul Seymour on keyboards, Johnny (Green Tie?) Campbell on Bass, and Jerry (ex Hothouse Flowers) Fehily on drums. In perfect harmony on backing vocals was Celine's pal from round the corner, Siobhan Lennon.

This quintet delivered close on 3 hours worth of songs from Celine's three albums with a couple of, as yet, unreleased ones, to the point of and beyond perfection.
There were no repeats or plugs throughout the entire set. Apart from a couple of happy birthdays the first half focussed on the music. The second part of the show saw Celine giving out a few thank yous against each song to friends who have played a supporting role. Every person who was mentioned received the warmest applause. As for jokes and banter, let's just say here was a Dubliner on her own patch loving every minute.

The biggest challenge in this report is to describe her music, suffice it to say that putting words to music is a great art , putting music into words is nigh on impossible. Let's find a pigeon hole and say she's between easy and jazz , but there is of course the Irish section in the downtown HMV shop. So we'll dispense with that idea and take her CDs away from all of these categories and just file them under uncomplicated quality. Who does she sound like ? There's an easy answer - nobody else but Celine Carroll. How does she deliver her music ? With honesty and a lovely voice with the added edge of that beautiful female Dublin lilt. One guarantee is that once you hear a Celine Carroll song, it will never want to leave you. This tired old music world has many a gap in it and Celine is here to breathe a bit of life into at least one of them.

Back to the show and it's difficult to centre upon a highlight because it was perfection all the way, but Bird In A Cage definitely jaw dropped about a hundred people into total silence.

The main set closed with You're Every Beat Of My Heart which was dedicated to yours truly ... as was the first song on the Encore ... Apologise. (Her latest single, followed by my first encounter.)

The big finale consisted of a medley of Celine's Christmas Carrolls which launched the crowd into a big festive sing-song. And finally we said our goodbyes as we all headed for home , many armed with CDs, in the early hours of Sunday with Christmas, for the time being, on our minds and Celine forever in our hearts.

On a personal note , I believe that this was a wonderful finale to a year which saw Celine get significant radio airplay on both sides of the Irish Sea. From the solid foundations that were laid in 2009, may they enable Celine's musical career to become further established in 2010.

THE BAND
Celine Carroll - Lead Vocals , Acoustic Guitar, Piano
Jerry Fehily - Drums
Johnny Campbell - Bass
Paul Seymour - Keyboards
Siobhan Lennon - Backing Vocals

http://tinyurl.com/yhymys8

The Cherrytree Gig Sat Dec 12th

Join me and my band 'live' at the Cherrytree, Walkinstown, Dublin on Sat Dec 12th.. Christmassy Vibe guaranteed..
For Bookings Contact: http://www.musiclee.ie

Melody Gardot The Olympia Theatre, Dublin

Waiting for Gardot...
Ok it's not exactly Beckett. But it was in his hometown where the delicious Melody Gardot graced us with her presence..
The Olympia Theatre, Dublin was the setting..
Arriving 45 minutes late for curtain-up, she came onstage without batting an eyelash. Although maybe she did..With her sunglasses on, it was difficult to tell. Melody says she wears them as her eyes are sensitive to light...They also make her look cool and sassy, if I may say.
She walked straight on to centre stage, spread some sand (I think) on a sheet of plywood and proceeded to stamp her feet and clap her hands..She was ready for action..
Backed by her Drummer, Double Bass player and Sax/Clarinet player, she switched from grand piano to guitar effortlessly, even managing to light a cigarette between two songs..How cool is that!!
All the songs from her wonderful album ''My One And Only Thrill' were performed as if for the first time..'Fresh' as they say, which is no mean feat in my opinion, as she informed her audience that she's been touring since Febuary!!
As a fellow Pianist, I was so thrilled to see a full sized grand piano on stage..Not only did Melody 'tickle the ivories', but being aware of it's place in the Percussion family, she plucked the strings, throwing in the odd glissando here and there, tapped it, beat it and made a brand new friend of it..
With songs like 'Baby I'm A Fool', 'If The Stars Were Mine', and 'Deep Within The Corners Of My Mind', it's so easy to fall in love with her music and her voice, which is an instrument in it's own right. Such clarity is so welcomed in todays' climate of female Songstresses..And she can scat like all the greats from the past.
At one point during the show, Melody turned to a full house and remarked how beautiful 'this old theatre is..I can imagine Beethoven or Mozart playing here'. Not far off the mark...Handel's Messiah was first performed about 500 yards from where she was sitting, in Fishamble Street in 1742..Close but no cigar, Melody!!
She finished her show with her rendition of that classic standard..'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'..This song, having grown stale in my ears over the years due to the Eva Cassidy version, was such a delight to experience. A wonderful interpretation and welcomed back into the 'musical fold'..
This woman as a Songwriter is a pure romantic at heart with a devilish sense of humour to boot.. I've purposely used her first name throughout my 'little' review..Most reviewers will write Gardot this..Gardot that..But with a name like Melody, it's a shame to waste the opportunity to use it..Melody by name. Indeed Melody by nature.. As Sammy Beckett would say..'Such is life'..

Tickets on Sale For Christmas Gig Sat. Dec 12th

Join Me with the Full Band on Sat. Dec. 12th at the Cherrytree, Walkinstown, Dublin for a night of 'Pure Melody and Laid-Back Grooves' with a little bit of Tinsel thrown in for good measure..Ticket Price 10 Euro
For Tickets..Email info@celinecarroll.com

Upcoming Shows

Sun Nov 8th The Spirit Store Dundalk 9pm (www.spiritstore.ie)
Sat Dec 12th The Cherrytree Walkinstown Dublin 9pm (www.musiclee.ie)

New Album now available in HMV Grafton Street, Dublin.

The new album, 'Such a beautiful light' is now available from HMV Grafton St.

New Album In The Shops

Howdy Folks...
Week started off great..'Such A Beautiful Light' is album of the week on RTE Radio1...........Picking up lots of airplay.
It is now available to buy in Tower Records, Wicklow St and Celtic Note, Nausau St.
So 'run it up the flagpole, shout it from the roof-tops'
Many thanks,
Celine.