March 20th, 2006 Concert. Worcester, MA U.S.A.

[Steve H]

Hi Jim,

Firstly thank you Jim for a superb set of photographs, I was pleased that you gave us a little bit of information on the type of camera and its settings, you are right that for every good one there is normally 4 blurred ones, but with digital cameras, you can just click away, and dump the bad ones. You must have a good lens, as the close ups are very clear? do you use an SLR digital or is it a compact one? anyway a first class post!

Steve H

[Dave Gibson]

The following is my experience at the Worcester concert on March 20,2006. I originally wrote this for a group I'm on over at Yahoo.[Simon's group] Please forgive the redundancy if you have already read this there.I've just learned to copy and paste.Here goes:

Greetings Hayley Fans:
Finally back from Worcester,Mass. and catching up on things.
Here is a report on the concert through my eyes.
It was a cold first night of Spring [23 degrees] in downtown Worcester,Massachusettes, but it was warm as toast in the beautiful Mechanics Hall.A building built in the 1850's and wonderfuly restored .
A woman who was an usher told me that 900 tickets were sold before the show.
How many were sold that night I'm not sure. The ticket booth did not seem that busy the time I was in the area.The theatre includes a very nice gift shop,magnificent staircases,huge portraits of famous Americans throughout the building.There is an eating area serving drinks and fancy pastries.
Finally time to go up into the concert area. A large room, beautifully decorated, with portraits around the entire room. There's a balcony, horseshoe-shaped around the stage, and many seats on the floor and is sometimes used as a large dance floor. In the very front of the stage, there is a very large, old pipe organ, that according to some locals I talked to, sounds beautiful. On the stage is a very large grand piano, microphones, and an old VOX amp, miked connected to a Fender guitar. As 8:00 approached, the hall filled with excited fans. The show started, and Hayley was accompanied by Jeff Franzel on piano, and Askold Buk on guitars. Hayley was wearing a beautiful green dress, and started the program with a song from her homeland New Zealand. Pokarekare Ana, followed by Prayer, Both Sides Now, May it Be. She had interesting comments between each song. Short break for Hayley, and Jeff and Askold played The Beatles--In My Life, and a song written by Askold, Without You. Hayley came back on and sang Ave Maria, Never Saw Blue, and Amazing Grace. Then there was intermission and many people bought CDs or DVDs offered in the vestibule. Food and drinks were offered in a huge dining room. After intermission, Jeff and Askold returned on the stage and played two more numbers. First one Bill Withers--Ain't No Sunshine, and one Jeff wrote, Reminiscing. Hayley returned on stage wearing a blue and purple dress. The first song she sang was The Mummer's Dance. Then she sang a song she knew since 11 years old, The Mists of Islay. This was followed by She Moves Through the Fair (a capella), I Say Grace, In Trutina, and finally, she finished with another song from New Zealand, Hine e Hine. They left the stage and there was a long standing ovation. They came back on and Hayley said, "how about another song?" The encore song was The Water is Wide.
After the concert many fans waited downstairs for Hayley to sign autographs. It is not like me to wait ,but I did and actually enjoyed the calm crowd waiting for Hayley to come to the area.There were people of all ages there as Hayley patiently signed and chatted with the fans. After I got my autograph and left the theatre I had the thought that this young woman has captured the hearts of people all around the world.
So there is my version of the concert in Worcester on March 20, 2006.
It was a wonderful night for all who were there.
Cheers, Dave Gibson






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[Joe]

Thanks very much, Dave G, for that wonderful report from Worcester.

That night will certainly be a night that you won't soon forget!

Hope you are enjoying the mild weather !

Joe

[Andrew]

davidwgibson said:

The following is my experience at the Worcester concert on March 20,2006. I originally wrote this for a group I'm on over at Yahoo.[Simon's group] Please forgive the redundancy if you have already read this there.I've just learned to copy and paste.Here goes:

Cheers, Dave Gibson

Hi Dave,

Many thanks for your Worcester Concert Review. I've just read this for the first time. You did an excellent job with keeping notes on the order of all the songs in Hayley's set list, which included a good mix of songs from both studio albums, in addition to more exclusive numbers like, 'Mummers Dance' and 'The Water is Wide'. If there were members of the audience new to Hayley, I'm sure 'Amazing Grace' would have "broken down all the barriers". Hayley always uses that song to powerful effect.

Regards,

Andrew

Indeed as you suggested, Hayley has captured the hearts of many people all round the world.

[Dave Gibson]

Thanks for the note Joe ,it was a wonderful night as you say not soon to be forgotten. Yes I am enjoying the nice temps. Tomorrow 64 degrees.
Gotta Go ,Dave Gibson

[Dave Gibson]

Andrew ,you are welcome for the review . I actually did keep notes in the dark,it was fun,I felt like a reporter for the group that could not be there.
I did very much enjoy '' The Mummer's Dance", it had a good heathly beat and lots of vitality. Hayley said, it was a song that is sung on St. Patrick's Day. In our town ,in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, on New Years Day, there is a Mummer's Day parade. People prepare all year long practicing music and making very elaborate costumes. Then on New Years Day there is a huge parade down Main Street. It is a very festive occasion.
Andrew ,it's been good talking to a Scotsman.
From one captured heart to another,Cheers,Dave Gibson