As you can probably tell I have enjoyed myself. Before the show we (thats my Husband my son and daughter), were lucky enough to be able to spend some time with Mary's mum and sister Carole, and via them we were able to get the backstage passes that Mary had arranged. (And coincidently we were sat only a few rows behind them for the show).
Mary came on in the first half looking completely relaxed and immediately started joking with the 'boys' from the Chieftains something that was to continue throughout her performance. (I for one have never seen or heard her do that before). She looked lovely in a beautiful full length red and mauve dress and around her neck not her usual custom 'Petal Guitar' as I call it but an electric accoustic guitar which appeared to be supplied by a session guitarist who played with her and the Chieftains his name was Gabriel Donahue.
She started by saying she was nervous because her Mum and sister were in the audience, then to my amazement and delight she thanked me for the flowers I had sent back for her before the show. She then went into the first half of her set, she sang a traditional Welsh Folk Song 'AderynPur' and a song from the Chieftains new Album called 'Factory Girl', which was beautiful.
Then the Interval, my family and I go back stage to meet her, and she was her usual charming self, we even got to meet her lovely daughter. She made 'my' little Mary feel very important by commenting on what a lovely name they both shared! and was amazed at how my son had grown as she was expecting a 'small boy'. We chatted about lots of things, but one important item we discussed was the fact that she was going to have her own 'Web Site'. And she promised that we would eventually be able to obtain recordings via it.........! She let us take lots of photographs of her, and signed autographs for my children and one picture for me. (I left an envelope of requests for the rest of my 'web' friends and if she sends them back then I will gladly send them onto everyone). The time went far to quickly and before we knew it, the buzzer went to advise everybody to return to their seats for the second half.
The second half proved to be even better than the first (it that was at all possible). Mary came back out, beaming that beautiful smile and still joking with the rest of the band. She began to play and realised that her guitar mike was not plugged in, the other guitarist came over to help her and she called him her 'Angel Gabriel' and stated she had been waiting the whole tour to say that! She then introduced a song that she said was about 'relationships'. She then sang 'Painting by Numbers', for those of you who have been lucky enough to get a copy of the documentary that was done last year about Mary on Welsh TV would have heard this song, well she has changed the lyrics quite dramatically and for the better I think, a really excellent song that MUST be recorded..... when that finished to thunderous applause, she began to introduce someone she said she had known for a very long time, in fact all her life, she then introduces her daughter Jessie Morgan. She tells a really lovely story about when Jessie was about 6 years old, Mary told her that she would not see her for a few days as she had to go out on the road. (Sundance Tour) The following morning she says Jessie was very upset and said she can't go on the road its too dangerous she must stay on the pavement.!!! Mary then goes on to say, that Jessica then went to school and promptly told her teacher that her Mummy was going on the 'streets'!!! .........They start to play, and Mary stops and says "It would help if I played in the right key"... They then launch into a Dire Straits song "Why Worry" and it really was a lovely version. What an amazing combination they made, their voices sounded beautiful together, I suppose at this point I should say something like, "like mother like daughter", "a chip off the old block "etc.... but Jessica has a voice thats all her own and a wonderful style of singing, maybe we will soon be buying Jessie Morgan CD's. Mary and Jessie again leave the stage after what seems again too short a time.
The finale of the show, features everybody on stage so they again introduce Mary, they do a Comedic medley of different pieces of music and song, when it comes to Mary's turn, what she sings is a complete surprise and has the audience in fits of laughter. She introduces it as "something for the ladies", and proceeds with a 'ditty' which I call 'Good Men'. Which is far to 'rude' and risque to re-produce on a family website, (private emails only)..
And so the end, I wished it could have continued, It was a lovely evening Chris and I enjoyed it, my Children enjoyed it, I really hope I do not after wait another 8 years to hear that incredible voice again.
Pat Richmond
