Mary Chapin Carpenter

The opening act was great, the room was great, the staff was great, the pizza was great! Mary Chapin Carpenter was phenomenal! The only I issue had was in the photo, luckily I chose an aisle seat and I could lean. This is NO FAULT of the venue's and didn't prevent me from enjoying the show. It's just one of life's little curve balls!

This was my 4th time to see a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert and as always, she didn't disappoint. Granted, she doesn't perform with the large band she once did, but that didn't matter, she sounded great. The Lyric Theater is a wonderful place for this type of concert. Hope she doesn't wait so long to come back to Birmingham

Mary Chapin Carpenter is a great artist with an excellent group of musicians backing her up. She was super in this venue, able to interact with the crowd. Her opener, Rose Cousins, was a skilled musician and songwriter in her own right and complimented Carpenter well. The show was in turns, contemplative and moving, and raucous and upbeat. One of the best shows I've seen in a very long time. I'd pay to go see it again!

Madeleine Peyroux is a jazz singer. I really don't understand the beauty of jazz (a nice way of saying that I hate to listen to it). So, the first hour was mainly shutting my eyes, trying to sleep through it and knowing that it would end sometime after that time was first killed. I would not ever go back to see her show (although she may be a very, very nice person and talented artist). In short, I hated it. Give it a goose egg - 0. No, make that a 1 (her band played well). Madeleine Peyroux gave the impressions that she either was very shy of an audience or that she was going thur the motions to get a paycheck - no audience identification to speak of - just a detached persona. Mary Chapin Carpenter was a 180 degree difference. I loved the show which was truly enjoyable. She sings good songs, they sound great - most of her band has been with her for years and that fact shows - her lyrics tell some great stories or convincingly convey empathetic emotions and she seemed to want to be there and perform. So it's a 10. I'd go back even if the next show was next week. So what's the average? 5.5 = 11 out of 20. P.S.: If Madeleine Peyroux had been the second act, then I would have left after giving her about five songs as a "good try" to enjoy it. However, she was the first act and that meant that I had to stay thru the whole act to get to Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Very rare to find a performer who posseses the stage presence of this lovely lady. She shared the origins of some songs that served to etch the words of these songs into the listener in multi-dimensional levels. Her exchange with the crowd in between songs gave the impression of the existence of a long time friendship between the artist and her fans. Professionalism at it's finest.

Mary Chapin Carpenter is perhaps the greatest songwriter or her or anyone else's generation. She is back in form with new music, most of which was performed beautifully at the CEC/Concert Hall, an old church converted to a music hall. I don't know if it was the venue, the sound man or both, but drums were far too load on the full band songs, drowning out Chapin's sultry voice. The virtuoso performances were steller, especially the opening tune of the show, "We've Traveled So Far," which also opens the new album. "Mrs. Hemmingway" and "I Am A Town" were also memorable. All in all, a great show, but I hope the sound is better at Wolf Trap where I will catch Chapin and the band on their last show of the tour. Thank you Mary Chapin and band.

I did not do any research before the concert to learn about Madeline Pereoux. I regret this now. Madeline sang for a little over an hour, which was an hour too long. She reminded me of the bridesmaid in the ugly saffron dress standing next to Mary Chapin Carpenter who was the beautiful bride in the absolutely amazing wedding dress. Of course, this comparison should be an audible one, and maybe it isn't totally fair to Madeline. I have a feeling the venue for someone with Madeline's signing style was all wrong. The discordant warble was so tense up in the mez that my date had to cover her ears after the first 30 minutes. We almost got up to leave! It really was intolerable. If we had softer walls and a quieter band Madeline's efforts might have been better appreciated by the two of us. Madeline told us when she started that she had three style of songs... Blues, Booze and Ballads. I want to correct her. She had three styles of lyrics. I did not notice much difference between the three from a musical standpoint. Wow, that's a lot about the opening act! My recommendation is to show up an hour late or wait in the lobby until you hear the real clapping begin. Sorry Madeline. When Mary Chapin Carpenter came on the stage and started singing her first song the audience around me, my date and me included, all breathed a sigh of relief. Literally. The soothing tones were just what we needed. The contrast was amazing. Mary told us that she heard Madeline sign and fell instantly in love. She would not have had she been in the audience last night. I thought listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter was an amazing experience, one I would recommend to everyone.

We saw Madeleine Peyroux previously at Berkley and this performance was nowhere near as impressive. I was very disappointed. Mary Chapin Carpenter was very good.

Great set list which took you on a journey by blending old and new. Mary Chapin's voice and style is engaging and down right fun. What a treasure to see live! Also, her band is unbelievably talented and accomplished.

As the NYTimes would say,{ Ms.} Carpenter performed last night at a small venue, that could have supported at least ten times more of her fans. After seeing her at both larger and smaller venues, she performs with a brilliance that only she can obtain. With songs mingled from her newest album, The Age of Miracles, her last foray into the folk/country stream, The Calling, and back to her "pop/country" days of crossover hits, that won her five Grammy"s, Ms. Carpenter has leapt back to health and voice and unbridled exuberance. With her band, many whom have been with her for years, Hello Mr. Jennings and Mr. Carol, and the "newer" additions, they performed with confidence and expertise. Entering and exiting the stage to let the star of the night shine! What more could anyone want of a night with the talented, comedic and overly blessed Mary Chapin Carpenter. I, too, have a calling and a need for solitude and you are mine! Thanks a lot, Chapin! xoxo Marc

I thought Mary Chaepin was great what a great voice and great Band 2. Great mix of old and new material.

She pours her heart and soul into every word, every note, every song. You can tell it really comes from deep inside. Sharing her inner most feelings with the world. It is one of the best shows I have seen this year and I go to quite a few. If she comes to your town don't miss it. Her connection with the audience is very special.

Great concert, M.C. was in great voice, Jennings was smooth as silk, as always. A word about the drummer, crack and Red Bull don't mix. His ham-handed playing and wild gesticulations were distracting at best.

Mary Chapin Carpenter and her band were in fine form at the Concert Hall in New York on June 26. She is a great performer and one of our best songwriters. It is great to have her back performing. The band was terrific. This concert, at least to me, showed she is more of a rocker than a country artist, but hey, it's all just music anyway. One small criticism - I think that her voice could have been more prominent in the mix.

The drummer was too loud. Hard to hear the singer. Overall, it was good hearing Mary Chapin Carpenter at a lovely location. This made the atmosphere cozy.

I bought tickets to this concert not being a huge fan, not even owning a CD of hers. Today I bought three!! She was superb, her band was wonderful...they really gave it their all and were clearly having a ball doing so. Thanks! (PS We love this venue...saw Ricki Lee Jones here over the winter...)

I will admit to being a big fan. This was my tenth Mary Chapin Carpenter concert. And it is impressive how she changes the "golden odlies" that she meshes with the new songs. But, despite its being an New York City concert, she clearly had not prepared to perform Grand Central Station, but after some requests from the audience, she did it without rehearsal as her fourth encore song. It was very impressive that the regular band members, who had not performed this song in years, could remember the tune and she could instantly recall the lyrics.

Welcome back. The most wonderfully, intimate, personal evening.

I liked many of her songs my wife plays frequently at home, so I thought this would be a good show to take her to. Turned out to be one of the best shows I've seen in years. The band (2 guitars, bass, keyboards, drums) was as tight as you can get. Mary put on a great show that ran like clockwork, but still added enough chit-chat to make it seem like she'd just dropped into your living room to sing a few songs. Clearly she enjoyed being there and the audience was devoted. With the two encores she played over two hours, without a hitch. The venue (The Concert Hall, NYC) is a converted church, so the seats were uncomfortable, but it was an intimate hall with pretty good sound.

I sawy Mary Chapin Carpenter 3 years ago in the same venue. She had a lot more energy last night. Back in 2007, she had to sit for most of the show due to a bad back. This new album is great and she wrapped up the nigth with Grand Central Station, based on a Shout Out from a person in the audience earlier in the show.

The venue was incredibly comfortable and intimate even though we were in the balcony. The interactions between MCC and her band members are electric - they were so clearly in sync both as friends and musicians.

I have been a MCC fan for decades. This is the 3rd concert I have gone to and the second in this venue. I will come back again. Her songs touch my soul. I love the variation in song style, the depth of the sound, the obvious camaraderie between her and the band members, the talent of all of the performers and the wisdom of her lyrics, balanced by the obvious enjoyment that she has in performing the pieces. She knocked out one song after another for 2 1/2 hours. It was incredible. The acoustics in this hall are fabulous and the setting is cozy. The view of the stage is good from any seat in the hall. I was in tears during the show several times due to the intensity of emotion that her performance provoked in me. Her songs make my skin tingle, even on CD.

MC was there and in fine form. Her band was great and she responded to the audience with patience and good energy. I expected that she would play her new material but she also played her top ten stuff as well. It was truly wonderful. In addition, the venue was comfortable and very friendly. Could not have been better.

"I feel lucky", I feel blessed to have seen Mary Chapin Carpenter live in Concert Hall! Her ability to deeply and movingly connect the deepest part of one's heart and soul through her poetic words, voice and guitar wizardry makes me feel I truly have lived my life to the fullest! Bravo, Bravo Bravo..She is the best there is and Concert Hall is a special place and privileged by her presence! AMAZING!

Fantastic show. What a talent! Great band too. Perfect venue. Great evening

Mary Chapin Carpenter gave her audience another great show last night. Her touching, relevant songs speak to you and her personality shines through. The band is a group of very talented musicians and it was a great night out. The Concert Hall is a great venue - beautiful architecture, good sound. One negative - very few bathrooms which resulted in very long lines but not that unusual in NYC.

Fabulous show! Some new songs, some old songs, some old songs reworked! She sounds better than ever!

Mary Chapin Carpenter is BACK & better than ever. Thanks for "Traveling So Far" to us in NYC. Can't wait to see you again.

Mary Chapin Carpenter has for a long time been my favorite female artist, even during the last century! That last part was hers! She used that line before some of the songs from the 80s and 90s. Her shows do not just include her singing, she gets up close and personal kind of .... She shares some of herself with her audience. I don't know if you will include this or not but I also had the absolute pleasure of seeing her again on August 2 at Stern Grove and by some miracle, I spoke to her and she answered! We had this little mini conversation as she and Aoife O'Donovan walked towards the backstage area. I am still smiling! This will probably forever be one of the best weekends of my life!!

Entertained the audience for 2 hours. Made me feel like I was I her living room.

Simple = One Mary Chapin Carpenter Concert = 6 Therapist Visits = Great !!!

I would have to say that this concert is going to be the highlight of my summer. Mary's voice is even more beautiful in person. Tift was wonderful and really got the audience ready. The band was terrific, especially the pianist who also plays accordion. I'm so glad we got tickets for this show. I kept saying, "That was great!" on the drive home.

A great 90 minute show from MCC and band. There was a nice mix of old and some excellent new material. MCC is one of the finest songwriters and performers I have ever heard. John Jennings on guitar was also a plus. A good 45 minute solo opening set from Tift Merritt. that's Tift, with a T.

Unfortunately, I am not familiar with Mary Chapin Carpenter or any of the songs she played, so I will refrain from reviewing her portion of the show. Marc Cohn opened for her and the only reason I gave this show 4 stars is because his set was painfully short. MUCH shorter than I am accustomed to when he headlines. Regardless, he always rocks! He played 9 songs. (See below for setlist.) That's it. Not even as long as any of his albums! *pout* Still, the zoo is always a fun place to see him perform and you can always walk up close to take photos and get a better view of the performance from the "dance" area.

Mary needs to update her photo, but not her performance - it was great! Marc was wonderful, too!

Marc was superior to Mary. Mary definitely has songwriting ability but lacks in vocal talent. Not to distinctive at all. Marc and his band is just superb. Voice quality, music, musicianship is so great. The zoo is a fantastic venue.

It was a wonderful summer venue, more than helpful staff. Catie and Mary Chapin Carpenter enjoyed each other and the band it reflected in the event. It was memorable evening.

Years of waiting to see MCC in concert finally came to an beautiful ending when my husband surprised me with a trip to see her in concert at the MN Zoo. The 7 hour trip was WELL worth it, as I listened through tears of joy and gratefulness for the opportunity to share in MCC's amazing music. The setting was lovely, the small weather delay was no bother, and there were no "bad seats" in the place. A very intimate show, I still wished I could have had a chance to meet her. I asked several people "just in case" someone would let me meet her, but to no avail. Perhaps I'll get that chance some day, but just to see her in concert was incredible enough!

We sat in the back of the orchestra and could only make out about 25% of the words being sung. I suppose most of the audience knew the words by heart and were not bothered by the lack of enunciation much of the time. In addition, the instrumentals were so loud it all but drowned out the vocals. During the show people outside in the lobby were so boisterous that their loud talking interfered with our attempts to enjoy the show. We're used to Broadway quality shows and concerts and this peformance was no where near that level, sorry to say. It was a shame because the performer has tremendous talent and writes beautiful, meaningful songs. I wish I could have been positive about the show but I was really very disappointed.

The State Theatre in Portland is a great place to hear music--fairly small, intimate, good sound. And Mary Chapin Carpenter--as she often does in concert, played a lot of her rockin', fun, upbeat tunes. Her voice sounds like honey to me--smooth, deep, resonant. No intermission, just song after song. Lots of music--old faves and newer work. Great concert!

Amazing event!! Mary Chapin Carpenter was terrific - played for 90+ minutes with no break!! Opening act, Kaitlyn Canty, was terrific too. Love that MCC showcases young female talent! Wonderful old venue - just the right size. Enough people for energy, but small enough to feel intimate.

MCC puts on a great show. Venue was hot, sticky, and uncomfortable.

She played consistently for 2 hours. Some newer and old stuff mixed together. She connects with the crowed and talks to us between songs. This is the second time we saw her and were not disappointed. The band is excellent also.

This was a wonderful show in an amazing venue. The band was excellent and Mary-Chapin's vocals are second to none. Her songs are poetry to music.

This was a fantastic show - one of the best concerts I have seen in years. Mary was in great voice, her set list was terrific, with songs all along her catalog and all of what a good fan would consider her best ( I Feel Lucky, Passionate Kisses, The Bug, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, The Shirt). She played with a full band, and the band sounded great. She was an excellent performer, very energetic and engaging. Couldn't have been any better! I look forward to her next time through, I will definitely go again.

Great show, nice intimate venue, good sound quality.

Have been a fan for over twenty years. first time I got to see her live. was better than i had imagined. her voice was strong and beautiful. my wife and i had an evening that we could..for a few hours.. forget the craziness and meaness of the world..thankyou for your music MCC.

Great concert highly recommend! Do yourself a favor and book your tickets!

Good opening act and great concert. well worth the price.

Great location. Mary Chapin Carpenter was amazing.

She is a consummate entertainer who was audience friendly, a 'real' person, and has an awesome band! Her opener, John Craigie, was also a bright spot of the show.

Perfect setting for an amazing concert by Mary Chapin Carpenter!

Mary Chapin Carpenter was outstanding as was her band. The evening was amazing! Theatre was great and she played and sang all her hits.

Wonderful venue and great concert. Still has a wonderful voice and great band.

I saw MCC 25 years ago or so but have not kept up with her latest work. It is mellow and slow, so don't plan on dancing your way through the concert... But this concert reignited my interest in her songwriting and reminded me of how beautiful her voice is! Mix that with talented musicianship and you've got a great show! I've already added the new album to my playlist...

Mary Chapin Carpenter, one of my heroes, performed her hits that we are familiar with, plus a couple of tunes that sound derivative of her hits. Always a hot support band. Impressed with with bassist Don Dixon, in particular.

Loved the concert. Would have enjoyed more solo acoustic performance

I've been listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter for decades and often found her songs to be inspiring and reassuring. Her performance included current as well as songs from long ago, e.g., "Stones in the Road." I hadn't heard her with a band, and she recognized the individual talents of each member. She sometimes talked between songs, reflecting on their meaning and how things had changed.

This was definitely one of her better concerts. I especially loved the Springsteen song towards the end. Definitely got me on my feet. Mixing up a song list is always a good thing.

Once again MCC doesn't disappoint. Such a gifted songwriter.

Mary Chapin Carpenter connects with the audience. Her songs are beautiful, evoking stirring emotions. The performance was polished, professional. But the band and MCC looked engaged, not automatic. If you like her songs, and you should, you will enjoy her live even more.

I would definitely recommend this event! Fast paced and packed with entertainment Well worth the money spent on tickets and more:>)

I saw Her a number of years ago Her band was more polished then. She also got somewhat political in the beginning. She also changed a number of what I consider her standards and not for the better. But it was ok. The venue was very nice and small enough to be somewhat intimate.

I have seen MCC many times when I would see her every summer at Wolf Trap. After about a 12 year gap it was wonderful to see her at the State Theater in Kalamazoo. So many artists focus on what is on their new record but MCC played through favorites from her 30 year career. Her voice is exactly as I remembered from Wolf Trap and her band is even better. If you like Halley's Comet or This Shirt you will love this show.

Thank you to Mary chapin and her band. An intimate Personal show was wonderful... and a great audience. Bring her back!

She s still got it! Fabulous performance by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Venue was beautiful.

The show was amazing, the only thing I had a problem with was the parking. They offer FREE valet parking for Nissan cars(which I own). We get there and they tell us rudely that they are all full , when clearly the garage had plenty of spaces left. I then ask the lady, if she can let us by pass the $15 the garage was asking for since we are suppose to get free parking. She rudely again said no . She was no help to us at all, and stood there quietly. Wouldn t recommend the venue, because of there commercializing of the FREE parking, when they clearly can t give you the free parking. I won t be going back. They need better customer service.

MCC was fantastic, as always! What a great concert! My heart is full!

It was an awesome show! Opening act John Paul White was great! And the venue, the Ryman, magical, bucket list item! Loved it!

Mary Chapin Carpenter was fantastic! John Paul White has such a good voice also!

Grand Old Opry has the best acoustics ever! Very warm venue and have seen most of my concerts there. Mary Chapin Carpenter had the most incredible band backing her and her piano player, who has been with her for a very long time, is fantastic. I miss Mr. Jennings.

Couldn't have asked for a better concert by a great performer in a wonderful intimate setting as the Ryman

wonderful program but for the political views....I don't care for performers to express their political stance on my $$$ regardless of being a D or R (or I)

This was probably the best show I've seen of Mary Chapin Carpenter. Just magical. Her opening act, John Paul White has a new fan in me too. Just incredible.

Loved Mary Chapin Carpenter. Awesome show. Highly recommend.

Mary performed all of her songs that I came to hear, and gave it her all. What a performance. I traveled all the way from Florida to hear her sing "Twist and Shout" and she didn't disappoint.

The concert was so much fun. This completed my Mom's bucket list. Mary Chapin Carpenter put on a great show.

I was excited to see Mary Chapin Carpenter, since I grew up listening to her. In saying that, I was let down. It was very hard to hear her talking into the microphone when she spoke to the crowd since she was soft spoken. Also, she didn t sing one of her biggest hits - Down at the Twist and Shout - very disappointing. She sang a lot of new stuff. The venue was very hot, almost as if the air didn t work. Over all, was a bad experience.

The Lyric is great!! MCC was wonderful. Rose Cousins was a delight and the band rocked. All around great time!

I truthfully did not quite know what to expect. I have a couple of her CD's (or albums, as Mary called them :>)) and am 'middle of the road on some.. Come in, Come in one of my all time favorites of ALL my music. This show, her kick-ass band, her rapport with her audience...everything! Give me more, Jersey girl!!!.

I've seen Mary Chapin a dozen times in concert. This, by far, was the best concert! She is no longer that shy girl, sitting on a stool, at a microphone. This girl rocks!! I especially liked the new version of "Bug and the Windshield." Awesome!! It has been at the top of my bucket list to meet Mary Chapin. I'm 63, recently retired, and am still a devoted fan. I saw her with the Four Girls opening night at the Ryan (on my birthday) and that was awesome, too. But Mary Chapin handle rock it on her own!! The acoustics at the Bijou Theater were exceptional.

She is the only (and I mean only) artist that can paint such a vivid picture in my mind as she sings. Her voice is like honey!!!!!

This was a great show! Mary Chapin Carpenter is intelligent, sweet, insightful, and amazing. I ve had a crush on her for 25 years, and it ll last another 25 now. This was the first show of a new tour, so there will be glitches. The keyboard and bass player are long time accomplises, the drummer was super strong and energetic. It will all come together!

Great show, she did all the old songs. Interacted with audience, everyone seemed to be having a great time. The Bijou is a small venue, perfectly suited for her personal style.

Mary Chapin Carpenter is a class act all the way. She performs with grace and charm. Having Rose Cousins as her opener and then singing with her was just frosting on the cake. There is nothing like a live performance and this lady puts on a great one!

Very well run professional concert with superb music. I throughly enjoyed the rapid pace of songs and the comments made between songs; As always the Bijou theater seating and accommodations were great. Listening to a solid performance in a small surroundings is a genuine pleasure.

I was surprised that MCC led off the evening. It felt like she was just going through the motions. Not much conversation with the audience.

MCC was awesome! I thought she would be the headliner but got everyone off to a fast start right after the backup duo(Unfortunately I cant remember their name) warmed up the crowd. Lucinda played many B side songs with typical Lu heart and though the wimpy crowd thinned as the night grew darker; those of us who stayed til the end had a great trio of shows. Also, the rain held off until the lights came on after the last encore!

Mary still has that voice we fell in love with so many years ago. We were excited that she made one of her stops right here in Boise, Idaho at the Morrison. Last time we saw her in concert was in Concord, Ca.this was so close to our house in Caldwell.

MCC is extremely talented. Have seen many of her performances and this was by far best in a while. Great energy. Great Sound. Great performance all around. Opening act Rose Cousins was great as well..beautiful voice..very entertaining

Second time seeing MCC. This time she seemed very happy and excited to be out on tour again. The crowd was totally into the performance. She did a mix of old and new but rocked it on Shut Up And Kiss Me, and I Feel Lucky. Two old members of the band and two newer members added a freshness. All in all if you love lyrics and a sort of inward reflecting personal song then MCC is for you. We love her and the night could not have been much better.

Some of her songs in concert are not as good as her studio versions. She sometimes talks it where it should be sung.

I loved the recent Mary Chapin Carpenter concert at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. She and her band were wonderful, and Rose Cousins who opened up for her was great, too!

It was so nice to see Mary Chapin Carpenter perform again. Where was she all theses years. A breathe of fresh air. Just an outstanding show so happy we were there to experience it. Would definitely see her again. Awesome, fantastic. She still has what it takes to perform. Hasn't lost a thing. The piano player was unbelievable. The band was great . the talent on the stage was awesome.

Saw this show and it was just great. Loved the arrangements of many of her best songs for this tour. I had never seen Mary Chapin Carpenter before and having many of her cd's was thrilled when she came to central Iowa. Rose Cousins was a great as well. Had never heard any of her music and was so impressed I got on Amazon as soon as I got home and ordered 2 of here cd's. Both are masterfully done. If you get a chance to see either of these ladies in concert do yourself a favor and get the tickets.

What a wonderful evening of music! Mary Chapin Carpenter was fantastic. I also loved hearing Rose Cousins for the first time. Great experience!

Mary Chapin Carpenter's voice was in excellent form all evening. The acoustic setting with both piano, and either accompanying electric or acoustic guitar combined wonderfully with the intimate setting at Hoyt Sherman. If Mary comes back next year, we'll be sure to go again. A great blend of some new music along with many of her previous hits made for a very enjoyable evening.

Show was amazing!!!! Mesmerizing!!! Don't miss this show if you are even a small fan of Mary Chapin!!

Went to primarily hear her foot tapping songs but only heard a couple. The rest all sounded the same. Slow and depressing

I am totally in love with her voice. She puts on an awesome show. Love the guitar and piano players. If I had to find a critique, the lighting on her could have been better. It was a wonderful evening.