OnYourShore.com Journal - experiences with Charlotte Martin

NOTE: I accidentally destroyed the old journal page.  Working Hard to get the Journal Page up and running again

Ahh, time for a new entry!

It had been over a year since I had last seen Char in concert.   Familiar stomping ground for her, and for her fans, she returned to the Hotel Cafe.

Although I don’t have the exact set list (if someone does, please add a comment) but let me tell you what I think were the highlights.  She definitely played a number of songs from Orphans which I was very pleased to hear.  Digging into the past a little bit, she also broke out with Veins again, which is always a treat for me.  The highlight of the evening, however, was the debut of “Last Song,” from her upcoming album.  I was completely awestruck by this song, and if it’s any indication, the new album is going to be spectacular.

 Also, Char said that a tour is imminent.  The shows in New York were a sort of Test Run to see how well little Ronen handles travel and touring, and apparently he’s a champ!

What exciting news!  New album and new tour coming up.  I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say that we can’t wait.

On a more personal note, this show meant a lot to me.  As some of you know, I started med school a year and a half ago, and it has been trying, and it has robbed me of much of my free time, and to a certain degree, my personality.  To be able to see a Charlotte show again has made me centered, and calm.  I don’t know how many shows I’ll be able to see in the future - starting in June, I will be out on hospital rotations, which could mean long hours and strange call schedules.  I’m not saying that this will be my last show, but things might get become difficult from now on.

Still, Char, I love you, and I will see you whenever I can!

A blast from the past.

I never did write this entry, and I apologize for it.  Things (including time),  got away from me.  As such, the detail of this show are lost to me.  :(  However, I did want to share a couple of things.

On this evening, I gave Char a photo book filled with images from the shows that I had been to over the years.  I do believe she quite enjoyed this gift, and a it was a pleasure for me to be able to make and share this with her.

Images from that night, including a picture of her with the book, are above.

Setlist:
Angel
Limits (Of Our Love)
Cut The Cord
I Am Stretched On Your Grave
Civilized
Something Like A Hero
Cherry-Coloured Funk
Revival
Keep Me In Your Pocket
Veins
Obstacle

Sorry this is so long in coming!
During the past few months, I have had a lot of changes in my life, including moving and starting med school.

As such, this entry will be short, and limited to the pictures that you see above. I saw Char at the Red Devil Lounge with my dear friend Melissa. Char broke out a lot of the Stromata songs, including The Dance, which has become among my very favorites.

After the show, we again had an opportunity for a wonderful meet-and-greet with Char. She was very emotional that night, and the tour was clearly wearing on her. With a lot of tears, and a lot of hugs, Melissa and I were able to make her feel a little bit better, and a little more loved.

As always, Char will always be loved whenever I’m around.

After a long (10-month!) layoff without a Char show, I was able to catch her in San Francisco, opening for Pete Yorn. What I witnessed was a very different, though completely “Char,” show.

Armed with her typical two-keyboard set-up and joined by a drummer, she opened with The Dance, which was the one song that I had really hoped to hear live. It did not disappoint. The driving rhythms provided a powerful backdroup for her voice, which resonated through the room, fully capturing both the audience and the soul of The Dance.

She followed with Cut the Cord and Four Walls, both filled with gyrations and kinetic energy, to a greater extent than I’d ever seen with her. Darkest Hour came next, which was sooo welcome for me. I felt like I hadn’t heard that song in ages, and I needed to hear it.

Keeping up the level of energy, Keep Me In Your Pocket entertained the crowd and got it moving. Stromata came next and the audience seemed mesmerized by it. It was a largely
Pete Yorn audience, unfamiliar with Charlotte, but definitely becoming impressed. She ended with Veins, and received a strong ovation from the crowd. As always, I’m sure she made new fans with her performance.

After the show, and accompanied by my usual white roses, I met with Char, who was indeed in the high-energy spirit of the night. She said that the shows (like this one) were going to be different, and she was going to rock the house more often. I enjoyed the connection with her after having not seen her in so long. She never really leaves me, but it’s always good to be back in her arms. The feeling that I get when I see her perform does not change - it remains strong, and moving.

The night was indeed an early Valentine!