Displaying items by tag: Mary Chapin Carpenter
Indigo Girls and Mary Chapin Carpenter Bring Girl Power To Ravinia
It was a triple bill of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Indigo Girls and Shawn Mullins a cool Friday night in June, the perfect atmosphere for some hot music. And though the showed started early at, 6:30 PM, there was already a surprisingly good-sized crowd on hand well before the activities were to begin. For those of you who have not experienced Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, the park contains a massive picnic area that surrounds the pavilion where the stage is held. Some stay in the lawn area until the headliner hits the stage, others remain in the picnic area and just enjoy the ambience while listening to the concert to the speakers set up throughout. This show was no different.
The first thing I noticed when I first heard the Indigo Girls over twenty years ago was their vocal harmonies, an interesting blend. Amy Ray has a very deep voice for a female singer and Emily Saliers has the higher and much more versatile voice. This makes for an interesting vocal blend. My only issue with this is the repetition of this formula on every song though I am not that familiar with their catalog of work in its entirety. I found that even though their sound is quite unique, after a couple songs their sound could get a bit predictable. Having said that, the crowd certainly approved of what they heard, many of them singing along and dancing in place.
The Indigo Girls were backed up by three other performers, a multi instrumentalist, a violinist/vocalist and a singer/guitarist. Even with the augmentation of the line up, I still found a lot of their songs have few variables to the band’s overall sound. The tempo and harmonies were just extremely similar from song to song.
Shawn Mullins opened up the night with an acoustic guitar, his own voice and an accordion player. This exceptional baritone singer had a really folky vibe that was a great warm up for the crowd. The pavilion had a lot of empty seats still at that point as concert goers milled about the grounds, but the people that were watching his act really appeared to enjoy his music. Mullins’ sense of humor was also very refreshing.
The act of the night in my opinion was the one in the middle, Mary Chapin Carpenter. She had a typical five-piece band line up, drums, bass, keys and guitar. Backing vocals were provided by the bass and keys players. Now, I don’t know why, but Carpenter is a performer I can honestly say slipped under my radar. A real veteran, her performance was amazing, as Carpenter played a great variety of material - and played it to perfection. If I were to label her music I would say folk….no, country….no, Rock and Roll….all of the above. I hate categories because of their limiting definitions anyway. I like variety and her portion of the show was a great example of that. I really thought Mary should have been the headliner after watching her, but the Girls have a very strong following. It’s not right to say a certain performer is better than another, so I won’t go there. Rather, I simply found Carpenter the performer of the night.
The Indigo Girls is still an act worth seeing. I think maybe branching out a bit may be in their best interest. Their fans would probably disagree, that’s okay. Their following is very loyal, and this could be partly due to their social position…just a couple girls doing it on their own for the most part. I should probably listen a little more clearly to the lyrics, that is probably where the variety of their material lies. I’m sure it is also somewhat difficult to provide a lot of different tempos and rhythmic variations when you play without a live drummer. Heading into the show, I wasn’t sure what their lineup was going to be since I have mostly seen Amy and Emily play as a duet.
The Indigo Girls closed the show with “Closer to Fine”, the song that really put them on the map. The crowd was probably louder than the Girls were at times during that song. That’s what it’s all about really anyway, communication. If you can get an audience to respond like that, mission accomplished. So, to sum it up my criticism of the lack of variety was clearly only in my eyes. Their audience didn’t view it like that. I guess for me Bob Dylan is the same way. To the average listener, many of his songs sound the same. Am I comparing The Indigo Girls to Bob Dylan? I guess in a way, their appeal is in the same vein. Just simple songs played with their own particular flavor. Folk music is what it says it is, music of the people. The people responded, that’s all that really matters, not the opinion of one critic.
The critically acclaimed hit production of Obliteration returns
10 March 2025 in Upcoming TheatreObliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4,…
Red Clay Dance Company’s 16 centers perseverance and legacy in Vershawn Sanders-Ward Revival and Bebe Miller Premiere
10 March 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn…
Stand Up Together Comedy stars unite during Chicago fundraiser to support California wildfire victims Thursday, March 27 at Laugh Factory Chicago
10 March 2025 in Upcoming TheatreStand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL…
Luck Be a Lady Tonight: A Rollicking Review of Music Theatre Works’ 'Guys and Dolls'
09 March 2025 in Theatre in ReviewFollowing a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener,…
Auditorium Theatre’s Presentation of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Company Soars and Astounds
08 March 2025 in Dance in ReviewTwo dancers stand center stage. The traditional, spiritual music begins to play as they start to move. Very much in…
"HENRY JOHNSON," DAVID MAMET'S NEWEST PLAY, TO MAKE ITS CHICAGO PREMIERE AT VICTORY GARDENS THEATER APRIL 8 – MAY 4
07 March 2025 in Upcoming TheatreVictory Gardens Theater, in association with Relentless Theatre Group, will present the Midwest premiere of a new work by Pulitzer Prize-winner,…
Citadel’s I and You Delivers a Dynamite Story that Closes with a Knockout
01 March 2025 in Theatre in ReviewProlific, and routinely recognized as being one of the most produced playwrights in the country, Lauren Gunderson’s range is as…
Review: Titus Andronicus at Redtwist Theatre
26 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo not bring the kids to TITUS ANDRONICUS; it has 14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members,…
See Chicago Dances Launches New Website March 10
26 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceSee Chicago Dance (SCD), celebrating 20 years as the most comprehensive resource for dance information in Chicago and one of the…
HELL'S KITCHEN is Coming to Chicago
26 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreGet ready, Chicago! AKW Productions and Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce that the 13-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway sensation, HELL’S KITCHEN, is set to…
Court Theatre announces casting for the world premiere of Berlin
25 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreUnder the continuing leadership of Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, with interim artistic leadership from Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent and Senior Managing Producer Heidi…
Ryan Opera Center celebrates 50th anniversary in concert, Apr 25
24 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago's renowned artist-development program, will present its annual…
The Joffrey Ballet Announces 2025-26 Season at Lyric Opera House
24 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceAshley Wheater MBE, The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, today announces the Joffrey's 2025-2026 season at…
Review: ‘Hedda Gabler’ at The Artistic Home at The Den Theatre
22 February 2025 in Theatre in Review‘Hedda Gabler’ has mystified audiences for generations, as this was certainly Ibsen’s intention when creating this endlessly fascinating character. The…
Get It While It’s Hot: Waitress now serving at Paramount Theatre
22 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewSugar, butter, flour…beneath the flaky layers and buttery crusts of pies lay these three simple ingredients. They’re mixed and blended…
RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION On Sale February 21st
20 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreBroadway In Chicago is excited to announce individual tickets for RIVERDANCE 30 – THE NEW GENERATION will go on sale on Friday,…
'Clue' The Hilarious Whodunit Brings Mystery Mayhem to CIBC Theatre
20 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’m not a fan of board games. I’ve never finished a full game of Monopoly. Risk? No, thanks. But Clue?…
Rivendell Theatre launches 30th Season with world premiere of No Such Thing
19 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreRivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only women-centered Equity storefront theatre, ushers in its 30th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of No Such Thing by…
Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre's THE BOOK OF GRACE - Chicago Premiere!
19 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for the Chicago premiere of The…
Celebrating 15th Anniversary of Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works at the MCA from March 14-23
18 February 2025 in Upcoming DanceThe Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet celebrates the 15th Anniversary of its choreographic competition, Winning Works, with five world premieres over…
Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Melanie Coffey May 1–24, 2025
18 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreAvalanche Theatre announces its Chicago debut with the world premiere of Time is a Color and the Color is Blue by Chicago playwright…
Reaching New Heights: Radvanovsky is Radiant at the Lyric Opera
17 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo not believe the hype. AI will not replace the arts. By its very definition it is artificial, the antithesis…
A new "cult" classic: Missy Mazzoli's The Listeners comes to Lyric Opera, Mar 30
17 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewDo you hear it? The haunting hum of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's The Listeners will transfix audiences at Lyric Opera of…
Creepy-Crawly Circus Magic: OVO Dazzles at NOW Arena!
16 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewI’ve never seen Cirque and have always longed to. It was SO worth the wait! Here’s what I saw: Color.…
Northlight announces cast for Prayer for the French Republic in a co-pro with Theater Wit
16 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreNorthlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2024–2025 season with Joshua Harmon's celebrated play Prayer for…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces the cast of its NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Production Sunny Afternoon
15 February 2025 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the cast and creative team of its highly anticipated North American Premiere musical event Sunny Afternoon. Based…
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical - How a nice Jewish girl from Brooklyn gave us the songs that defined a generation
15 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewBeautiful: The Carole King Musical is a captivating tribute to the extraordinary journey of Carole King, tracing her path from…
Delightful ‘Circus Quixote’ Marks Lookingglass Triumphant Return to Water Tower
12 February 2025 in Theatre in Review“Don Quixote of La Mancha” is considered the oldest European novel, but it gets a fresh and exciting new treatment…
Review: 'Fool for Love' at Steppenwolf Theatre
10 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLove is often jokingly referred to as a socially acceptable form of insanity, but in Sam Shepard’s ‘Fool for Love’…
Court Theatre’s "A Raisin in the Sun": Bold Choices, Timeless Struggles
10 February 2025 in Theatre in ReviewLike the dream deferred in Langston Hughes' poem that inspired its title, Court Theatre's latest production of "A Raisin in…
Latest Articles
-
Red Clay Dance Company’s 16 centers perseverance and legacy in Vershawn Sanders-Ward Revival and Bebe Miller Premiere
Written by Buzz Center StageThe Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces 16 by Red Clay Dance Company for three performances only, April 17-19, 2025, featuring Founding Artistic Director and CEO Vershawn Sanders-Ward (‘02)’s new staging of Written on the Flesh and a premiere by Bebe Miller—commissioned and set on Red Clay Dance Company dancers including… -
The critically acclaimed hit production of Obliteration returns
Written by Buzz Center StageObliteration, LLC & The Revival Theater announce a limited engagement of Obliteration, written by Andrew Hinderaker, directed by Jonathan Berry, featuring Michael Patrick Thornton and Cyd Blakewell. Obliteration runs April 10-May 4, 2025, at The Revival Theater, 906 S Wabash Ave in Chicago. Obliteration is a fusion of stand-up comedy and theater that tells…
-
Stand Up Together Comedy stars unite during Chicago fundraiser to support California wildfire victims Thursday, March 27 at Laugh Factory Chicago
Written by Buzz Center StageStand Up Together, a comedy benefit in support of artists impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires, hosted by Second City and SNL Alum Katie Rich, is planned for Thursday, March 27 at 7:30pm at Laugh Factory Chicago, 3175 N Broadway. Comedians Pat McGann, Katie Rich, Megan…
-
Luck Be a Lady Tonight: A Rollicking Review of Music Theatre Works’ 'Guys and Dolls'
Written by Kimberly KatzFollowing a string of successful shows, Music Theater Works has once again hit the jackpot with their 2025 season opener, Guys and Dolls. This delightful production is currently wowing audiences at the North Theatre at the North Shore Center for…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.