Mary Chapin Carpenter - Symphony Hall, Birmingham, 9/5/2018
by Adam Coxon
published: 10 / 5 / 2018

intro
Adam Coxon finds accclaimed singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter to be a master of her art at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.
It's impossible to explain just how special a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert is unless you've actually witnessed it yourself. The near capacity crowd at the Birmingham Town Hall last night were only too aware of this. Each song was given the most rousing reception imaginable. There is so much love for Ms. Carpenter in the room tonight. The concert has a completely intimate feel about it. Maybe it's a combination of the beautiful surroundings of the Town Hall and the laid back sounds and diary entry like quality of Carpenter's music but there is some kind of magic in the air. Mary is here tonight as part of a tour to promote her latest album, 'Sometimes Just the Sky'. An album which as Mary explains features recently cut re-workings of songs from her back catalogue. She has chosen one song from each of her albums to re-work except the title track of the album which is the only new track featured. You get a sense that the overall sound at the Town Hall could have been a little bit better. Carpenter's voice felt just a little too low in the mix at times meaning that it wasn't always easy to hear her lyrics. That is much to our detriment given that she is one of the finest singer-songwriters of our age. It, however, didn't detract from basking in the greatness of her songs. They're all featured here tonight. Lots of songs from the new album (many of which are already firm fan favourites), songs about the farm that she lives on and a couple of songs about ex-boyfriends thrown in for good measure. With two standing ovations throughout the evening, this really was a complete masterclass from a master of her art.
Band Links:-
https://www.youtube.com/user/MaryChapinCrpntrVEVOhttps://plus.google.com/116032299810527547904
https://twitter.com/M_CCarpenter
https://www.facebook.com/officialmarychapin/
http://www.marychapincarpenter.com/
digital downloads
soundcloud
reviews |
The Dirt and the Stars (2020) |
![]() |
Understated but powerful combination of mainstream rock and country on fifteenth album from Mary Chapin Carpenter |
The Things That We Are Made Of (2016) |
The Age of Miracles (2010) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Sarah Cracknell - InterviewDouglas MacIntyre - Interview
Jann Klose - Sugar My
Jimmy Webb - (With support from Ashley Campbell and Thor Jenson), Cadogan Hall, London. 27/5/2022
Jarvis Cocker - Good Pop Bad Pop - An Exhibition of Objects and Keepsakes of Jarvis Cocker
Loop - Interview
Tom Newman - Interview
Rolling Stones - Anfield, Liverpool, 9/6/2022
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Simply Red - La Marina, Valencia, Spain, 7/6/2022
previous editions
Stewart Copeland - Police Deranged For Orchestra - Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 11/9/2021World Party - Interview
Music Festivals - Profile 2022
Sam Brown - Interview 2008
Cliff Richard - Vs Elvis Presley
Dire Straits Legacy - Interview
Cathal Coughlan - Interview
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Gypsy Dave Mills - Interview
Jimmy Nail - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Def Leppard - Diamond Star HalosLucky Ones - Slow Dance, Square Dance, Barn Dance
Various - Heroes & Villains – The Sound Of Los Angeles 1965-1968,
Dave Stewart - Ebony McQueen
Gabi Garbutt and the Illuminations - Cockerel
Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That...
Emile Sande - Let's Say For Instance
Soup Review - Go and See
Girls At Our Best! - Pleasure
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me: 20th Anniversary Edition
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart