WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN…
SINGING ALONG

Joanne O’Brien celebrates Karen
Carpenter with warmth, superb
vocals, and a room full of happy fans

If you were at CV Rep this past Tuesday night, you already know we were treated to something special. Joanne O’Brien brought her Karen Carpenter tribute show to the stage, and for anyone who loves that classic 1970s soft-rock sound, it was pure nostalgia heaven.

Right from the start, it felt like one big communal celebration. Joanne didn’t just perform for us; she had the audience singing along with her throughout almost the entire evening. When you’re dealing with hits like “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” it’s pretty much impossible to keep a room full of fans from joining in. Joanne leaned right into that energy.

What made the evening even more impressive was a bit of behind-the-scenes drama that most people never would have guessed. The legendary Michael Orland stepped in as her accompanist and music director at the last minute. Get this: they had only a single rehearsal together before taking the stage Tuesday night. You would never know it from listening to them. Michael is a master at the keys, and the chemistry between him and Joanne was terrific. To pull off a show with that much musical precision after one rehearsal is nothing short of a miracle.

The setlist hit all the definitive highs, especially those famous songs that weren’t originally written for the Carpenters but became their signature hits after the duo put its magical stamp on them (Leon Russell’s “Superstar” being a standout).

One of the coolest parts of the evening was a totally unexpected twist. Joanne put together a medley of songs Karen Carpenter never recorded but easily could have. Hearing those smooth, velvety Carpenter-style vocal arrangements applied to rock classics by Led Zeppelin, The Doors, and KISS was brilliant. It was clever, funny, and showed off a completely different side of Joanne’s versatility.

By the time the evening wrapped up, the crowd was buzzing. Between the audience sing-alongs, Michael Orland’s heroic last-minute piano work, and Joanne’s stunning vocals, it was an unforgettable evening of music.

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photo of previous concert from Joanne O’Brien.net

Yesterday Once More, The Sound Of Karen Carpenter
Joanne O’Brien
CVRep Playhouse, 68510 E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City
reviewed on June 23, 2026
Summer Cabaret Series ends on July 30, 2026
Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7
for more cabaret ($65 per person), call 760.296.2966 or visit CVR

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