| Great Big Sea at Artscape in Baltimore, MD |
| We got there with time to spare and drove around looking for a parking space. For a few minutes we were “parked” right next to the b’ys van but the only one running in and out of it was Tony. And we figured it was a sure way to get a ticket. We did find close parking and got out to wind our way to the front of the traffic island where the stage was. The mayor of Baltimore must be a real character! He had his own band up there playing Irish-American favorites. Every once in a while he’d mention the GBS was next and wait for the cheering to subside before going into the next song. I bet he’ll have them back again. There certainly were a lot of fans there. And they weren’t all from the OKP either! I didn’t even have to beg Nancy to be up front, like we did at the Natalie MacMaster concert. I never will have to beg again either – I think she’s now a front and center GBS person. Finally it was GBS time and we found some chatters up front as well as scattered all over. Vic’s moose hat continues to be a babe-magnet. LOL! He was approached by so many women who were not shy about talking to him. I guess they feel safe around Bullwinkle J. Moose in a Road Rage cap! The mayor introduced them I believe and thanked them for bring the Newfoundland cool weather with them. It was a gorgeous evening for an outdoor show! Danny came out and proved how versatile he really is. Don’t you love the way he holds Bob’s fiddle? Like it was going to explode or something! |
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| Donkey Ridin’ Billy Peddle When I’m Up Goin’ Up – Here Alan talked about Baltimore being the home of the Superbowl champs, and then there was some discussion about the Gray Cup? I have no clue, but he said it was the first city to hold both the Gray Cup AND the Superbowl. Boston and St. John’s Pat Murphy – Alan’s quote – “Only at a GBS show can a song be fun when it’s about a funeral!” Sea of No Cares – Hey, hey, hey somewhere. You throw your fear in the Sea of No Cares.” Great new song. Can’t wait to hear the rest of the new album. There was a short Sociable here – I raised my invisible Mike’s Old Black Rum – Alan – “This is a warning song – not very popular among folk bands.” |
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| General Taylor – It was great as usual. Bob spoke to acknowledge the great Sean McCann Lukey I’m A Rover – Alan - “dedicated to all the ladies who have bedrooms.” Sean- “I didn’t do it, I swear! It wasn’t me!” Consequence Free MariMac Ordinary Day – “Nothing ordinary about these days!” – Alan Encore! (surprise since there was another band ready to come on. But I don’t think the crowd would have been silent till GBS came out for an encore. Having said that, I cannot remember for certain what it was – I think it was Excursion. We didn't get to hear Own True Way tonight but Andi and Karen went back leater to tell Alan how much they liked it. Perfect ending to a perfect midsummer night outdoors. |
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| It’s a long trip from NYC to Baltimore, mid-afternoon on a Saturday. Took a detour to East Goshen, PA where the beautiful NanC met us and we were on our way - Vic, Karen, Andi, NanC and I. More back seat shenanigans on the way but this time it was three against two! Nancy, Andi and Karen ganged up on Vic and I for a role-play of a long ride with siblings. “How come SHE gets the middle seat? She’s looking at me, Mom!, etc.) If I didn’t love them so, they would have had to hitchhike to Baltimore. LOL! |
| The beautiful NanC |
| This trip home was interesting! The a Yahoo map program had taken us way south to go north to the city so Vic decided to find his own way out. Hahahahahahaha! We ended up driving through a real tough section of Baltimore with our windows rolled down because the air conditioner was broken. SO picture this: We sit in the middle of a street, our forward progress blocked because of three cars parked across the roadway. We sit, waiting for the drug deal in front of us to be over so we can continue. Well, now imagine the van – 7 antennae on various Ham radio frequencies, Vic talking to someone holding the microphone in his hand, me in the front passenger seat reviewing the pictures in the digital camera that Karen took at the concert. You can’t tell whether I’m taking pics or not. All of a sudden, they start hurling liquor bottles out of the cars in front of us and into the alley. Other things are also tossed out. then everyone involved jumps in the cars and proceeds down the street. Well – so do we! They speed up and one by one in rapid succession, make U-Turns in the middle of the block and go in the opposite direction. It was then we realized they thought we were cops! LOL! If it wasn’t such a dangerous scenario, it would have been hilariously funny. God loves us, obviously. |
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