barras

Barra MacNeils at
Sea Bright, New Jersey
Summer 2001

Barras Concert Review

After much internal debate and Victor's schedule conflicts, it was determined that we would go to the Barras show in New Jersey instead of NYC. I think we made the right choice!

They were opening for the Saw Doctors at the Tradewinds Nightclub in Sea Bright, New Jersey. I have been to more new places in New Jersey for concerts this summer than I have been in my other 49 years on this earth! Sea Bright is a shore community on Long Branch Island with a million Beach Clubs, Cabanas, and Nightclubs. Definitely a resort town. The houses across the street from the club were breathtaking. Such a great view of the ocean! When I'm a millionaire I will consider living there for a moment. (I'll end up in Cape Breton probably, though)

Well, we got there with time to spare, purchased our tickets, and proceeded into the club. It was strange with different levels both outside and inside. There was a pool/hot tub in the middle of the outside courtyard with a bridge/walkway through the middle. Weird. Went inside, got a Heineken(Nancy) and a Mike's (me) and waited for the band to start. They were actually just standing around talking in the corner for quite a while before the show. But I had never seen them in person and kept thinking maybe there were other people in the world who looked like them. Should have gone with my gut feeling. I asked one of the Staff people if they would be available after the show and he kindly shared with me where they would be afterward so we could go and meet them.

They started a little late and not many people were up front with us. Here's the set list as Nancy and I could remember:

Clumsy Lover
Rattlin' Roarin' Willie - my favorite after Queen of Argyll
Nancy O
Coaltown Road
Brolum Set
Misty Moisty Morning
Don't Call Me Early
Tullochgorum
That's the Way I Like It
And there were two more instrumentals and a short rap/vocal thing in there somewhere

I was relieved to see that they were using 2 fiddles for Clumsy Lover. I was wondering how in the world to get that sound with my one little fiddle! I do believe it was the Brolum set that Lucy and Stewart step-danced to, but I am not sure at this point. Should have written down stuff as I heard it!

They all looked relaxed and got more and more people to come up front as the night went on. Stewart kept looking over at me when they were singing 'cause I knew all the words. There was one other person standing in the front who was siging along to everything too. This young girl beside me (not NanC - she's not THAT young!) was trying to get people to clap so I joined her when I wasn't snapping pictures. The guy behind NanC really loved Lucy's little gyrations when she was into the music.

After their set, Nancy and I went over where the Staff person had told us to and lo and behold! There they all were. We said hi to Kyle who stopped and chatted with us for quite a while and signed our CD jackets. He took them around to all the band members or called them over to sign. Lucy borrowed my Sharpie to sign stuff and stood and talked to us for a good long while.

We told Kyle that we had come from Philly to see the Barras and came only for them. He was surprised and said that he hoped that they could headline down there instead of open. Kyle told us that it was a weird feeling to be opening for someone since they are headliners in Canada. He said that next summer they'd try and get to Philly. When Lucy came over, we congratulated her on her recent wedding and asked about whether they had time for a honeymoon. She said she had a week and spent it in PEI, relaxing and golfing. When we raised our eyebrows at PEI for a honeymoon spot, she laughed and said that she didn't want to fly anywhere, that she had had enough of traveling, and that they couldn't just stay on Cape Breton because everyone knew them there! She said she was dying to get back to hubby - they have another few days to tour. Lucy also said she was surprised at the age-range of the people who seemed to enjoy the band. I told her that good music is good music no matter what the age of the listener.

Nancy talked to her about going to the Gaelic College and going to the ceildh there on her vacation. Lucy and Nancy talked about bands for a while and Lucy told us a funny story about going to this guy's house for a party. He was known for playing slow airs and Kyle was entertaining the partygoers with jigs and reels. When Kyle finally put on the brakes and played a slow air, the guy's dog just threw back his head and howled along with him! LOL! That must have been soooo funny! Stewart and Sheumas just sort of blended in with the background after the show. I thought that was odd because Stewart has an outgoing stage personality and Kyle is more laid back. But it was the opposite after the show.We also met Phil, the manager, who teasingly called us Philly greaseballs! He was a nice guy too! He was expecting us as I had emailed him about the venue.

All in all, a wonderful evening with a good friend listening to the beautiful music of the Barras!