| January 13, 2008
Bowery Ballroom, NYC It was like old times again – Karen and I in the car cruising up the Jersey Turnpike to see Great Big Sea. So many times she had been my roadtrip buddy and it had been two years since she’d been able to travel with me. She’s a good roadtrip buddy. She’d have been a better one if she could drive… It was the first time in all the times I had been to NYC, that we had clear sailing all the way. No accidents on the turnpike, no delays on the approach to the Holland Tunnel, no turning the wrong way once out of the tunnel. We found our way to Local 138 pub after a few circuits around the block for a parking spot. As we walked into the bar, we spied two young ladies sitting by the door. A quick tour around the bar left us realizing that we the the two ladies were the only ones there! Karen was happy because the Cowboys-Giants game was on TV and there were $3 beers. I walked back to the occupied tables and asked, “Are you GBS fans by any chance?” A smile and a affirmation led to our sitting down and spending a wonderful time with frizzchic and her roommate, Kim, both EMTs from Mystic, Connecticut. A few more people strolled in during the game, but no other GBS fans when I was there. Karen was very brave – wearing her Cowboys jersey in Giants’ territory. I thought she was nuts, but it was probably safer than wearing it in Philly. She got teased in the bar, but it was gentle teasing, not mean. As 6 PM approached, I thought it best to go to the venue as I was not walking too well and I knew there would be a lineup. SO I left Karen with Maria and Kim to finish watching the game. I found parking right across the street and down one block. Future thinking caused me to buy a cane chair a couple months ago and I had it with me. There were about 20-30 people in line ahead of me and that was not too bad, considering the time I got there – about 6:15. Settling in behind Mike and Michelle, I struck up a conversation with them. They had been married not too long ago and had danced to Sweet Forget-Me-Not at their wedding. They were excited about seeing GBS in the “backyard.” I saw Lynda and Christina, Jean-Marie, Chiarascura, Nova, Annette, Kati from CT and her mom, Sandy, BetRX and hubby, and a few others who passed us on the way to the end of the line. Kim and Maria joined me without Karen, who was still watching the game, hoping the Cowboys would win. A little after 7 PM they allowed us in and I was very glad that I had a ticket and didn’t have to go wait at Will-Call. There was quite a line there. All I had to do was walk around the bar and into the ballroom. I decided to go up to the balcony where I could have a seat. But the available seats Stage Bob were reserved for the Monteray Promoters. Would you believe no one from their promotion company showed up?????? I found a good vantage point and set up the cane chair for the long haul. The balcony filled up fast and I had a nice chat with Donna from Sayville, Long Island, where we had both had dinner and a show with the band in 2001. This was not her first show. She had first seen the band on TV – the Great Big DVD show that GBS had released to the media in the States. That certainly was a good move on their part, as a lot of people I talked to at the show had that as their introduction to GBS. When I looked out over the crowd in the ballroom, I noticed many of the audience watching for updates on the Cowboys-Giants game. When a loud cheer went up from the assembled multitude and no band was in sight, I figured that meant the Giants had won. Karen showed up shortly after and joined me for a bit on the balcony. Then went down into the crowd to find a spot good for close up photos without a flash. As we waited for the opener to start, a couple of women, Michelle and Jen, came up and tapped me on the shoulder. “Do you write show reviews?” they asked. “Someone in the line pointed you out and said you write show reviews.” I answered in the affirmative and gave them the URL for my website. We exchanged stories and I was surprised to find that they came all the way from Vancouver to see the show. I know that Christina had flown in from St. John’s but these two won the prize I think. Very personable, we had fun in the balcony before and during the show. A little while later, Sandra and David from Ottawa Ontario, appeared next to me, telling me how much they enjoyed the reviews and the travelogue and couldn’t wait to read this review! Sandra has to have the husband of the year in the GBS world. He bought tix for the evening and plane tickets for her as a Christmas present. They spent the weekend in NYC and went to church at St. Patrick’s Cathedral this morning. After Mass, Sandra went to buy a gift at the store inside the church. As she was shopping, David came in and insisted she come back into the church that minute with him. Then, he proceeded to introduce her to Alan Doyle who was in the church! She still had Alan’s photo on her phone from a time she met him in Ottawa. Another photo has now joined her old one on the phone! The opener, Reid Genour (sp?) was pretty good. He had a clear clean voice and seemed like a nice person. His songs were originals for the most part, I believe and the crowd seemed to like him, at least those who were listening. Openers must hate it when many are talking over their songs. But he showed no animosity and gave the stage up to our fave b'ys from Newfoundland after a half hour or so. |
 |
| GBS in NYC January 2008 |
 |
 |
| back to reviews page |
 |
| We get Tonight tonight |