| The Hard & the Easy Tour GBS in Glenside, PA March 10, 2006 |
| “Come See the Show!” the side of the bus beckoned as we pulled into the Keswick Theater’s parking lot. A lot of people heeded the invitation – the show was a sell out! I found a parking space right near the trailer and we began our much needed evening with Great Big Sea.
It’s been over a year and a half since they’ve been here in the Philadelphia area and the last show was a bit confusing. The venue and headliners changed with the weather, the promoter didn’t know their name (“You want to see ‘Big Blue Fish’?”) and I think a lot of people just gave up trying to see them. It was not a sold out show in 2004 and it should have been. I felt disappointed and I hoped the b’ys were not disappointed in my Street Team efforts – it’s been a nagging feeling for the past year and a half. But this show promised to be a great one. It was the day before my birthday and I couldn’t think of a better present! I had picked up Andi from the bus terminal on Thursday, Columbine on Friday and we were meeting Amanda and friends in front of the theater. I had invited several GBS virgins to the show and I was excited for them – they had no idea what delights were in store! Andi spent the day with me in school. She was an invaluable help and support for me as my class had to perform Jim Fidler's "Salama" in the assembly that morning. They did a good job and it went well. By the time everyone met in front of the theater, it was about 6 PM. We were all hungry and walked down the street to a diner – the one that Alan had mentioned in his From the Road post in. But we didn’t know this at the time. The place was jumpin’ with GBS fans and we were out of there a bit after the doors opened. We met Murray outside the theater and chatted with him for a bit. Cheryl and Howard joined us in the conversation. Talk about a nice guy! Murray did a favor for Andi and then people started to drift into the theater. I waited till Vic got there to go in. Vic was supposed to be at a Coast Guard Auxiliary conference in York – halfway across the state – and would go back after the show. My seats turned out to be really good – stage Bob, but right in front of the huge speakers. That was not good for Vic, so he traded with Columbine who was about halfway back in the theater. Turned out to be a win-win situation. The seat next to Vic was my student teacher from last year, Steve, who was a GBV with his wife. He had mistakenly bought a single ticket and since the show was sold out, another was not possible until a friend of mine called to say she was ill and couldn’t go. Steve called me, I gave him the number to call and he arranged for the ticket for himself, as Heddi would use the ticket he had bought. Andi was sitting next to Kate,one of my colleagues at school, who was also a GBV. Kate is teaching José, a former student of mine and a favorite one of Andi’s. We saw PG, Howard and Cheryl, Eirian, Brianna, PG, Branwyn, Columbine, Marnie and flyersgirl from the OKP. The policy at the Keswick has been No Cameras for quite a while and it was printed on the tickets. So I brought my camera with me (just in case we met one of them afterwards) and left it in the car. Inside the theater, I was dismayed when someone started taking photos right before the show and no one said anything, So I went back to the security guard and her reply was, “As long as it’s not a professional camera, it’s okay.” Have I told you lately how much I love my husband? He ran out and got my camera from my car for me. He also told me the show was about to start – Bob had walked right in front of him to go in the backstage door when he was retrieving the camera. I was startled to hear Great Big Sea open the show, even though it’s been posted before. I was so used to hearing Donkey Riding as the opener the past few years, it took me a few seconds to realize what it was! Oh my! I was soooooo ready for this show! Captain Kidd was a treat to hear live and the b’ys fairly bounced their way around the stage. Kidd, Donkey Riding and Jack Hinks followed rapidly without much banter. They took a breather at the end of Jack Hinks when Alan addressed us “people of the greater Philadelphia area”. Séan added, “People of Pennsylvania, people of planet Earth…” |
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| I needn't have worried about the show. It seems that I was not the only person missing them in this area. The show has been sold out for several weeks now. That's a first, I think. The b'ys seemed genuinely happy to be there and grinned and bounced all over the stage. There were some sound issues, though. It's a good thing that Vic moved back. Murray's bass was felt physically during Captain Kidd. My chest was vibrating, they had it turned up so loud. Later in the first half, it was more balanced, but the second half was tough for a Great Big Sea virgin, I'd guess. The instruments were way too loud in the second half, which caused the vocals to be a bit muddy - especially Sean's and sometimes Bob's. But don't take that as complaining, just observing. The crowd was enthusiastic but many just sat. I stood up for Donkey Riding as did some others in the front and we were told to sit down by Security. Even when Alan yelled 'have a dance" they wouldn't let us up. So I happily banged my thigh and bounced in my seat. |
| Sean - Donkey Riding |
| Murray, Alan and Kris - Donkey Riding |
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