The gang on stage singing Molly Malone was really enjoying themselves. Mike had a harmonica solo halfway through the song and Alan stage-whispered to him after it, "Hey man, I told you, if you want to play, you've got to keep it mediocre. What happened?"
The players were roundly applauded and as I was leaving I told Tom Doyle that his grandfather wasn't the only one to sing Berry Picking Time. Vic's grandmother had taught it to us when I was 17. Tom was surprised and wanted to delve into it further, asking where exactly Mom-Mom had learned it and where was she from. Alan seemed a bit hurried tonight afterward, poking his head in the room and asking his Mom and Dad to come over to his house. I wished I could have chatted for a longer time with Tom, but I said it was nice to meet him and that I enjoyed the evening, and left to drive Candace home. But not beforeI thanked Susan for her gift of an original Rankin Street tape. Wow! Am I lucky!
I peeked into Erin's Pub afterward and Mike Hanrahan was singing, so I stayed. Hugh Scott was also there and we talked abot how spoiled St. John's is regarding live music. We also talked about the state of the music industry, amateurs vs. professional musicians, unions for musicians, MIANL, and a whole slew of other stuff you only talk about at 3 in the morning. I don't even have to ask Padraig anymore, he automatically pours me a pint of Coke, no ice. At about 3 AM, Jim and I found a sausage dog vendor on George Street and he went home happy.
Wednesday, August 16th
It was cloudy and windy, but warm in St. John's today. I got up early and wnet over to She Heights to take a photo os the mural there. It was being painted when I was here last year. Boy! They dd a great job on it! |
