| Bound Down for Newfoundland |
| I walked in kind of uncomfortably. I have actually only been in a bar one other time all alone. That was to see the Glengarry Bhoys in Pennsylvania and I ended up meeting 3 friends there who had also come to see the Bhoys. So it wasn't exactly a night alone. But this was different. I wanted to be in the front and the only spot was a stool at a table of people I don't know. I gathered up my courage and asked if I could sit there. They said no problem and I settled down till Jim came. Lo and behold! Who was opening for Jim this evening but The Punters! I like the Punters! The evening was getting better already. Then I spied Larry Foley of the Punters and looked closely at the table where he was sitting. I began to notice familiar faces - Ellen and Christina from the Folk Festival and GBS's Online Kitchen Party! I asked them if I could join their table with my stool and they welcomed me with open arms. It was fun to sit with this table - they were so much more comfortable with the bar scene than I was and a heck of a lot younger. I just sort of sat back and watched. But I got a free Coke out of it! Thanks ladies! Larry was schmoozing with the lot. It was funny. Then all of a sudden, Patrick Moran appeared onstage and Larry joined him for the opening of the musical entertainment. I loved the songs they sang - I knew most of the words! In the middle of their set, Jim and his entourage walked in. I jumped up to say Hi to Lillian but went right back to listen to Larry and Patrick. I absolutely love Patirick's fiddle playing. The rest of the audience did too. He is one talented dude. The girls at our table decided he'd definitely be one person to follow around this island. He even sang the new song I had just heard the day before, "I Had But Fifty Cents!" That song is too cute! Larry took some requests and Joy requested a song I knew but whose name escapes me. Pat played a different version of "Aunty Mary" on the fiddle. He started high, went lower and tacked Morrison's Jig onto the end. It worked! I guess they played for an hour - it went too fast. Pat rushed out to another gig, but Larry sat down with us again for a bit. He is looking good these days with a soul patch and shorter hair. Then it was time for Jim, Josh and Thierry. |
| Josh started the gig out very serious looking and somewhat nervous, but as the night wore on, he loosened up considerably and was really having a grand time by the end. It was the first time these three had played together in public so that was the reason for the beginnning dynamic, I guess. Musically though, you'd have sworn they had played together many times. It was smooth and slick and done well. They played Jacamo, Downtown Girl, Rhythm of the Goat, Rising of the Moon and added a bunch of other somgs in the middle of Mr. Ambassador. That was the funniest expereince, watching Thierry's face as Jim launched into yet another tune Thierry wasn't ready for! Josh threw a few glances Jim's way but kept that reggae rhythm going and went with the flow. Thierry's face would scrinch up a bit or his eyes would get wide, as Jim started on another tune and then in a matter of 2 measures, he'd be jammin' along on the accordion or whistle or harmonica with them. That was so much fun to see them all having such a good time playing for us. They also sang the French "Oui, oui oui, no, no,no" song. And he again added the little extra part which I found out was about "funny" cigarettes. The crowd had swelled by then with the addition of a whole raft of people from St. Pierre who really enjoyed that. The set ended too soon and I offered to introduce Ellen to Jim. |
| Turns out I made her night! Who'd a thunk? She really wanted to tell Jim about the healing power of his music. He was surprised, I think, at what she told him but glad to hear he was known in California, too. I took a photo of the two of them and she was all grins. We hung out there for a while till about 1:30 AM. Lillian had bought me a"Gypsy" and Thierry had too. And then Jim and Thierry arranged to go down to Erin's. I called Vic to pick me up and he ended up taking the gang down to Erin's, instruments and all. We were supposed to go home after we had delivered the guys and the instruments to Erin's. Of course, we had to go in "for one drink." HA!!!!!! Mike Hanrahan was again at Erin's and Trevor and Thierry joined him onstage for a jam session. I do love my Vic dearly, but he was trying to get me to go up and play with them. I do play the guitar, but I am not anywhere in their league, let me tell you. VIc kept insisting I go up but I kept insisting no. I was not going to embarrass myself when I had nothing prepared. If they'd have asked me to sing - that would have been no problem. But playing an instument cold on stage is not my idea of fun. Thierry waffled about joining them and finally went out to the van. I figured he'd bring in the accordion or sax but he brought in a harmonica. Boy, did they wail! It was fun to listen to. And I closed Erin's for the fourth time in a week. Oh my. "She's a Downtown Girl for sure." |
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