GBS in Richmond

Richmond welcomed us well at the Canal Club last night. Such a different crowd than DC. They were nice! They said, "Excuse me" and "Thank you" and they made you feel good about seeing the show. I will come back here again. GBS made a lot of new fans last night, too. It started out with my bringing a sign for Bob. The sign was a parking sign that said, "Fiddler Parking Only, All others will be strung up." When Carbon Leaf was on I struck up a conversation with a CL fan in front of me and later asked her to pass the sign up front to Karen who was about 2 rows back with instructions that "Mom said to put this in front of Bob's mic." She was real nice and did it for me no problem.

Carbon Leaf's lead singer plugged GBS several times and said that Alan publically challenged Carbon Leaf to a drinking contest. "It'll be the demise of Carbon Leaf, I fear," Barry said. Karen had brought her papier mache punk blowfish (complete with "flaming Bob" spikes, a tatoo and an earring) for Sean and Darrell to sign. She had already gotten Bob and Alan to sign it in Philly. Barry commented on it to her in front. We really enjoyed hearing Carbon Leaf. They are a good band. Particularly enjoyable were the songs: Home, Shine, The Boxer, and Toy Soldiers. Go see them if they appear in your town. It's worth the price of admission. The lead singer ended with, "Ready to see Great Big Sea? These guys have been an inspiration to us for sure."

We got a totally different show than the previous three tonight. What a delight! It was the Road Rage show with more Sea Of No Cares songs. There was a lot of trouble with the sound system, feedback and cutting out throughout the show. Danny and Tony had their work cut out for them.

Sean was back in the Number 6 shirt. I certainly hope they hit a laudromat between Towson and Richmond. It was the shirt of choice for Sean 3 out of 4 nights.

Donkey Riding - with "where you break your friggin' neck" and a totally new verse about Yanks.
Billy Peddle -
When I'm Up - mic trouble but we sang well
SONC - "Last time we played in Richmond the audience was across the river from us. This is better. Nice to have you so close!... There is no gig tomorrow so there's no need to exercise restaint tonight."
Goin' Up - Here Sean announces that he cannot feel his left thumb at all. "This thumb is not working but the rest of me is!" Alan laughs and says "I shudder to think what worn't be working tomorrow."
Clearest Indication - nice song. Is this the next single?
Paddy Murphy - Sean: "This reminds me of a pub in St. John's. I couldn't feel my thumb there either!" It was here that GBS started to hook the Carbon Leaf fans, I think.
A Boat Like Gideon Brown - Alan: "This is a song about envying your neighbor's boat. And boat is not a euphemism for anything else." At this point in the show, someone passed a pizza box up to the stage with a note on the front. "Pizza!" Sean hops over to Alan like he was a little kid and announces "I ordered anchovies!" They discussed the note on the box and then Sean grabbed it and opened it up and walked to the back of the stage like he was going to eat the pizza right then and there. Alan in the meantime is talking, figuring he'll have to fill time while Sean eats. Alan: My boat's bigger than yours (to Sean)" Sean comes back to the mic - "You have a lovely boat Alan" and bats his eyelashes at him.

Own True Way - This song just gets better and better but Alan could not remember how to start it. Seems to be a theme with him this tour. Either he forgets the words or the intro strums. Darrell and Sean were very helpful. We told Bob it was one of our very favorite songs when we met him in the alley the other night. Guess it pays to talk to the band. :-)
Old Black Rum - Totally enjoyable, the audience needed no prompting to sing. Alan says "This song is about the evils of over consumption. Carbon Leaf has been drinking all day, you know...I promised I wouldn't bring up the hockey game tonight." Much booing ensued and Sean says, "But we'll give you an A for effort." When Alan was going over the raising your glass or arm he said, "Boy there's a lot of glasses out there! Doesn't look like a Sunday crowd to me!" Sean calls for a beer or whiskey from the bar - several pleas. Everyone does a Sociable, but the boys have no drinks yet. Alan and Sean started to do the Moulin Rouge routine here, dancing for drinks.

Then all of a sudden Sean launches into Hanging Johnny. "Next I hanged Bob's granny" ..."I never hangs for money, except in Richmond."
They finally got some drinks which Danny brought up. Sean throws his back, the eyes go wide and he declares, "That was NOT whiskey! Now my whole arm is numb!"

Stumblin' In - Sean: "we'd like to congratulate you on your Krispy Kreme donuts. We were Krispy Kreme virgins till today. I think I ate a dozen...In Canada we have Tim Horton's where everyone goes for donuts. These are way better. You rule! Your donuts are the best, your hockey team is Number 2 though." Now it started to get a bit weird here. Alan bursts into "Phantom of the Opera" Sean stands beside him admiringly and gives him a big hug. Then we get "Les Miserables" and "Tomorrow" from Annie!
Consequence Free -Alan: " I apologize for the rest of the evening. It should be a bit disjointed. (they had several more rounds of beer brought up at this point.) Alan: " The Irish make real good beer. They don't have a good hockey team though." They introduced Jay Murphy , the lighting guy here and celebrated Tony's birthday once more.
Scolding Wife - Go Bob! The audience is really enjoying this one.
Widow in the Window -- they had been doing it as an encore but it was right in the show tonight!

well - the rest of the details are coming as soon as I can get Jane to decipher my handwriting. I left my little notebook at her house in Richmond. But here are the songs I remember
Jack Hinks -
Mari Mac - Sean broke a string.
Lukey -

At the encore, Alan grabs Sean's bodhran and runs out on stage. Sean got him for that when he grabbed a glass of beer and refused to take the drum back from Alan. Alan began to play a little and Darrell figured that was his cue to begin singing Excursion. Alan was stuck up on the stage playing the bodhran while Sean stood there drinking his beer! He finally took the bodhran from Alan about 3 verses into the song. Sorry, but this was a total surprise and the best we could do with the photo

Feller - Liking it more and more
Encore 2 - ????

Encore 3 - Rant and Roar a capella