Great Big Sea Towson

Goin' Up - After Goin' Up, Shelly in PA passed a note up front to Alan telling him it was her sister's birthday as well as hers today. He glanced at it, gave a devilish grin, and laid it down next to the mic. "Our first night of our American Tour and we're getting suggestive notes passed up here." Sean reached down and grabbed the note while Alan was talking, looked at it, had a shocked expression on his face, and then
showed it to Bob who also played along, looking shocked and shaking his head. Then there was more banter about "shameless self-promotion" and the intro to -
Clearest Indication - I am growing to like this song, I think. I didn't at first. After the song, Alan introduced Sean, pointing to him and saying, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce ...#6."
Sean: "Yes. I AM #6. We're on our 6th album. I'll be #6 for the rest of this year, and then I'll be #7.
Alan: "I'd promised everyone I wouldn't mention it, but I am so happy about Canada winning the Gold in hockey at the Olympics."
Sean: "Yeah, this next song is dedicated to all the losers at the Olympics!"

Paddy Murphy - All the Baltimore County girls got loaded drunk. After the song, Kim and Shelly's friends passed another note. And Alan finally wished them both a happy birthday.

Gideon Brown - This was the intro -
Alan: "This is a song from our new album written by a guy from a really neat place in northern Newfoundland called Fogo. Fogo is the neatest place. It is home to the Flat Earth Society. You know - they believe the earth is flat."
Sean: "I've been to Fogo. The world is indeed flat!"
Alan: "The Society believes that there are 4 corners to this flat earth, if you will. And Fogo is one of them."

Sean: "The world IS flat. Look at a map! Maps are flat! You open them up, spread them out on the table...FLAT!"
Alan: (ignoring Sean) "In fact, Brimstone Head on Fogo Island is one of the exact corners of the flat earth. I always wanted to have a metal band called 'Brimstone Head' Isn't that a great name?"
Sean: "Oh I know all about Brimstone Head! I was arrested once on Brimstone Head."
Alan: (laughing) "Ladies and gentlemen, show some love in the house for Fogo Island!"

Everything Shines - They had both ES and Own True Way on the setlist but they played this. :( - I wanted to hear OTW!

Old Black Rum. - everyone knew the words!

General Taylor - Really well done! Sean stopped dead right before he had to hit the high note, looks at Alan, looks at the audience, says "Sorry, I have a cold" Someone in the audience yells "Sing Mari Mac!" Sean looks at him like he's nuts, takes a deep breath, makes the note, holds it a good, loooong time, pauses, shakes his head incredulously, says, "Mari Mac??????", then finishes. Nicely done, Sean! The voice was just fine!

Stumbling In - Alan starts again with more "shameless self promotion" and Darrell stops him cold. He steps up to the mic and says, "Show us your tattoos, Al!" Alan: "We all have tattoos! They're selling them at the table back there along with the T-shirts, CDs, Maryland Crab Cakes."Sean - "Don't eat the tattoos. If you buy one, you shouldn't eat them. You don't know what will happen." Then there was some comment about late night music?

Consequence Free - an appropriate song for Sun and I since we are both taking off multiple days from work.

Scolding Wife - Alan: "Darrell brought us the next song about a man who has no luck in marriage. His wife is a 'Throw Momma From the Train' kind of lady."
GO BOB!! I have waited sooo long to hear that man sing! And he sounds so much better live than on the CD! Wahoo!

Boston and St. John's - "And now for something completely different." No dedication tonight.

Jack Hinks - More tattoo talk.
Sean: "We need to warn you - don't eat the tattoos. We used the tattoos and look what happened!" Then Alan just goes babbling and Sean joins in and then he says to Alan "Are we going to play some more music soon, Alan? I think we've upset Bob. He's looking at his watch!" (He really hadn't been but he played along with Sean, looking at his watch and tapping it).

Mari Mac - very fast

Lukey

Encore 1
Widow in the Window - Penelope had been with it on the setlist and crossed out. My first time hearing it live. I like it, I really do! He didn't sing the real high notes but substituted notes which sounded just fine! I especially like Bob's fiddle part.
Feller - It is growing on me a little. Better live than on the CD. I still like Aunty Mary though,

Encore 2
Excursion - wouldn't be a GBS show without Excursion! My second favorite GBS song.

Run Runaway - It's been 2-3 years since I've heard this song! What a treat to hear it again! Alan said: "We like to bring back old standards and do them again but we never remember them like we did them the first time!" The version played had more whistle in it.

There was a third encore on the set list but it was too late because the Mayor played too long. A great show for the start of the US Tour. Sean is really in rare form these days. Much bouncier than the summer. Even though he had a cold! Bob continues to be more responsive on stage. :-) Darrell is funkier than ever, especially with his new glasses, and Alan is - Alan!

You have no idea what a treat it was to hear Run Runaway! After a 3 year hiatus, I thought it had "Gone by the Board," so to speak. Sean played the whistle even better than I remember from the Painted Bride in Philly. Wasn't exactly the version on the CD but it was BETTER. Everyone in the audience went nuts when they played it. Great, just great!