| GBS in Philadelphia, PA March 1, 2002 |
| A great band opening for them – Carbon Leaf from Richmond, Virginia. The lead singer really connected with the audience and the music was great. But my daughter Karen says that the otherband members need to watch GBS to learn some stage presence. Danny had people cheering for him and calling his name when he came out. He smiled, shook his head and pleaded, “come on!” when he tested Darrell’s mic. By the time he got to Bob’s mic and the cheering had not stopped his comment was “Yer makin’ me blush!” A lot of people I knew from the OKP were there. Sunflower had flown in for Towson last night and the roadtrip continues. Fran was there from Boston with Carol and friend and Chris from Philly. Howard and Cheryl were present of course with “Tour of No Cares” T-shirts they had made up. Shelly, Kim, Stacy were there from Selingroove, PA. Elonphimu (the poster formerly known as …NanC) came with Sunflower and Jane in Virginia and our entourage – Anne and Karen in Philly, BJ Moose, Karen’s friends Chris and Jackie, Anne’s son Nick the anarchist with Cassie, Charlotte and Rob, and Louise and Peg who missed their first opportunity to see GBS when Alan lost his voice. They will be back again they said. Anne’s son Nick has gone from Punk to Folk in 7 short years. To think that his Christmas persent in 1995 was a Metallica Box Set! *shudder* Now we talk Woody Guthrie. Isn’t that amazing? We met up with Julie the Yank and hubby also. And there was a rumor that Rick from NFLD, Kimsan’s friend was there. We didn’t see him but we are fairly sure we heard him yelling! Rick! Next time don't be so shy! Opened again with Ordinary Day – I am glad they are doing this again. On the whole RR tour I dreaded hearing the dit dit dit, dah dah dah, dit dit dit because it meant the show was over. Hard to have those feelings about your all-time favorite GBS song. From the first strains of Ordinary Day and all though the show, Alan just grinned like a fool! Guess he was happy to see us. Process Man was next – Chris’ favorite When I’m Up – Alan says “The last time we were here I was sick and had to cancel. So tonight we’ll make up for it and give you TWO concerts! (cheers abound! now if only we could believe that!) We just got the word our new album is #1 on the charts in Canada." (much cheering - Go GBS!) Sean – "yes! We’re Number 473 in the States." Alan – "We’re making our triumphant return to the Trocadero to celebrate the release of Sea of No Cares. We’ve got Carbon Leaf touring with us. We are in their hometown, Richmond, on Sunday and they have promised us that Sunday night in Richmond is better than St. John’s!" Sea of No Cares – a goodly portion of the audience was singing along – Surprise! Goin’ Up – We all new the words, no prompting necessary, to Alan's surprise. Clearest Indication – Alan: "This song is about seeking direction" Sean – "I could use some direction. I never know what shirt to wear. Which one? Like my new shirt? Number 6! (He apparently didn’t make that choice today since he was wearing the EXACT same outfit as last night, but more on that later) Alan –" I’d give it a 6 out of 10 like the Russian judge. (much laughing) Oh, the Olympics must be a touchy subject down here." (as someone yells 5 to 2 referring to the Hockey game) Sean – "Yeah, Congratulations! You guys came in second!" ( Not good to say in this hockey town) A chant started from the back – USA! USA! |
 |
 |
| They came, they saw, they conquered, we crumbled in our true GBS way. PHILLY ROCKED! OMG! I was so happy with the welcome the b’ys got in Philly last night. It’s been two years since they played at a Philly venue. Scheduled to play in October a year ago, Alan lost his voice. Then we were not on the Spring/Summer tour (Camden was - although Camden in right across the river, but that’s New Jersey – not Philly). I had been afraid people would forget about them. But I heard SONC on the radio 3 times in the past two weeks, so I guess I should not have been worried. All worries went in the Sea of No Cares – a full house at the Trocadero and EVERYONE knew the words! What a treat! We had gotten together earlier in the day for a daytime Kitchen Party at my house with Fran, Chris, Nancy, Jane, Diane and I. And then left for the venue to go eat Chinese downtown. The Chinese place had Karaoke Night and Jane and I sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Take Me Home Country Roads, A Woman in Love, Henry the 8th, and Ordinary Day (a capella, of course). A good omen for the evening to come – after we had driven downtown to go eat around the corner from the venue, we drive in front of the Troc to see Alan walking down the street with one of the Carbon Leaf people (Jordan, the bass player). SO, we pulled over, honked and waved at him. He looked, puzzled, into the car figuring he knew someone. LOL! Then gave a smile and waved and walked on. I think we scared him! |
 |
 |
| Our dinner companions did not appreciate our version of "I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am" nor our a capella version of Ordinary Day. Here was the reaction from the table. |
| End Of The World – Run Runaway was on the setlist but I guess Sean didn’t feel like playing the whistle with his cold. Alan forgot the words of course, and I think he broke a string here or it may have been a few songs earlier. Sean commented again how “up” he was. “Yes It’s good to be back here in Philly. We had to cancel 2 times and Alan was sick . But I am on some good drugs tonight. My heart is going at about 240 beats a minute right now.” Encore #2 Excursion - Always a treat to hear Darrell sing solo. This is one of my fave songs. Feller From Fortune – I liked it better tonight then in Towson. It seemed to have more “oooomph” Still like Aunty Mary better though. Encore #3 Rant and Roar a capella – Sean came out here with a hoodie on top of his #6 shirt, as if he was caught running out the door. It was just heartwarming to hear the Philly audience singing loudly this Newfoundland classic. Alan let us take a verse and all the b'ys just grinned so broadly with the level of participation and love from the audience. What a wonderful night! But that’s not all! Sean ran right out the door when the others went back up into the Backstage room. We left and went around back to wait for them by the stage door. Was I taken by surprise when Bob walked out all bundled up in his jacket and toque! No one else recognized him. I knew the walk. We were sitting on a concrete wall and we all said “Hi Bob!’ He looked a tad uncomfortabl, but he DID come over. Of course I did not have my fiddle with me this time. But I did have Karen’s punk goldfish, Squid Vicious in my hand. We asked him to sign it. Karen had written Sea of No Cares or Bust on it’s side. LOL. He did and I was so taken aback by his being there I didn’t ask one other question of the million that I want to. All I could say was great concert. And the only other comment I made was I wished they had sang Own True Way and French Perfume because they were favorites on the CD. It’s a good thing I had Karen’s goldfish to hang onto. I was completely befuddled by him once again. SO befuddled I forgot to ask someone to take a picture. Of course, he probably preferred it that way. Then Alan came out and we got him to sign the fish too. He also signed our posters and some CD covers people had. This time I had to remind Sunflower to get her camera out, I think she was flusterd by his presence. This was a good thing. Alan held his arm out for me to get under and Nancy and Jane jockeyed for position at the other arm. I think Jane won. Then there was no place for Diane. So she was invited by Alan to stand in front and snuggle up to his shoulder. LOL! Pictures of that will follow soon. It’s a good one. Oh yes! A wonderful night with wonderful friends. |
 |
| Paddy Murphy – Everyone sang. Sean seems to be particularly enjoying this song.. A Boat Like Gideon Brown – This song I really like! Alan extolled the beauties of Fogo - “Spring Break in Fogo! It’s a cool place for Spring Break.” Sean –" Yeah, we filmed our video there in February. " (Considering they are underwater for it most of the video, that would be an impossibility. It was filmed in Cancun, Mexico.) After Gideon Brown, they announced it was going to be Tony’s 32nd birthday this week and he’s never been kissed in Philadelphia. That b’y must have multiple personalities because the last time GBS was here in October 1999, it was Tony’s birthday then too. Nice to have Alan have you celebrate all year. Old Black Rum – I guess Alan didn’t look at the set list because he started singing Old Black Rum and Bob was holding the wrong instrument. Or maybe it was Bob who didn't look. Bob’s eyes widened and he quickly dropped the accordion on the case and grabbed his bouzouki, shooting Alan a bemused look. Alan caught the look, laughed and shrugged his shoulders. Bob shook his head and grinned. We needed no rehearsing for this song either as everyone knew what to do, and carried the chorus easily. Not like Haddon Heights in July where no one knew Alan wanted them to sing. More wide grinning from Alan. Everything Shines – Alan: "We are longing for summer. SO we are singing...Everything Shines." General Taylor – It was next on the set list but Alan seemed surprised when Sean just launched into it. What beautiful voices these guys have! They can’t sing enough a capella songs as far as I’m concerned. Sean invited us to sing and we did! Of course, the better, he sang the quieter people got. Can’t compete with the Shanty Man. We got “a pint of rum for Sean McCann and a bloody big barrel for the Great Big Sea band.” Sigh, this is the song I blast in the car whenever it comes on. Stumblin’ In – Here they introduced Kris, the drummer. Sean (singing) – "He’s too sexy for this band, too sexy for this band..." Alan: "He’s from Nova Scotia. It’s a Newfoundland mandate to employ Nova Scotians - a longstanding tradition." Sean – "uh oh. We've upset Kris. Now all we’ll have the rest of the night are waltzes from him." (Kris begins the waltz 1-2-3, 1-2-3 beat and Sean waltzes around the stage) Actually Sean was dancing around the stage all night. Very bouncy. Very happy. While Sean and Kris were playing at waltzes, Alan started singing “Git Along Little Doggies” Consequence Free – Alan complimented us on our singing once again. |
 |
 |
| Photo by Fran Egan |
| Photo by Fran Egan |
| Photos by D. Ashens unless otherwise indicated |
| Scolding Wife – Alan announces that this traditional song is about a man who was caught in an abusive relationship. The audience cheers, knowing that we will get to hear Bob sing (at least that’s why I cheered!LOL!) Sean is bemused and says “Let’s give it up for abusive relationships!” and the audience cheers AGAIN. “Well that’s a first!” Sean says, laughing and shaking his head. BOB ROCKS! He sang with a much better, stronger voice than on the CD. Boston and St. John’s - no dedication just “and now for something different" I think this needs to be somewhere else in the set list or not there at all. It is such a pretty song and just doesn’t seem to work there. Jack Hinks - Sean who was soooooooooooo dancey in Jack Hinks, announces that he has a cold and he has taken all these drugs. Sean: “Yeah, I haven’t gone to bed yet from yesterday. (No wonder he had the same clothes on!) In fact I’ve been up for 3 or 4 days now since I licked that tattoo.” Someone in the audience who had apparently been to Towsonthe night before held up a sign that said “Don’t eat the tattoos.” A running joke continues about the temporary goldfish tattoos they are selling at the swag table. Last night Sean said, “Don’t eat them, they’re not edible.” Then proceeded to mention how he had eaten one and look what happened to him! (he was like the Energizer Bunny – going and going and going) Alan continues with “Yes, but those of you who have real tattoos, feel free to lick them anytime you want." Alan also forgot what song they were doing and Darrell went over to him several times to remind him. Darrell was extremely amused . I think Alan was licking the tattoos tonight. And this may have been the place where Sean said, "Well we all know what a French Kiss is, how would you describe a Philly kiss?” I think a whole lot of people would have volunteered to show him. |
 |
| Photo by Fran Egan |
| Jack Hinks |
| Mari Mac – a bit fast but they slowed it down a little at the end. Nicely done and everyonein the audience sang. Lukey – I am going to have to steel myself for this song too, I guess. The end. But a nice way to go out. Encore #1: Widow in the Window – Sean is amazing, absolutely amazing. Didn’t reach the really high notes on Flaaaaaaaooooooweerrrrrrrssss. But he sang what he could with his cold. Just amazing. I do like that song. |
 |
| Photo by Fran Egan |
| Alan stays out of the spotlight for Widow. Good view of drummer, Kris MacFarlane. |
| Pics of the fish and some chatters on the next page |