Like a dog wrapped 'round my leg. . .

[yendi]

Yeah, Great Big Sea still kicks ass and takes names. There's no band I'd rather see live. None.

Best performance of "Mary Mac" ever. They're near the end of the tour, and not holding anything back.

Also, great second encore. The crowd (twice the size of any of the previous Atlanta shows) was shouting "Old Black Rum," and when GBS finally came out, Alan started singing Neil Diamond's "Coming to America," before sequeing into the song we'd all been waiting for.

Hands sore from clapping. Throat sore from shouting and singing. More tomorrow.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

May 15. :)

[yendi]

Yeah, they mentioned that after the end of this leg, they'd take a break and head out West. :-)

[losgunna.livejournal.com]

The moment I saw the first line I knew what you were writing about.....

The first time I saw them live, we saw them in this old theater. It was the last night of the tour for them, and they were getting a little slaphappy, and kept making "Phantom of the Opera" jokes, about how the chandelier was going to come down. Having them bust into a couple different PotO songs just made it even more entertaining.

I saw them a couple of weeks ago. Okay, so I've seen them now 6 times. But I'm not obsessed. :)

[yendi]

You've caught twice as many as me, but that's partially because they've only hit Atlanta three times. I need to follow them like the Dead. :-)

[losgunna.livejournal.com]

I'll answer a couple at once. :)

We actually did follow them to Chicago one time, since they weren't playing in Detroit. Turns out they were in our hotel, so we got to meet and talk to Alan and Sean down in the bar. :)

From what I understand, their playlist doesn't vary too much. Hell, their patter hasn't changed in years - just compare the live cd to the concerts! But there was a woman near us in the crowd last time that was saying "Yup, played that one. Oh, this other song was here." Etc. She was really irritating. I especially wanted to smack the bitch around when she was looking at the merchandise from afar after the show, and had the gall to announce loudly "They didn't have that shirt in black last night! I need to talk to them about that!!!" Wow, talk about a little out of line!

We (myself and my friend Sue) have two goals: The first is to make it to New Foundland to see one of their New Year's shows. The other is to do a 3-day concert even, as GBS usually plays (in order) Cleveland-Detroit-Chicago. That is not all that much driving, really. :)

[clawfoot.livejournal.com]

I am so insanely jealous. I've always wanted to see them live.

[yendi]

Well, they keep expanding their tour, so you'll hopefully get a chance!

[lonesomenumber1]

May 18th, with my wife. Then again on May 22nd, with dreamingcrow and her husband in Seattle. :-)

[yendi]

I'd love to know how much they vary their playlist on tour.

[bassfingers.livejournal.com]

Wow. Mary Mac. Now there's a song I hadn't thought about in 7 or 8 years... When I was in a celtic folk band, we'd close with that some times, getting progressively faster and faster with each verse. Some audience members would polka around the room at breakneck speeds, others would just do the hand-jive, which is kinda fun with celtic music... or at least disconcerting. Wasn't familiar with Great Big Sea, but checking out their sight as I type this...

[losgunna.livejournal.com]

When they do Mary Mac live, it can be quite exhausting just watching them. You can get some idea of it on Road Rage, although they're doing it an even quicker pace these days. :)

Sit, enjoy the live album, and then run out and buy tickets, 'cause it doesn't do them justice. :)

[yendi]

You've seen the DVD, right?

[losgunna.livejournal.com]

*grrrr* Nope, don't have it. One of these days though.......

[yendi]

They've practically defined Mary Mac as their own. It's such a fun song.

[losgunna.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you're familiar with Carbon Leaf at all (they're from down that way), but they do a pretty darn good version of Mary Mac. I can understand what they're saying better. :)

If you're not familiar with Carbon Leaf, find some stuff of theirs.....I first heard them opening for GBS. Their newer stuff has some celtic-y stuff to it. :)

[yendi]

Oh, I'm a huge fan of CL, too, and was so happy when they opened for GBS (unlike the current openers, The Push Stars, who well and truly blew). Their arrangement of Mary Mac was borrowed GBS, as I recall. Wouldn't surprise me if that's what got them on the tour.

[maida-mac.livejournal.com]

They're opening for GBS again on the West Coast. Considering how much I love both bands, I can't wait. :) It'll be cool to see them with Chris, too.

[ladyortyger.livejournal.com]

I've seen Carbon Leaf twice!! At this tiny venue at my university, we were right up on the stage. And we did SCA dances to the songs. Mary Mac was quite excellent but I like the GBS version much better.

*celticmusicgasm* Yeah I can't afford any more concerts right now.. Just saw Nickel Creek (isn't my college lucky to get all these great acts?!) which totally rocked my socks.

[ebon-hawk.livejournal.com]

Great Big Sea, rocks all!!!!!!!! theyre wicked cool ^_^