Sitting on the bus waiting for a serious rainstorm to pass. I’ve been sitting in dirty exercise clothes waiting for a break in the downpour to go for a jog around the town. I’ve been doing this for almost two hours. I’m just about to give it up, get a shower and go eat a hot dog.
Great location for the new GBS, Newfoundland Labrador Bus here on the main entrance to the Festival site. Many folks taking photos of the icebergs and whales and Gros Mourne images on the 45-foot panels that line the bus. JP, our Super Driver, has fielded dozens of inquiries about the bus and more importantly about the Province. This morning at a truck stop in Rural Illinois, JP tells me, a driver from a Moving Company begged to get on the bus as he was originally from the Rock and wanted to say Hi. Only a few moments ago a lady with a heavy Spanish brogue asked if this NewFinland was a new place. It looks like a movie set, she decided. That iceberg can’t be real!
The tour is off to a good start, I figure. London rocked, as did Ann Arbor, and Madison. Played to one of the most enthusiastic crowds ever in Minneapolis last night. Sean’s family delivered the most amazing Enchiladas I’ve ever tasted and he and I did a cool cameo o a local afternoon TV show. Big day in a city that I just love, love, love.
Read some good reviews online about the shows as well. We’re doing many of the new tunes on the CD and dragging out a few rare oldies like Ferryland Sealer and Captain Wedderburn. On some occasions, this means a few of the more commonly heard tunes like Mari Mac or Boston and St John’s has to get cut, but what can you do. I s’pose it’s all part of being a band with over a hundred recorded tunes to pick from. We’re having a blast. Hope you are, too.
Still raining…heavier actually. That’s it. Shag it. I should get some exercise credits for having sat here all this time. Off to the Fish and Chips shop.
Rock On.
Cheers,
Alan