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Alan's From The Road

Tour Diary - October 26, 2008 - Charlotte, NC (On the Bus)

Beautiful afternoon in Charlotte as the GBS Bus is parked on a textbook American Campus here at Queens University.  Brick Buildings surrounded by well-tended lawns dotted with the earliest leaves to give up the fight against the Fall.  Chased Sean around some of the best-kept homes and gardens I’ve ever seen in the US and wound up in Freedom Park; a city park with a large man made pond, perfect grass, and a dandy amphitheatre that I’d love to play sometime.  The place reminded me of one of the great parks in London, England, albeit much smaller.

This tour has been going very well considering the uncertainty in the US Economy.  Sold Out in Rochester, very big houses in Boston and Baltimore, and a very respectable first appearance in Keene, NH, has spirits and morale fairly high after week one.  A day off in Atlanta tomorrow should buoy us along to get through the week with all systems go.  But you never know.

Do Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Love Hewitt really need Proactiv?  Sorry, but the Satellite TV on the bus has been on the cooking station all day long and every 15 minutes, one of these Hollywood Dolls is schilling this Acne Solution. It has dawned on me to wonder if there is an odd irony at play here.  I’ve never met either of these fine ladies in person, so I’m really just talking shite here, but some cynical part of me suspects neither of the above mentioned gals has had a blemish in her life.  The ‘before’ photos actually look doctored, as if they photo-shopped in pimples on Daisy Duke.  Interesting.

Normally TV Ads make celebrities seem larger than life and perfect, not more flawed.  I’m sure every hair care commercial has doctored the images to make the models look better, not worse.   I find it believable that Tiger Woods drives a Buick and I’ve seen him using Nike Golf balls, but I just can’t picture one of the supermodels noted slathering Proactiv on their perfect cheeks. 

Don’t get me wrong; I don’t blame them for taking the check if indeed they don’t use the stuff.  I’d certainly do the same.  I just find it interesting that the campaign relies on the viewer accepting that these women have had skin issues.

Hoping for good crowd tonight to round off a good week.

Fingers crossed.

Cheers,
Alan

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Published Monday, October 27, 2008 2:35 PM by nicopop
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Comments

 

annathepiper said:

Quote: "This tour has been going very well considering the uncertainty in the US Economy."

This, sir, would be because music is a mighty comfort when times are tough.* So thank you all for bringing it around to us yet again this year.

* Also, what can we say? None of us can resist Bob.
October 27, 2008 2:57 PM
 

sunny617 said:

You guys rocked it in Baltimore. Thanks for the genuine enthusiasm. I've seen you quite a few times, but this was one of the best. Can't wait until next time....
October 27, 2008 4:14 PM
 

Brooks said:

Hey alan! I can't wait until sunday. Because sunday Nov. 2nd you guys come back to the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, NH to rock the town once again. You guys are one of my favorite bands and as a musician myself you guys are icons. The heart and energy that you put into every night is amazing and my dream is to one day do the same. See ya sunday night! P.S. Lebanon is pronounced (Lebanin or Lebnin). The audience will get a big kick outta that!
October 27, 2008 5:57 PM
 

Brooks said:

Hey alan! I can't wait until sunday. Because sunday Nov. 2nd you guys come back to the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, NH to rock the town once again. You guys are one of my favorite bands and as a musician myself you guys are icons. The heart and energy that you put into every night is amazing and my dream is to one day do the same. See ya sunday night! P.S. Lebanon is pronounced (Lebanin or Lebnin). The audience will get a big kick outta that!
October 27, 2008 6:01 PM
 

CaitlinB said:

Alan, saw the show last night in Charlotte and I have to say it did not disappoint. It was my first GBS concert and I loved the intimate venue. Please don't wait until the next album comes out to come back!

P.S.
My mom was the one who asked if you could sign the poster I "stole." Really I took it off the side of a building.
October 27, 2008 6:12 PM
 

Chiarascura said:

So now we'll know what the truth is when we see you shilling for Bumble & Bumble one of these days :)

And let me second the notion that Baltimore RAWKED. As always, thanks for that experience :)
October 27, 2008 6:44 PM
 

Horatia said:

Dear Mr. Doyle... I'm going to have to call you on this one... are infomercials all you could come up with. I'm stuck in one of the smallest town I've ever visited for 4 months and trust me... I could make not'n new sound like big news... You've traveled how far & all you can think of is Proactiv?... It is comforting to know that guys are as critical of the Beauty myth as girls are... but apart from that... dude, next time the only thing that strikes you is an infomercial, puH-lEEz look out the window. >--(BIG HUGS)--<
October 27, 2008 7:08 PM
 

kclampe said:

Alan,
I am at a loss. What an amazing night in Charlotte!  My first Great Big Sea concert and I couldn't have asked for more.  No, seriously, I had front row seats and I really couldn't have asked for a better view.  I really wish that the music didn't have to end but I realize that there must be some travel time involved.  I second the notion of a return trip in the not-too-distant future.  We just can't get enough of you boys round here.  By the way, thanks for talking to my friend on the phone - it really made his year (and its been a rough one).
October 27, 2008 7:14 PM
 

Amanda said:

Loved, loved, loved the show in Baltimore.  It was so great to be so close to the stage at such a great venue.  This is about the 5th time I've seen you lads and it just keeps getting better!  

Thank you for what you do.  The shows are great, not to mention the new songs for us to sing around our campfires.
October 27, 2008 7:24 PM
 

SpringsFans said:

Horatia, I need to disagree with you on this one.

This is the wonderful stream-of-consciousness ramblings of a man who's been trapped in a bus with 9 other guys on and off for the past several months.  When your body has been reduced to surviving on truck-stop burritos and long-past-its-prime coffee, this is what your mind reacts to best--crappy TV and other sugar-filled candy for the brain.

Even with the brilliant Mr. Hallett on board, I can't imagine the conversations are all that intelligent after a while. Alan, dear, you can start with the fart jokes any time you like!
October 27, 2008 7:56 PM
 

Caroldohn said:

So we're not to believe that beautiful women ever have a (perfectly human) blemish.  Are we also to believe that our happy, optimistic folk/rock singer never gets grumpy?
October 27, 2008 8:01 PM
 

Louise Muir said:

Great Show in Charlotte!!! Our fist GBS concert just wish you had played into the wee hours of the morning.  The show ended too soon for my liking:)  The music was awesome, the crowd joyful and exuberant.  Even us older folks couldn't sit down or stop dancing.  It is great joining people of all ages and share such great music. I love the ballads the new song about England was awesome.  My families immigrated to Nova Scotia leaving their families and I could feel the connection with the song.  It tugged at the heart.  Thanks for singing and continuing to share traditional and new music with us.  
October 27, 2008 8:12 PM
 

jennintenn said:

Well, I have no thoughts whatsoever on the complexions of the above-mentioned pretty people; however, I do have an opinion regarding the show in Charlotte last night, which was fantastic!  The show rocked, the little "mistakes" were hysterical (especially Kris' errant computer message making its presence known mid-show), and the music was, as always, magnificent.  All in all, a wonderful evening. It was great getting a chance to chat with you after the show, as well.  Hoping y'all will consider a show in Tennessee sometime soon... :)  

Cheers,

Jennifer
October 27, 2008 8:14 PM
 

TinaMack said:

I, for one, applaud Jessica 'buffalo wings' Simpson for sticking with the acne ads for so long. She has evolved from a barely-literate-seeming teleprompter reader with an astounding public curiosity about standard pronunciation & vocabulary-building to become a nearly fluent-seeming English-speaking model type. It happened right before my eyes. I, for one, am impressed.

And, how ingenious to be handsomely paid for one's own basic on-camera training! Campus and community actors across this continent, who have honed their craft, can read, can moreover deliver and dare-I-say in many cases even 'perform' the written words brilliantly, should absolutely STOP donating their valuable time and skills to amateur productions for the mere love of the craft. Foolish! They, like I, have clearly forgotten how to bumble, burp, giggle and jiggle all the way to the bank.

I clearly have much to learn from Jessica Simpson. I have obviously invested far too much unpaid effort into figuring out (privately and on a volunteer basis) things like... when I'm eating TUNA, from a can of TUNA, which looks, smells and tastes like TUNA--albeit with the brand name Chicken of the Sea--it is still and always, in fact, TUNA that I'm eating...tuna fish that is and not some variety of tuna poultry.  ;)  heeheehee...

But, yanno, she is really cute. Has great skin!
October 27, 2008 9:16 PM
 

LeslieCdot said:

Oh, you poor guys! Nothing better to watch all day than the cooking channel? And to tolerate the every 15 min infomercials?!? I'd be crawling the walls after an hour. After all the years GBS has been traveling days at a time on the bus, don't you guys have a protocol of ways to entertain yourselves/each other? Please tell us what you do to keep yourselves busy during long days on the road?  By the way, Rochester was absolutely fabulous!!! Keep up the great spirit!!!
Leslie C.
October 27, 2008 11:27 PM
 

Christa said:

Alan I hope you don't bother reading these comments. Yeesh!!!
October 28, 2008 12:01 AM
 

Amanda B. said:

Looking forward to seeing you guys here in Atlanta tomorrow night! It's been a few years since I got to see you guys play around the northeast when I lived in NYC. Hope you enjoy your day off round the city. Check out the Brewery Pub on Moreland Ave, bout 2 blocks from the venue, decent English bar. Little Five Coffee and the pizza joint next door are pretty good as well. I highly recommend the Harp Irish Pub though, that's a proper Irish owned pub bout a half hour north in Roswell. A few of us that are coming to the show perform there regularly. Great place, very chill. www.harpirishpub.com

If you want some random entertainment during the day in Little 5, wander around Junkman's Daughter, it's a big kitschy store on Moreland. You're not far from Freedom Park or Grant Park either and those are both nice areas to wander around.

See you guys tomorrow, looking forward to it! Cheers!
October 28, 2008 12:12 AM
 

Sharon said:

I've seen you twice in A2 MI, most recently in Sept. Also saw the Charlotte show.  It was wonderful.  Everyone sounded great but Sean's voice was beautiful singing, "England".  I really enjoyed the smaller venue.  You did a couple of things that probably can't be done in the bigger houses.  It was a treat.  Thanks.  
October 28, 2008 9:18 AM
 

Yvette said:

This Nova Scotian is looking forward to seeing the boys again (3rd time since I moved here) in Atlanta tonight!!!! We love ya!
October 28, 2008 9:21 AM
 

OntarioSailor said:

Alan,  Many thanks for always keeping Rochester as one of your tour stops. The German House show was outstanding.

I believe AnnThePiper hit the nail on the head: music is comfort when times are tough.

One night of escaping from the daily grind so that we can sing and dance is worth it.

Cheers to you and others and best of luck with the rest of the tour.

October 28, 2008 12:38 PM
 

Maria said:

Can't wait to see you in Atlanta tonight!  
October 28, 2008 12:42 PM
 

ChiTownKim said:


I love the randomness of this post...  and the visual of you all sitting around watching "The Barefoot Contessa" truly makes me chuckle!  

Safe travels and thanks for the continued peeks into "life on the road".

Cheers!
October 28, 2008 2:51 PM
 

AnneInPhilly said:

Alan,

It is certainly interesting to find out what things go through your mind on the bus. I don't know how you deal with the sameness day-in-and-day-out. More power to you.

Oh - the Proactiv commenrcials HAVE to be better than the campaign commercials. November 4th can't come soon enough!

Anne
October 28, 2008 5:50 PM
 

tfitzpat said:


The Keene show was phenomenal and the crowd (some of whom were new to GBS) ecstatic--please do come back next time!  It was especially fun to hear so many of the old songs (Donkey Riding!) along with the new.  Very much looking forward to the Lebanon show on Sunday.  In case you do read these posts (and it has to beat watching more infomercials), a request for your last night on this US leg of the FF tour:  that amazing acoustic version of Sea of No Cares??  Safe travels on your way back north!
October 29, 2008 10:43 AM
 

AngieLass said:

Thanks for a fantastic evening last night in Atlanta. After having listened to CDs, yet not experienced you live, I find myself groggy from the musical overload of last night (which didn't involve alcohol or coffee :)... just VERY talented, charming & genuine musicians). What fun! Please head south again someday.
October 29, 2008 12:22 PM
 

ErinS53 said:

My daughter has been almost unbearable waiting for your concert tonight in Raleigh.   She is the biggest 5 year old fan you have!  She cried her eyes out at having to miss a show over the summer at the Philadelphia Folk Fest and couldn't wait for this show to get here.

This, I believe is show #4 for me, and you guys NEVER disappoint, in fact, you surprise even the old fans who know that you are incredible live.  Can't wait!


October 29, 2008 12:31 PM
 

Eric said:

Not sure you actually read these damn things, but what the hell...

We were diggin' GBS in Keene, NH! There was a lot of love coming from the audience. Great show. Great band. Great people... Hope to see you back this way some day.

I was up in beautiful Newfoundland (and Labrador) this summer and missed you in Gander by a week. Damn! I really wanted to see GBS in their native habitat.

Was only when I got home that I found you'd be in my back yard in the fall! Sweet.

October 29, 2008 1:22 PM
 

holly locke said:

that is  so kool you guys  rock
October 29, 2008 1:31 PM
 

Brenda said:

Hello Alan ~

Yes, Thanks for you random comments about some of the God awful things that a cable channel is truely wasted on (touch'e TinaMack) -that would be a great survey to post on your site. Bet you would have some great nominations as well as the rest of us- like Sharon Osborn's Charm School...could there be a bigger waste of time on this planet ???

Some random thoughts/comments ... The economy, it has been a horror week where I work, 150 heads cut-followed by 30% reduction in all departments company wide, topped off with a fellow employee dying at their desk yesterday- but the key point is I am still blessed to be able to say I still work there. So, please keep the FTR & OTR's coming, as they provide some comfort in a world that is becoming less comfortable as each day passes.  Any subjects will do (despite Horatia comments).

Heard a comment on the healing power of music on a from a PBS  
              producer the other day:
   Music provides an excorcism for ones soul- it cleanses and      
   comforts to provide strength to face the coming moments
       .
When I heard that, it clicked- that is what GBS's songs provide me with each listen- guess you could literally call them "Soul Food" in the most authentic sense. No matter how many times they are spun-always comfort,smiles and joy abound.  I am currently having a friend burn new GBS songs by category -as I had memorized what song came next from each CD playlist and wanted some variety. All titled from GBS off handed comments  "Wicked" = Rock * "Cheers!" (Alan's signoff) = drinking songs * "Friggin' Looov-a-lee" = slower ballad & love songs, etc.
And, regarding you last minute delivery from the Rock a few days ago-please know that GBS "fans"(what an ugly word since the movie "Misery") pray for GBS's safe passage when you are on tour whether by plane, train, or bus. You bring so much into our lives, and we want that to continue for many years to come.
Also, great news about Steven Paige.  And, you were such a gentleman when that CBC reporter did that ambush interview on the issue that day it broke.
                     ~ Happy Trails ~    
October 29, 2008 8:27 PM
 

Janet Vaughn said:

To the Lads,

It's Thursday and I'm still grinning from Sunday night in Charlotte. My daughter and I brought two friends down from WV to see you and celebrate my birthday. Seeing Alan and Murray after was the culmination of one of the best days of my life. How gracious you are Alan! I'm still shaking my head and trying to convince myself it really happened. The pics are my current desktop.

Thank you all for sharing your amazing talent. Your music is very much "Soul Food" and I am starving for more.

I am,

Your Biggest West Virginia Fan!

xoxoxo

Janet
October 30, 2008 4:17 PM
 

An old fan said:

*ahem*  That was not your first gig in Keene, New Hampshire.  I saw GBS open for Guster at Keene State in the late nineties.  You guys were tight that night!  Darrell really brought down the house!!!
October 31, 2008 11:27 PM
 

Wendy (Brooks' mom) said:

So Brooks and I are getting super psyched at home watching one of your DVD's and rockin' in the living room. Maybe Brooks can come up on stage and play a tune with you guys?? He is 16 and INCREDIBLY talented and LOVES GBS! He came home this summer from work after buying me a ticket to your show and I was so thrilled. Can't wait til tonight at the Lebanon Opera House. Looking forward to a terrific show with my boy.
November 2, 2008 5:27 PM
 

Websites tagged "charlotte" on Postsaver said:

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