It wasn't a sell-out - many seats available in the upper balcony, but it looked like the floor was filled.

Despite the venue's "no cameras" policy, there was no checking at the doors and I saw plenty of flashes during the show and no nazi ushers at all.  I kept the flash off on my camera, will look at, edit and share the pics later.

Not a lot of room in the first section's rows for dancing!   Our pre-sale seats were row K (10?) right in the center and the sound there was superb.  We didn't eget Old Brown's Daughter as the final encore, though - I suspect the place's acoustics were not that good, although it is a nice facility.

Murray got the solo place, doing an Elvis Costello tune, accompanying himself on bass.

A few different tunes from Boston last week, but the set list was basically the same.

A definite highlite was Alan doing Boston & St John's solo - that guy put such feeling into it!

The guys were very talkative and mentioned that since the following night in Lebanon was going to be the last show in the US part of the tour, they were going to give this show their all - and they did!!  I felt that Sean and Alan held back on their voices last week, but not last ngiht, that's for sure!

There was lots of kidding around and laughing - specially when Bob forgot the words in Helmethead!

Here's the set list (not sure of one title in the encores, never heard that tune before).

Set 1

 

Tonight

Process Man

Pat Murphy

When I’m Up

Jack Hinks

England

Gideon Brown

Hard

Case

River Driver

Here and Now

Murray solo – Elvis Costello’s Almost Blue

Company of Fools

Run Runaway

 

Set 2

Kitchen Party/Jig

Donkey Riding

When I Am King

Captain Wedderburn

Scolding Wife

General Taylor

Helmet Head

Dream To Live

Consequence Free

Mari Mac

Ordinary Day

 

Encores

Walk On The Moon

Old Black Rum

 

Boston and St John’s

Laddie (?)

Excursion/Fortune Set

 

 

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Just checking out new photo software on new puter, resizing option is not so easy to use.

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http://mjbphotos.tripod.com
http://www.myspace.com/mikebirchmusic

We also got fan club tix row K. It was a great show and can't wait to see the boys again.

Hey Mike that sounds like a great set list -

The encore in question "Laddie" as you nick named it would be "Ferryland Sealer".  It is found on TURN, and was also recorded by Sean and Bob in the pre-GBS (pre-Alan) band Rankin Street.  Nothing like a rousing tune about clubbing seals to get you up and dancing! lol

 

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

sfongemie:

We also got fan club tix row K. It was a great show and can't wait to see the boys again.

 

What seats were you in?  We were in 7 & 8.

Pictures in this thread.

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Me and my 2 girls were in the front row, and although we were able to use the flash on the camera, the security guy working the floor seemed to get upset every time I walked over to the aisle to try and get a decent show of Sean or Bob.  We were right in between Alan and Murray.  The one thing I found out about digital cameras that I don't like is that they automatically shut off after a few minutes if they're not used.  On several occasions, Alan or Kris would come over and stand with Murray, and they would have been fantastic shots if I didn't miss the opportunity waiting for the camera to turn on.

Fantastic show, and I was happy to hear Gideon Brown and Boston To St. John's, 2 of my favorites.  Can think of a bunch more I'd loved to have heard, but then it would've had to been a 6 hour show.

Mike, I looked around for you prior to the show, but didn't see you.  We were at Ri-Ra's for appetizers from about 3:00 to 5:00.

I've been an admirer of GBS for a long time and was delighted to see that their tour landed them near to where I live!  (Hampton Beach.)

They did not disappoint!  The show was great!  Every time you thought it was over they kept comming back!

They are incredible musicians all.  And they are NICE GUYS!....great sense of humor.

One of the things I was happy to observe, is that the music appealed to people of all ages!

I went to sea for 25 years, and songs about the sea have always "tickled" me.  I joined a ship once at Holy Road Newfoundland and spent a night in St. Johns!  Holy smoke that SCREECH is really something!

I am happy and proud of the way the band resurrects old native music from long ago.  I follow and support a talent closer to my home...his name is Jeff Warner from Portsmouth, New Hampshire and he keeps alive old music from around these parts (and around the world!) plays a great concertina as well!

I look forward to the day GBS plays again in my area....I will certainly attend and cheer them on!

 

God Bless Great Big Sea!

Kevin 

 

fins209:

Mike, I looked around for you prior to the show, but didn't see you.  We were at Ri-Ra's for appetizers from about 3:00 to 5:00.

As I mentioned elsewhere, we tried dinner at Dry Dock (a real disappointment), and by the time we got to the Merrill it was 7:55.

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I really enjoyed the Portland Show.  I've seen GBS on a number of occasions (but they were all in Canada) it was gratifying to see that the American crowds knew the words! :-)  I took two of my Boston friends to see the show - they were unfamiliar with the boys but now I've gotten them hooked... I'm sure they will be GBS fans forever now!  

 I was too busy dancing to take pictures, I did managed to grab a couple of photos (no flash) during the encores... but they didn't turn out.  Oh well.... have the images in my memories forever.

 Special thanks (NOT) to the Maine State Troopers for the $185 speeding ticket on my way back to Canada - way to promote state tourism! LOL

 

 

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"If at first you don't succeed... skydiving is probably not the sport for you!"

Yeah, the state troopers were all over the place on I-95 that night, sorry for the Maine-present.

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Well in defence of the troopers I was doing 81 in a 65 zone... so I did deserve it... it just made the trip a little more costly than expected.  On another note, I ate in a restaurant before the show - no clue what the name was - it was about a block from the venue and had neon signs advertising "fresh beer" (which is why a Canadian was attracted to the place) - the food was great, beer (brewed on the premises was fantastic) and service was friendly/efficient... was a great spot and I'll stop in again next time I'm in Portland.

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"If at first you don't succeed... skydiving is probably not the sport for you!"

Hi - My wife, daughter and myself sat in fron row seat 5-6-7 in front of Alan. Great seats.  Right before Alan sang "Boston and St. John's" and knelt down and autographed "Fortune's Favour" CD for my daughter.  We were all too dumbstruck to take a photo of the moment.  Me wonders if anyone else caught the moment on film.

Brian

Hi Brian,

 Sorry to say we did not catch the moment in a picture but we did watch, it was a awesome!!!  Great stuff that!!  The Portland show was the 3rd one I had seen this fall and by far the BEST!!!  We had tickets in Row K, at Stage Bob luckily enough (Bob is my absolute favorite)!!!!  They poured their hearts and souls into that show, all others will pale by comparison.  Glad you guys had such great seats!!  The Merrill is a great venue it did them well!!!

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"How's 'e gettin' on, b'y?"

Maria - what seats were you in - guess a lot of us were in row K!!

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bfkffisher:

Hi - My wife, daughter and myself sat in fron row seat 5-6-7 in front of Alan. Great seats.  Right before Alan sang "Boston and St. John's" and knelt down and autographed "Fortune's Favour" CD for my daughter.  We were all too dumbstruck to take a photo of the moment.  Me wonders if anyone else caught the moment on film.

Brian

I was just a few seats down from you and that was a great moment!  I'll check around and see if anyone has pics of it.  I only took my camera out to tape Capt Wedderburn..have faith, it will turn up somewhere.