We just returned home after seeing Great Big Sea at the Pageant in St. Louis. Wow! This was my first time seeing them live and it exceeded even my lofty expectations.  There are a lot of great bands, but to find a group that is as good live as they are in the studio is a rare treat.

 I've only been listening to them for a year or so (after they turned up on a sea shanty channel I have on Pandora), but I'm trying to make up for lost time.

The only bad part of seeing them live is the realization that we probably won't get to see them live in our area again for a while. :( Maybe we can tempt them with some tickets to a Blues game.

It was truly an incredible party!  I think Alan enjoyed the Schlafly's.  The Pageant was a great venue though honestly we should have chucked the chairs in the orchestra pit and freed it up for more vertical movement!  Don't worry, they'll be back.  Just keep listening and singing. 

My kids (the little rink rats that were running around with hockey jersey's on for those of you that were at the concert) jumped out of bed this morning singing Going Up (which young Gus reminded me they didn't play last night).  All of them had guitar picks in their pockets as they headed off to school.  Young or old, GBS's music stirs passions deep in the soul and we love them! 

Thanks to all who came out last night and made it a great event.  Let's do it again soon!

Definitely a great show!  We were in the last row of the pit, on the opposite side from you.

My little ones had fun too, though my 5 year old fell asleep before we even left the parking lot!  Both were singing their way to school this morning though.

So I just walked into  my cozy house back in New Hampshire with the strains of the Pageant show still in my head.  A grand evening it was indeed.  It is interesting to me how concerts really have unique characters; it is also why I enjoy seeing GBS many times.  Every one is new, and unexpected treats occur.  Last night's show was one of the best musically I've heard in awhile.  It is clear that the boys have had a chance to play together a bit (not that I would imply that they actually practice!) after the late spring/summer hiatus, and get their "sea legs" back.  The cohasset concert in August was much rougher musically (and a less than ideal sound system), but the energy in the crowd was fabulous.  The Pageant is a small venue, and the concert started out slowly.  But the energy built, and by the end of the first set the house was will them 100%.  

Set list is below, but a few highlights:  1.  Process Man, Ferryland,Feel it Turn, Scolding Wife and Straight to Hell (my biases)  2.  great banter about statistics, Alan's coffee habits, and dreamy hints about wanting a beer, which resulted in a hand-delivered Schlafly to the stage (an "angel in the bottle", in Alan's words)  3.  Murray's solo (Tennessee Stud by Johnny Cash), finally in a range that really shows off his talent  4.  the older couple in the front row, standing through the entire concert and singing every single word, complete with appropriate "fist-pumping"  5.  my friend, seeing them for the first time, asking me repeatedly "what's the name of the muppet-guy lead singer again?", referring to Alan.  

SET #1: SET #2:

Donkey Riding "Tunes":  instrumental plus I's the Bye

Captain Kidd Lukey

Love Me Tonight Process Man

Paddy Murphy When I am King

When I'm Up Wedderburn

Jack Hinks Scolding Wife

England Everything Shines

Charlie Horse Helmet Head

Ferryland Feel It Turn

River Driver Consequence Free

Here and Now Mari Mac

Murray's Solo Ordinary Day

Run Runaway 

ENCORE:   They didn't play it how it was listed on the set list.  I can't remember exactly what order tings were, and in fact the end of the concert is always a bit of a blur for me, so some of these may have been before the encore, and I'm just remembering it as after:

Straight to Hell

Excursion by the Bay

Fortune Set  (Sean's set drumming skills during this set are indeed gradually improving, thank goodness!)

Old' Brown's Daughter 

So there you have it.  Thanks to my compatriots for a great show, and warm greetings to the "hockey team", whose kids showed the crowd the meaning of vertical movement, and got picks in return.   

Awesome, awesome show!  If I were rich (or king of the world), I would fly up from Texas to see them all.

But I'm pretty sure they did play "Going Up" -- I'd never heard it before, and I remember noting it and liking it.

Such a wonderful experience to see a band make so many folks really feel good and happy and lightened of their load.  Thanks.