I just had to go back and read  Mandamus's review again.  I find it hard to believe we were at the same show.   I guess you could say that the b'ys were critical of the venue with regard to the "no alcohol in the tent" rule, but it was all in good fun, and I'd venture to say the vast majority of the audience agreed that their policy was a little bit strange.  I am wracking my brain to remember at what point they were critical of the audience.  The crowd was great.  It was so wonderful to see 80%+ of the audience on their feet for almost the entire show.

As far as the song selection goes, it was awesome.   I have been to many GBS concerts, but I don't ever remember so much variety.  It was like deja vu, opening with "Donkey Riding" and closing with "Ordinary Day."   At every show, the music is great, but the banter adds so much.  The whole Letterman thing was hysterical.  It was so nice to have them back on stage and doing what they do best.

Beth, I was so happy for you and your daughters.  My two girls, 13 and 8, were with us, for their fourth show, and they had a great time too.  The three of us are totally in agreement, however, we prefer a clean shaven Alan!

Even though my girls didn't have Alan calling them up to the stage, I'm agreeing that this was the best GBS concert ever, at least until the next one!

Hi Beth,

My boyfriend Luke (the blonde guy) and I sat in front of you and your family.  We thought your girls and their signs were so cute and when Alan called them up I imagined how you (and the girls) might have felt.  So cool!  The set list was great, the banter was hysterical as usual and I danced and sweat my bum off from start to finish. The sound wasn't so great, but it didn't take away from the show. Sean was killin' it on John Barbour and My Way!

Oh and I loved Sean with his bare feet!  So sexy!   I like Alan's beard too!

 Cheers,

Laura

Somewhat late but I'm still sorting through vacation photos...

A Sean & Murray sequence (actually from Hyannis but there doesn't appear to be a thread. Will post a couple of Cohassett later).

Murray couldn't get away fast enough. 

Took me awhile, but finally remembered to drop by this thread to find out what Sean's Tweet was about. ("Criticized by Murray (the bastard) for being too Fruvous onstage tonite.") Sounds like they were being chatty and a little edgy? With the significant caveat that I wasn't actually *at* the show , I tend to think I'd fall on the side of the folks who enjoyed the change from the norm. I completely adored Fruvous's chattiness. I actually listen to the live shows posted to archive.org more than their recorded stuff just because the banter and improv was all so fantastic. Some of my favorites, off the top of my head, if anyone's interested:

Hootie and the Blowfish Banter: http://ia301537.us.archive.org/1/items/mfruvous1999-06-15.shnf/mfruvous1999-06-15t14_64kb.mp3

Two Tequilas Improv: http://ia311243.us.archive.org/3/items/mfruvous1999-02-19.flac16/mfruvous1999-02-19t10_vbr.mp3

Apologies for the Fruvous moment there! Back to Great Big Sea ...

As for alcohol at the shows, I've seen a couple booze-free shows (Town Hall Theatre in NYC, South Orange Performing Arts Center in NJ, and I'm nervous that the upcoming show in Tarrytown, NY will be booze-free.) and it is a little brutal. Mind you, I'm not crazy about the people who get totally blotto at regular shows either, but I'll take a couple drunken morons over a totally sober show any day. Just too low-energy and self-conscious!

I dunno. I prefer alcohol-free shows. No loud drunken people shouting over John Barbour. I don't know why some people can't go to a show unless they are drunk first. If you have to get drunk to enjoy the music, then it can't be very good.

Anne