It was the best concert I’ve ever seen.
Spirit of the West opened up with a spirited, fun-filled set. I’ve heard them many times on CBC Radio 2, & it was great to finally see them live. Everyone in the group is fantastic, but their drummer (Vince R. Ditrich), especially, is unbelievable. I bought both their CDs at the swag table & can’t wait to dig in.
Then came Great Big Sea, who outdid themselves. From the moment they opened with “Donkey Riding” to the encore finale of “The Old Black Rum” with Spirit of the West, it was high energy, high intensity, with almost no break, almost no time to catch your breath. It seemed like they wouldn’t – or perhaps couldn’t – stop. Everyone around me was thoroughly exhausted by the time it was all said & done. I can’t imagine how the guys felt after performing. Incredible!
Perhaps it was a function of St. Patty’s Day 
creating an especially lugubrious atmosphere. Perhaps it was attending a concert in Canada, but last night was different than any concert I’ve attended. The crowd’s energy & the band’s energy created a synergistic effect that seemed to bind everyone together to the point where we all moved & breathed together. The set list was practically a perfect mix of old, new, & everything in-between. (Anyone note the tunes played?) And, the venue didn’t show many break-in period flaws in this, its first concert. Amazing.
Other than Shorock’s thread with his fabulous video of the finale (thanks for sharing – your crowd shots really give the feel & spirit of a GBS concert!), I’ve seen neither hide nor hair’s mention of the show last night. http://www.greatbigsea.com/forums/thread/145199.aspx Any other thoughts?
I thought it was the best concert I’ve ever seen.