I didn't see anyone post yet in this thread about the Bloomington, IL, show last Friday, so I guess I'll get the ball rolling.  

 Having seen GBS last year twice, once at the Chicago Celtic Fest and in Indianapolis, it was a bit of a change to be in more of a traditional theater.  It was odd to have assigned seats, but it worked.  With rain in Chicago and Indy being on a Sunday, this was the largest crowd I'd seen at a GBS show.  Talking with the people near me though, there appeared to be a lot of new fans in the audience--I can only hope we'd sell out the place next time they come 'round.  

Lots of my favorites on the setlist, some that I never thought I'd hear like Beat the Drum.  They seemed to have a good pace as well, giving us a few fast jump around songs, and then a slower one to sit and catch our breath.  Scolding Wife was probably my favorite, as I was stage Murray and admiring him all night, and Alan decided to...highlight...Murray's verse in an unusual manner.  I'd be willing to pay for pictures of that moment if anyone had the brain power to snap one, but my mind just melted.   Right after that moment, my brain decided to taunt me by changing the "if I get married again" line to "if I get Murrayed again!"  I don't think any GBS fan would hang themselves after that.  Sort of fitting that after the lovely Oh Donna detour there was a discussion about fitting Alan, Sean, and Murray into a song.  Murray Mac? Oh Sean-a? 

 There was a lovely solo by Sean-- a new song that apparently no one had ever heard before.  It seemed really heartfelt, but I do have a feeling it will be polished up a bit.  Perhaps we'll hear it on the next album?  

Before Old Black Rum there was some fun banter, ending up with trying to rhyme with Nostradamus.  Alan's "famous" was good, but I think I prefer the hippopotamus line from Sean.  It could work into a future children's album! Old Brown's Daughter closed the show, and then we went out into the drips.  

 My friends had to drag me out on Saturday to keep me from driving up to Glen Ellyn. I would have in a heartbeat.   

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"Grapes Before Grain!" ~Bob

Thanks for the review. Sounds like it was totally enjoyable. I get to see them on Thursday. Woohoo!

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

I DO have a photo of the Alan/Murray moment in Scolding Wife. I'm just about to get them uploaded here this morning. Will put them on Facebook and on my blog, so I'll get links here once they're up.

I have been in major post-GBS funk all weekend. My son too. He had me record his own version of Fortune's Favour last night. And we've been fighting over who's the best -- Alan (he says) or Séan (is there any question?) -- ever since the show. We had the time of our lives. When he found out that they were in St Louis last night, he pitched a mini-fit that we couldn't go. The show was fabulous beyond all fabulousness. They were so full of energy. And the tiny venue was amazing. We were right up at the stage. I know that some people farther back had issues with the "sit down!" bunch, but we didn't have that problem where we were. The guys were really interacting with the audience which was so much fun. And they kept giving Kellan (my 5 year old) smiles and winks which he loved. He fell asleep on the chairs at about 9:45pm and missed the end of the show.

There was loads of great banter between the guys, especially Alan/Séan of course. And they pretty much performed all of my favourites, minus the big Darryl songs (ie Excursion Around the Bay). There were a few surprises on the set list, as mentioned above. Songs that I haven't ever heard them perform live. And they did TWO FULL SETS! Which was amazing. We got a full show, then an intermission, then a SECOND full show!!! I could not have been more pleased.

I've seen GBS in Vancounver, LA, Baltimore, tens of times in St Johns (its hard to miss them when you live there!), etc. But this was BY FAR THE BEST show that I've ever seen. They were so full of energy and the music was perfection. I'm still on a GBS high -- and a post-GBS low. Come back soon!

Oh yes, I have photos of Alan and Murray during Scolding Wife. Still a couple days from home so can't load them yet.

Bloomington-Normal was lovely venue with perfect sound and light. (As much as I enjoyed Milwaukee and Glen Ellyn as well, neither had the sound balanced properly.) Was a great venue to bring a friend for her first concert.

~Barb

As always, the boys put on a great show.  While my wife and I have seen a number of shows in the past, this was the first time ALL of my 5 kids came with to see GBS.  They all loved it.  My 12 year old daughter got her hands on  a set list before we left, and then had her night really made when we let her be a junior  groupie and hang outside of the boys bus in the rain after the show.   To her delight Murray took a pictue with her and signed her set list.   Of course she also took the time to tell Murray what the boys had failed to play that  she wanted to hear in Glen Ellyn  the next night.  Thank you to Sean, Alan, Murray and Bob for making a 12 year old girl so happy.