OK, I've been to a ton of GBS shows and maybe this wasn't their best performance, but it was the highlight of my fan experience. 

 There are many and varied reasons to love Alan Doyle, but what he did tonight tops the list for me.  We had aisle seats pretty close up, and my 5 and 8 year old daughters, who have been listening to GBS since literally the day they were born, were with us (their 3rd show, so they're veterans, too).  They were dancing and singing along and made a little sign that said "Kids Love GBS" and they caught Alan's eye, so he beckoned to each of them to come up to the stage and he gave them guitar picks.   I don't think my older daughter will ever sleep again, she's on such an adrenaline high.  She and I have agreed to disagree about the beard, which I think looks hot, but she doesn't like.

 I know from the way Alan writes about his son that he understands that a gesture like that for a child will make a parent's night, too. Wow.

 Oh, and the music was pretty good, too.  ;)  Alan is clearly above the moon happy to be back on stage, and Sean was in rare form - witty and very powerful on "John Barbour."  All in all a fabulous experience.

Your post just put a smile on my face! Another reason to love them even more!

Beth-

I was at last night's show with my daughter (who is 20) and were right on the aisle that Alan had your girl come up on, and we were both just so thrilled to see him do that!   It was such a nice thing to do, but what was really cool was the smile on HIS face at the time - he was truly happy to give your girls the thrill of getting a gift from him.

Oh and yeah, GREAT music too.  These guys know how to have fun even with a "hard curfew" of 10:30 and a "dry" audience!

 PS. I like the beard too - but  my daughter, not so much. 

 

Great story and it goes a long way to redeem a lackluster night for me.  Alan's enjoyment and  and Sean's vocals were highlights but here's my take on the rest of the night:

Went to GBS at Cohasset, MA and am not sure what happened.  They were out of sync, a little too talkative, and seemingly edgy (not in a good way).  I don't know if they were tired or just disinterested but they seemed to be making fun of the crowd, the venue and the surroundings for much of the evening.  Don't get me wrong, I am and old and loyal fan and enjoy the boys' banter as a key part of a show but not knowing there was a hard curfew and curtailing the show in favor of long stories about nothing was a bit aggravating.  Their energy was down and the took shots at each other (lighthearted I thought at first, but then it happened too often).  I think if they are honest with themselves, they'll remember a couple of things they said that they immediately regretted and tried to work their way out of.  We've been going to see the boys for years and brought our two children to their first concert ever last night to a band they love and while they had a nice night, we knew what they were missing.  These were not cheap tickets and it was a big deal for us.  Last thing, there is a big difference between a couple of lovable screw-ups and three of four lyrical/musical errors during night.  

This is a band that holds at least two spots on my top ten concerts list.  They just weren't all there or worse, maybe they were and didn't want to be.  Saw them in Boston last time around and they were spectacular, amazing, funny and tight.  This wasn't the same band.   I hope Letterman wasn't watching.  I Everybody has an off night.  An of night there was still better than not being there.

We loved the show! They didn't seem rusty to us. Great venue other then the early curfew. They played under a tent with the stage sunken down so every seat has a great view. Fantastic crowd with lots of singing, stomping, and clapping. We didn't sit the whole show.

They played a lot of their old songs. I believe maybe only one or two from the latetest album, Fortune's Favour.

I also saw them in Boston last year and I will agree that that show was tops. Best I have seen.

I agree that the show was awesome!  It was about twice as energetic as Wed eve in Hyannis, which was really fun to watch. 

Sean's big joke last night was that they were the only band to play the South Shore Music Circus that had never been on Letterman.  They then had a long chat about various ways to get on the show.  It was very funny.  I didn't mind the banter because I think the guys are simply happy to be together again.  It's been a few months, so I expect them to be chatty - it would be weird if they weren't.  

I think they gave a stellar performance.  I was at the Boston concert everyone keeps referencing and I thought it was amazing (probably my favorite concert ever), but I try to look at each show as a separate event.  The guys were clearly having fun and simply taking the piss out of each other.  My friend who came with me had never been to a GBS concert and said afterward that it was so much fun.  She really enjoyed it and plans on coming to the next one.  I think it's a huge compliment to the band that I have been able to convert so many of my friends into GBS fans.  They simply have to come to one concert and they are hooked for life.  Well done, boys. 

There was a great mix of songs last night.  It was fun to hear some I hadn't ever heard live, mainly Beat the Drum.  Sean also started an impromptu sing-along of My Way by Frank Sinatra.  It was rather well done for being so spur of the moment.  Here's the completely unofficial set list, since once again I was not fast enough to get one:

Donkey Riding

Captain Kidd

Jack Hinks

When I'm Up

Lukey

Paddy Murphy

River Driver

When I Am King

Charlie Horse

General Taylor

I'm a Rover

Everything Shines

Beat the Drum

John Barbour

Run Runaway

Consequence Free

Mari-Mac

Ordinary Day

 

Encore: Old Black Rum (only one song since they had a "strict 10:30 curfew" on the venue)

I know this is not complete, so I hope someone can help fill in the blanks.  Anyone get an actual set list? 

Nobody gave the boys any beer last night, as the venue wouldn't allow alcohol into the tent.  This surprised the guys and Alan got everyone to boo the venue for not allowing beer in.  It may have sounded rude to the staff, but he was really just kidding around.  He even joked that if they wouldn't allow beer inside then the band would just have to take the show outside.  He even made like he was walking off the stage.  It was cute.

I personally LOVE the beard on Alan.  He looks pretty gosh darn sexy with it.  Oh, if only he weren't married.  ;)

BethFalk: we loved watching your daughter dancing up a storm in the aisle!  We were a couple rows right behind you and noticed her because of the sign.  It was adorable and your girls clearly loved getting a gift from Alan.  It is very clear that he has a young child, as he just reacts so well to children and has a blast making them happy.

All in all, I had an amazing week filled with tons of GBS fun.  It's great to have them back on tour and I can't wait for RI and NH later this year. 

 

 

I have to agree with the overall review of the show...we were third row middle and I loved the fact that we started singing Donkey Riding before they came out and then the first song off the bat was...Donkey Riding!
Although I definitely don't think the venue makes the concert, it certainly had an affect on this show and I will not be going back to South Shore Music Circus. We've been to almost 10 GBS concerts going all the way back to a free show in Central Park for Canada Day and not ONE TIME have I not had a beer in hand during a GBS concert. It is almost criminal to not be able to have a drink when watching these guys play and I know you don't have to have one in order to have a good time (we certainly still did) but that put a damper on the night. Between not being able to bring a drink in the tent and THEN having the venue shut down sales as soon as the main act went on stage, that was a huge bummer. The 10:30 Curfew I can understand because of the location of the venue, but the guys should have known that and played earlier or talked less.

All in all a great show, not too much from the new album which was dissapointing, but they are getting to the point where they have so many great songs you're bound to be dissapointed in them not playing a favorite. That's why you've got to go see as many of them as you can!

Next time you're in the Boston area, stay away from the SSMC and stick to places like the Orpheum Theatre, Bank of American Pavilion and the now dead Avalon!

Oops, sorry, forgot to post the Set List...we didn't get one but my wife took a picture of it from someone who did

Donkey Riding, Captain Kidd, Love Me Tonight, When I'm Up, Jack Hinks, River Driver, The Night That Paddy Murphy Died, Boat Like Gideon Brown, Charlie Horse, When I Am King, I'm A Rover, Beat the Drum, Everything Shines, Run Runaway, John Barbour, Consequence Free, Mari Mac, Ordinary Day,

The encore was supposed to be:

Sea of No Cares, Straight to Hell and Old Black Rum...but they only played Old Black Rum...Straight to Hell is a great live song, bummer!

 

Lest we forget, Sean also had a very strong rendition of General Taylor.

(Am I the only one who thought the sound system in that place was pretty lousy?)

Hey all,

I went to the Hyannis show and to the Cohasset show.  I was at the Boston show...and the one in Lowell at their Summer Music Series in 2007.  From Hyannis to Cohasset - they were so much better.  For not performing together for 6 months at all and only having a week between when Alan came home to being back out on the road - I'm pretty impressed.  I was so glad to hear some of the older songs that don't make it into shows often.  Though - to hear all the great songs they have (which is a lot) they would need to be on the stage for 3 or 4 hrs...not that I would mind that. 

 I think the banter is great - as is the songs they come up with on the spot.  The banter is one of the reasons that the shows are so great!  At Hyannis it was "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and in Cohasset - "My Way"...well, they were just great.

Also heard one of the ushers las night say that when the guys came in for sound check, they found that the venue sold seats that would potentially be out of eye sight range and had the venue move seats around. 

 The sound system last night was much better than at Hyannis.  I was so glad to see them.  And will make the trip up to Portsmouth, NH to see them in October...will probably be the last NE area show for a bit and the shows are too much fun to miss if they are around the area. 

 Jen

Company of Fools is a great one too!!!!!

Overall, I was delighted to see GBS again, and thought they put on a terrific show.  I have to agree that the sound system in the venue was lacking. I had trouble hearing some of the vocals, which are usually so strong and clear.  But all things considered, I'd listen to them singing into tin cans in a tunnel.

Hoping to make the Rhode Island show, as the b'ys don't often make it to the Ocean State. Hope they enjoy it, too. Can't beat the smell of salt air in the summertime. 

We thought the Cohasset show was great fun, and it was wonderful to see the band reunited.  The audience was terrific, and the guys seemed tickled by the energy and enthusiasm in the house.  Loved that they sang so many of their older songs (including Beat the Drum, which I never expected to hear live).  Granted, the sound system/acoustics in the tent could have been better, and wish they had gone on sooner so they could have done more than one encore before the 10:30 curfew (?!), but all in all, an exhilarating evening.  Beth, we were a few rows in front of you, stage Alan, and watching the older of your two girls do her little come-hither sashay down the aisle with her sign (oh, to be 8 years old) was a highlight of the evening--Alan may have made their night, but watching his face as they approached, your girls made his as well. 

Thursday show was good but, the show in Boston back in October was one of the best I have ever seen. This show is Cohassettt had a great mix of songs and it was a greay kitchen party but the Orpheum show just had somrthing magic abour it, the people, the band and the electricity in the air was amazing. I went a week later to see the boys in Portland and the magic was just no there either. So the "must" come back to Beantown, see the Bruins and play again for the Boston "GREAT BIG SEA" faithful. See you all, soon..............thanks GBS.

Thursday show was good but, the show in Boston back in October was one of the best I have ever seen. This show is Cohassettt had a great mix of songs and it was a great kitchen party but the Orpheum show just had something magic abour it, the people, the band and the electricity in the air was amazing. I went a week later to see the boys in Portland and the magic was just no there either. So the "must" come back to Beantown, see the Bruins and play again for the Boston "GREAT BIG SEA" faithful. See you all, soon..............thanks GBS.