Great Big Sea

© Roadrunner Records // Photo credit: Andrew MacNaughtan

This was one rollicking and toe-tappin' Friday night in Edmonds! One of my all-time favorite bands, Great Big Sea, came to town today and played at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, all of three blocks from my house. Nonie and I went and had front row seats! (I guess it pays to be an "official" fan of the band as I bought the tickets through their website and got these fantastic seats.) From the start to the finish, it was a night of great music, great fun, a lot of singing along and much laughter. I got to hear some of my very favorites, especially The Night Pat Murphy Died and Ordinary Day.

I should be going to bed and getting some rest before heading up to my cabin to face the clean up after the recent burglary, but I'm too jazzed from the concert and I'm bouncing around the house listing to more of my favorites.

If you ever get the chance to see the lads in person, run to buy the tickets. You won't be sorry!


Courtesy MuchMusic // Photo credit: Geoff George

This just in from our local paper, The Beacon.

"A Newfoundland Kind of Night

by David Brewster and Bill Wood for the Beacon

"Okay, so we've all attended concerts where the artists received a standing ovation at the conclusion of a fantastic performance. It happens most weekend evenings at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. But until last Friday ECA concert hall had never experienced a standing ovation at the beginning of the show, nor one that extended pretty much over the entire duration of Great big Sea's amazing concert.

"Great Big Sea has inspired a legion of fans from Canada and the U.S., and these followers, some from as far away as Fairbanks, were in full force throughout the show, singing along with nearly every song, pumping their fists high and dancing in place from introduction to the encore's end. The joy felt back and forth between the audience and the band made for a magical evening.

"The band, formed in Newfoundland in 1993 and lead by co-founders Alan Doyle, Sean McCann and Bob Hallett, performed songs from the full range of their recording career.

"On selections such as "When I'm Up," "Lukey," "Can't Stop Falling" and "Here and Now" the band and audience joined in full-throated song.

"Much of their original material shows the influence of their Eastern Maritime roots-sea shanties and story songs- and the traditional acoustic instrumentation helped put the voices right up front.

"Lead vocal duties were mostly shared by McCann's sweet tenor, which often rang out above everything, and Doyle's baritone, which was appealingly gruff around the edges.

"McCann was particularly powerful in leading an a capella performance of "General Taylor," a traditional from their 1997 album Play.

"Hallet is a multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, his skills on equal display on bouzouki, mandolin, fiddle, squeeze box accordion, harmonica and tin whistle. Doyle and McCann took turns engaging the audience with banter, improvised ditties and impromptu sing-alongs. the band is ably rounded out by Murray Foster on bass and Kris MacFarlane on drums and percussion.

"On several occasions the band praised the charms of Edmonds and the Pacific Northwest, and it will be hard to forget the power and passion of Great Big Sea's performance last week. We hope, along with the band, for their return in the future."

Amen.