We got to Morristown just before 5 and did some shopping around town before walking up and down South Street trying to find some place to eat. It was interesting with three of us trying to find something we could all agree on.
Around 7 we started walking back toward the theater and sat outside for a little bit before going in. We did have to wait in the lobby for a while but were some of the first people in. Our seats were fabulous. Literally I would say we were about 10 feet from the edge of the stage, in the center of the second row on the right (these tickets were bought before we knew Stevie had left the band). Then behind us the theater started filling up. Once it got about half-full, we knew there might be a problem, many of the people were senior citizens, even more seemed unsure of who the band were. In fact the people sitting beside me (Liz and Mom were on my right) and two older women were sitting on my left.
A little after 8, the band came out on stage. They opened with Leaving of Liverpool/Hills of Connemara (Okay right here I have to stop and say if I spell anything wrong, blame it on my already bad spelling and a draining energy level.) Then they swung into the show.
The audience (except my sister and I) were pretty lackluster. Pat, Steve, and the others tried their best but the audience just wasn't getting into it. The guys were also hindered by the fact that they had only water to drink (yes we thought this was very odd). Pat also had problems with one of the spots, it kept shinning in his eyes and I think he finally told them to cut it.
We think we have found the reason that they don't sing many ballads at the concerts, Pat just doesn't know what to do with himself. They did sing Un Cailian des Rua and a lot of others (I'm sorry at this point I just can't remember what all they played since they played from just after 8 til almost 10:30). Born to Be a Bachelor's third verse was American Girls, going to Morristown, and he got filled up with Spring Reflective (water) what the guys were given to drink. Ryan did mess Pat up at one point by starting the count in at one instead of two for one of the songs. Someone did bring up mini-bottles for Pat and Steve (and I'd say the bottles were maybe 3 inches tall). Pat promptly spiked his water! and Steve's reply is "Thanks for sharing, Pat." A few minutes later someone else brought one up for him. They played two new songs that we were sure of--The Getaway (with the explaintion that they were in Springfield, Ohio and stopped for gas and everyone thought some else had paid so they left and the cops chased them down. Steve's comment was "its not like our RV is a getaway vehicle.) and The Scalawag which is definately a how fast can Pat sing song. They also played a really cool instramental that just Steve, Ellery, Ryan, and Pat played. (No name sorry) Pat and Ryan battled it out with bodhran and drum and then drum and feet (Pat's shoes had taps in them). There was also another instramental that started with Ellery all by herself on stage--all the new songs were completely awesome!
Pat and Steve said near the beginning of the show that they couldn't sing Johnny Tarr anymore when someone yelled out the name. (This guy kept yelling songs all during the show from the balcony).
Around 9:30 a very odd thing happened, they took an intermission! During the intermission, I ran up to the stage and tossed two pink umbrellas onto the stage (unfortunately the pack only came with 4 of them). When they came back out, Pat stopped dead and pointed to it and Steve immediately picked his up and put it in his beer holder. Pat said they hadn't been planning to sing Pina Colada but since they had the props, they would but they had to do something first.
He then swung into his typical speil about Johnny Tarr--6 versions tonight--Nora Jones, Snoop Dawg, Kenny Chesney, a blues version with Ellery singing with him (she sounded awesome!), Sweet Home Alabama version, and one other they never explained. Pat made it through the whole thing without laughing tonight. They played Pina Colada after then and then a bunch more. I would say the group probably said well lets just party when we get back cuz it seemed much more energetic the second half. And the audience seemed to be getting into the music more.
They had one problem right before Me and the Moon, Steve's mike(mic?) stopped working...completely. This caused Pat to try to stall. He went on for a few minutes, then said "Well while our sound guy, Peter, gets down here as fast as lightening (empasis on the fast...), Pete will do the Full Monty. They started a little striptease music and Pete played along. Pete also offered to sing himself but Pat's comment was "Ummm. NO!" By this time, Peter had flown down the aisle and hopped over Ryan's little platform and was hunkered down behind the amp but it still took them quite a few minutes to fix it.
When they got to the end, they played Stain the Grout and right before it, Steve said "Come on people, its 2 more songs, 6 minutes of your life, stand up and dance!" They did get the whole audience on their feet but a lot of people weren't dancing or clapping still. After that Pat pointed to his watch like they were out of time but they did some back and sing Beggarman. It sounded a little odd without the thrumming of the drigiadoo.
It was a good show, great to see them again, although not nearly as energetic as the one we saw last August. I would suspect a lot of that had to do with the audience. It was great seeing them again (they of course stood outside and signed everything, actually forming a pretty good line and just passing things down--unfortunately they couldn't really talk cuz there was so many people there). I got my hat (which I bought tonight) and the patch I had made for my jacket signed, and Sis got her DVD cover signed.
Mom seemed to enjoy it.
I took 4 rolls of film and since we were so close they should be pretty good, will get them developed and post some as soon as I can. Sis will probably update her journal tomorrow and maybe she can add some stuff. Nite all!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
