The setlist:

Banks of Newfoundland - intro music

Love me tonight

Paddy Murphy - On the night that Paddy Murphy died, Sean realized he was in Quebec and the girls were very pretty. Also, the Young Dubliners got loaded drunk and they ain't been sober yet. Given their friendship with GBS, I don't doubt that.

Sea of no cares

When I'm up - Alan emphasized that HE was the guy to keep the good times rolling. Agreed.

Jack Hinks

Walk on the moon

When I am king

Hard case

Everything shines

Here and now

Le bon vin - Sean picked up a cup and Alan asked what it was. "Wine. Le bon vin." Alan sang a few verses and the audience took it from there.

General Taylor - a pint of rum for every man and a gallon of whiskey for Sean McCann

Scolding wife - I'm pretty sure I heard "she caught me by the piddle and threw me naked on the floor".

Gallows pole - Sean introduced it as an evil song and dedicated it "to my dog. He ate my shoes and most of my tie today".

End of the world - After all these years, I still don't know what Alan says. Does he even know, or just power through it really fast and hope nobody notices?

Dream to live

Helmet head - took a few tries for the audience to get the "fare thee well!" fist pump thing

Consequence free - When Alan sang "wouldn't it be great to say what's really on your mind", Sean chipped in "hey sexy" and "nice butt", making Alan laugh and briefly lose his place.

Ordinary day

**********

Company of fools

Old black rum - took a few tries for the audience to get the "hey!" thing

**********

Clearest indication - acoustic version, no Kris or Murray

Straight to hell - The look of joy on Alan's face when he first struck the electric guitar was neat (never mind that he'd already used it on several songs). It's like he was a little kid at Christmas who'd been waiting all night to tear into the presents and mom and dad finally let him. I can totally picture him doing air guitar as a kid, followed by electric air guitar as a teenager.



Then the random stuff:

There were 3 bands on this night. First up was Young Dubliners, then Les Batinses (a QC folk band), then GBS. It was my first time hearing the first 2. I think I like them. I want to like them, but I didn't get enough to make an opinion because of the crappy sound (it was bad for GBS too). The instruments often overpowered the singing. I don't know if it was a bad setup, bad sound guys, or maybe both.

The stage was named scène Molson Dry (Molson Dry stage). A Batinses member called it "la scène bière qui coute beaucoup" (the expensive beer stage). Cups of beer were $5, so it was appropriate.

GBS wore all black, aside from Kris' blue jeans and Sean's purple tie.

They were all bouncing around and dancing a lot, even Bob. Sean was jumping on and off Kris' drum riser throughout the night.

They played several songs in a row at the beginning before beginning with the banter and silliness.

Alan said "bon soir" and "merci" a few times each, but that was it for the French. The crowd around me seemed about half French and half English (Quebec is full of tourists, especially in the summer), so I guess they were going with the lowest common denominator. I'm sure I read somewhere that the guys are reasonably bilingual, so I hoped I'd get more than that.

Alan: Our latest record, Fortune's Favour, was #5 in Canada the week it came out, behind minor bands like Coldplay. We've invited them on stage to play with us tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, here they are, Cold- (he turns around, sees nobody, looks dejected). Oh.

Alan: Our live record, Road Rage, was #1 when it came out, and Shakira was #2 behind us. How cool is that?
Sean sings some Whenever, Wherever
Alan: He's lucky his breasts are small and humble.
Murray threw in a comment too, but it was fast and unexpected and he was turned away from the mic, so I didn't catch it.

Sean: What are those things you all have with the flashing lights? Are they your passes?
crowd cheers
Sean: So that gets you into the festival?
crowd cheers again
Sean: I need to get myself a bunch of those and check this stuff out. Do they get you on our bus too?
Alan: They must. I couldn't get on earlier.
Sean: I think everyone should come on our bus.

Alan tried a few behind-the-back pick tosses and caught the last one.

There was a lot of sucking up and telling people the city was the most beautiful they'd seen. Alan mentioned places they'd played in the past and said they hoped it would be just as good when they returned in the fall.

There were no Hard and Easy songs, which was disappointing. I don't like everything on the CD, but it's good overall and, in my opinion, their best since Up. It's also the first time I've been to a show where Excursion Around the Bay wasn't played.

I sorta ran into everyone's favorite stalker (no surprise). We passed each other crossing the street. She stopped and stared for a second. I recognized her from a distance, but kept a straight face (was wearing sunglasses), ignored her and kept walking. Give it up already. You've gone to every show in every country for the last 5 years. Get a life. Get some therapy too.

Back at the hostel after the show, there was a middle aged woman crammed into what I presume were her 18 year old daughter's clothes and complaining to someone on her cell phone. She said GBS was disgusting and she had to leave after the first song. Disgusting? Some people don't like them, some even hate them, but I've never heard them called disgusting before. She said she should have gone to Stone Temple Pilots instead (they played on different stages at the same time). Well, why didn't you? Your pass gets you into everything. Duh.

She then complained to the front desk guy and he said they've lost some of their energy over the years. I do agree somewhat with that, as they're around 40, not fresh out of school like when they started. That said, even after playing for 15 years, this "not-so-energetic" GBS is still more energetic than any other 40 year old I've ever met.

Festivals are way better than indoor shows. $30 got you a pass for all 11 days here, or $15 for a day pass. I haven't been to a GBS show that cost less than $40 in several years and it probably won't happen again either.

Buff

Thanks for the recap Buff - great job! I am often in awe when I read long reviews of a concert which include quotes and set lists etc. I am someone that spends each concert so in the moment, I usually forget everything immediately afterwards (euphoric happy feeling excluded, of course). Anyways...lots of interesting tidbits, and I enjoyed your perspective. Not sure about the less energy thing though...have been to over 20 shows over the years and I think that it may not be the best way to describe the change. I prefer to think of it as maturation...progression...confidence...like a good wine (le bon vin!!). Then again...I will be 40 in less than a year myself and could just be in denial about the less energy thing. That's OK. Denial is fine with me One note though...I would say Sean particularly is far more energetic now than when I first starting going to see GBS (picturing Sean doing the full-out Mermaid Dance). Haven't seen a looming, moody Sean for quite some time now...

The DISGUSTING thing though....that is a strange one for sure. Have taken my 3 young sons to several GBS concerts and that is something that would never occur if GBS were even moderately on the "disgusting" rader. Not that they don't inject just the right amount of adult humour to keep all the grown ups amused...but it is pretty much ALWAYS so well disguised that it flies comfortably over the heads of the young and impressionable. That's way more that one could say for most bands. So to her...I say...if you had lasted more than one song...you would have realized quickly how incorrect that judgement is. Oh well. I am sure her leaving made room for someone else happy to take her spot! I wonder if Alan knows how disgustingly offensive Love Me Tonite is...

great review, buff!  Well done.

It is cool to get a sampling of what a full set with the new material might be like.  Was it a single set, or a two set format?  I didn't see a break mentioned, so I am assuming it was a single set.  Alan spoke of the 2 set format in a prior FTR regarding the FF Tour.  This must have been due tot he Festival format, I guess?

 

---

Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

It was a single set with 2 encores. I suspect the 2-set format will return when they're on tour again this fall.

I didn't go totally on memory for writing my review. I wrote down the songs as they were played, but tried my best to remember the other stuff. I was working on little sleep at the show and even less last night when I did the review.

I didn't go to Ottawa after all. I wanted to, but a combination of sore knees, being tired and just not having the money prevented it. Sounds like it was a good one anyway.

Back to the disgusting comment... They sang 5+ songs before they did any talking, so if that lady left after the first one as she said, she wouldn't have heard them say anything other than bon soir.

They didn't make any comments that could be taken as disgusting. They were speaking English, so I think they were trying to keep it simple. After 4 years in the province and several embarrassing situations myself, I know that dirty comments and jokes don't translate well.

I agree that Sean isn't moping like he used to, but he doesn't seem more active than before. He always did wiggle and dance around a lot.

My first show was in 1999, with a bunch (at least 10) in 2002, then roughly 1 every 2 years since then (evil jobs and other stuff that goes with growing up). They went really hard at the beginning and set a pretty high standard for themselves with all that energy.

I guess if I'd spent the last 15 years on the road and put in that much vertical movement, my body wouldn't be quite what it used to be either.

By Great Big Sea standards, I do think they're slowing down ever so slightly, however compared to us mere mortals, they're still waaaay off the scale.

Buff, your review is hysterical.  I didn’t need to be there to appreciate it.  I especially love the comments for each song. Your memory is amazing!

 

Now I must ask, what is the story behind this stalker person?  I must have missed the clue bus ….

I'm curious now too about the stalker! Guess I don't feel so bad now after trying to see every GBS show that is close-ish to home. Or my other friend that has seen every show I have, plus more (he's been a fan longer), AND went on Ships N Dip AND is going on the next one too, lol. But what an awesome excuse to get in some travelling time in this hectic and crazy life! :)

Doh! And thanks for the great review!!! Cant wait for Nov 30th!!

God, I am SO late to this party, but just wanted to say - kickass review, Buff! Very glad I stumbled upon it :)