nfld7

When Vic and Karen got back (turned out they walked to and from the Titanic place) we were all ready for dinner. Ate at Figgs on Duckworth. I think that was our favorite street. I tried cod tongue. Hey, what can I say? I liked it! They had all the broccoli Karen could eat. She was happy. Our waitress was wonderful. Vic and Karen did not enjoy the Titanic exhibit. They said it was a tourist trap and watched an A&E film they had already seen on TV at home. That the �artifacts� were only samples of the era�s wares, and that MUN probably would�ve been a better place to explore the iceberg info. Oh well.
Got back early to Bannerman Park to get good seat for the evening. Who do we meet at the gate but Jane and her family! Finally! Turns out they were here on Friday, too, but we missed seeing them. They also went to visit Jenny. Black Sheep were good. Karen is impressed and wants a CD.

Jim Fidler was amazing. Didn�t know how he�d sound live since he plays all the instruments himself on the CD Gypsy. Accompanied only by a 12-string guitar, he opened with Rise Up, played Rhythm of the Goat, Downtown Girl, a new song called Mr. Ambassador (funny!) and some other stuff. Ended the set with Iko Iko. He had the audience in the palm of his hand the whole time! But the last song had everyone singing and clapping. He was a hit!

Jim Payne and Fergus were next. I gave Jim some time to unwind and then went looking for him. Corresponding by email is fine, but the man was too good to not tell him so in person. Went to the back and asked the security guard to deliver a message for me. �I can�t do that. He�s not back there, he just left,� he says. Well, I was so disappointed telling the guard that I had tried to call him twice while we were in St. John�s and didn�t get him. �He only went over to the beer tent,� he says after my rant. Oooops! So I ended up in the beer tent with Jim and his entourage. His wife, Lillian, is a wonderful lady. Jim himself is friendly, funny, and was surprised that the people were singing along to his songs. He was delighted, but surprised. Found out he is also a ham radio operator and knows Ken and Diane! The man graciously had his picture taken with me, giving me a hug and whispering that us Pennsylvanians have to stick together. He may have been born a Pennsylvanian, but he doesn�t sound like one now! Victor teased me the rest of the night, calling me a �Downtown Girl.� I totally missed Jim Payne and Fergus O�Byrne.

Gearbox was awful. Just because Fergus O�Byrne and Geoff Panting were playing with them, didn�t make them better. Way too loud and not folk festival fare. We got up and moved all the way to the back. We were being deluged with electric guitars. One more reason I like Great Big Sea.

Shanneyganock was great. Another CD bought. Then I was so looking forward to Tickle Harbour. But it was like the night the Chieftains followed GBS at Wolftrap. The B�ys left the crowd on their feet screaming for more. Then the Chieftains came on and seemed so flat and lifeless compared to GBS. Tickle Harbour is a wonderfully talented group of people but Shanneyganock needed to come after them. I understand they were the headline group and all, but Jim Fidler would have been a much better opener for them than Shanneyganock.

Buying all this Newfoundland music had jogged our collective memories on Karen�s first Great Big Sea concert at the Painted Bride Arts Center. They played a lot of stuff there that we never heard later at any other concerts. They played Rhythm of the Goat, which Alan sang. (Figured it�d be a S�an song with the drum theme), Downtown Girl which left the audience wanting more of it, and Tell Me Ma with S�an and Alan singing. I just don�t know why they don�t sing them more, or put them on an album even...the audience seemed to respond very positively to them. Finally heard Ode to Newfoundland. Now what Alan signs notes in the Chatroom with makes sense�"from the Smiling Land�" If I came from here, I'd be smiling, too!

August 7,2000 Monday
Ooh my! Last day in St. John�s. Don�t want to leave.
Left Captain�s Quarters for Bay Bulls to go on a boat ride to cheer us up. Went through Petty Harbour to get there (took the wrong turn). It butts right up against St. John�s City Limits. Might as well be part of the city! Boy, Alan�s hometown sure is picturesque except for the big pipeline running up the hill. No wonder he�s a happy fellow.

So we went for a tour to Bird Island on O�Brien�s tour boat. Nice people. First thing I notice is they are playing my kind of music � Fables, Punters, Ennis Sisters, Tickle Harbour�Then Karen notices the young lady who is a crew member looks just like someone who sang at the Folk Festival yesterday. She was the one and the same girl! Turns out she went to High School with Alan. They grew up in neighboring towns and went to the same school. Said he was funny looking in High School with his long-in-the-back short-in-the-front hockey hair, tight stonewashed jeans and big ole geeky glasses. Also said he was real nice, too.

We talked to her about some of the resentment we got told about when we mentioned the b�ys, because of the lack of concerts in their hometown. She chalked it up to people having no idea about the industry or what goes on behind the scenes. She said they are at that age where they have to make a living, too. And that they played for so many years in so many places in St. John�s that she didn�t begrudge them any time they spent away from the Rock. �This IS how they need to make their living,� she said, �Here in Newfoundland they can�t make enough money.� We told her what great ambassadors they are for Newfoundland in the States. She was happy to hear it. She said that earlier in her life she couldn�t wait to get off the island and live elsewhere. But then she started working in the tourist industry and that has given her a new appreciation of her homeland. Everyone keeps telling her how beautiful it is and how lucky she is to live in such a friendly place. She decided to listen to what they were saying. She doesn�t think she will ever leave now. Nothing could be better. She stated that most people in Newfoundland don�t realize how many tourists come to see the place! And if you don't talk to them you never see how other people look fondly at your homeland.