BROTHER
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It's been five years and many things have changed
but one thing in my life has remained constant for the most part at least.
I remember that Hot and I do mean HOT steamy night August 8th 1998 when I was walking around Musikfest after attending another concert. I remember faintly hearing above the crowd the sound of bagpipes. Ok now you're saying Bagpipes? Well this is not unusual as I am from Bethlehem Pa, and I too had just begun to play the Bagpipes at Liberty High School. The sound drew me closer to the Volksplatz stage. I couldn't actually see the stage because of the crowd that was overflowing the already cramped tent. There must have been at least a couple of thousand of people there all listening to this band. I found the schedule and saw that they were a band named BROTHER. I hung around till the end of the set and thoroughly enjoyed this odd but great sound that was flowing out of this place. I found out that the band would be back the next nite and decided to come back again. Maybe this time I would be able to get inside the tent! So the next day came and again I trekked down to musikfest. And again I couldn't get into the tent it was the same as the night before hoards of people listening to this great music. I decided to get a CD while no one was at the table. I just picked one up it was "The Digging Bone." From what I had heard the past 2 days I knew it was going to be good. I hung out until the show was over, I heard that they were going to sign things but it was getting late and since I was only 15 decided that my mom would be mad if I didn't get back on the shuttle bus and get home. It was time for musikfest again, the next year, but I had heard from some of my other bagpiper friends from school that BROTHER had gotten into a bad car accident and wouldn't be back even though the morning call and musikfest still had them posted. I had been listening to this CD for a year now and I really wanted to see the band again. Ok well actually see them for the first time since I could never get to the tent! well maybe there's next year. It's musikfest 2000 and i'm determined to see BROTHER this year if it kills me. Me and my bagpiper friends decided that we'll all go down together. Some of them have already seen them and warn me that we have to go down early so as to get somewhere inside the tent. So August 6th we all meet down at musikfest and see BROTHER. and let me just say OH MY GOD! not only are these guys very talented musicians, BUT THEY ARE REALLY HANDSOME!! especially the DRUMMER! my friends and I push our way to the front a couple of rows back and have an awesome night. We head over to the merch table and I pick up their new CD "This Way Up." We all just kinda wait in the line that has formed and I get my CD signed and I get to see the band for the first time UP CLOSE! and wow I am reassured that the Drummer is definitely hot! We decided to come down the next night again. Again the next night me and my bagpipe friends meet up and have a blast up in the crowd. My mom came along this night she watched the first concert at home on the TV and decided to come down and have some fun too. She bought me a shirt after the show and made me go up and have it signed while I had it on. (I was 16 this was a big thing to me). My friends and I tried to tell the lead singer that we were all bagpipers too but I don't think he believed us. With a nod and a grin he shrugged it off and moved onto the next person in line. OH well we thought we'll tell me again sometime he's busy now. I'm definitely hooked now. It was time for musikfest 2001 again. I just graduated High school and it's time to party with all of my friends before we have to go off to college. I decide that we all should go down to musikfest and see BROTHER. I remember sitting on the steps of the Bethlehem Library with my friend Dana going "hey doesn't that look like angus?" 5 mins later "hey doesn't that look like hamish?", 5 mins later "hey doesn't that look like the new guitarist guy?" 5 mins later "hey doesn't that look like roel?" then I will always have the lasting image in my head of rick talking to his family and angus, hamish and roel stopping over to talk to them an roel grabbing hamish's butt. I will ALWAYS remember that. So we finally meet up with the rest of my friends and head toward the front of the stage. However security was having a real problem with everyone hanging out up front and made us leave. so I found a little grassy patch on the side of the stage, where I could see ROEL (i found out his name by this point in time and was clearly infatuated with him). My friends called me over to where they were standing and we made our way back up infront of the stage because HAMISH told us too. We had a great night all hanging out having fun to BROTHER. Of course I was comming back the next night. I had Jamie hooked by this point too. She kept asking why I didn't tell her about them sooner. We got to down to Volksplatz early and got up in the front. I kept bringing all the "VIRGINS" with me cause I felt like I had to share. The night was amazing. I got one of my first pictures with the band that night. Roel had on his black leather zipper kilt. the one I drool over in my pictures ahhhh the memories. I got the Crow t'shirt too and had it signed. My friends and I head off to school. Jamie, Bridget and I swear we'll go to the celtic classic BROTHER shows in September. These are the last shows of the BROTHER Tour to Nowhere. The first night I bought "Your Backyard" and got it signed. The next day I got another T-shirt and had them sign it. I think I got the other CD's that day too I got "Exit from Screechville" and "Blackstone tramp." Mom and her friend Mary who I also got hooked bought those for me. The last performance day I got Signed. No not a Tshirt NO not a shirt No not a CD I MYSELF got signed. and HAMISH tried to tell Jamie and I that the BROTHER thing he writes meant BOOBIES. We didn't believe him. I also got a good pic with Roel, even though everyone says it looks like he's grabbing my boob. I believe I got another this way up t-shirt too and had it signed. It's 2002 now and I hear BROTHER IS COMING to Croc rock in april. and i'm excited we're all going. mom jamie mary bridget and dana. this is gonna be good. we buy bubbles we buy panties we get it all. IF you were ever at a BROTHER show i'm one of the girls that throws the panties/under-things at the band. I also hear that they are playing at BORDER'S that thursday. and I'm crushed. I'm 45 mins from home but I have class. what am I to do? well i decide that if my class lets out early i'll go home and see the band. So I get to the border's show, my class did let out early and I lied to my boss at the library "i have to go home i'll be back at 7." What should be a 45 min drive turned into a 25 mins drive. OK so I broke some laws it's ok I got to Borders safe and sound. Saw the show got some pics with the band, drove back to school made it just in time for work at 7. Went to croc rock that weekend. and finally after 2 YEARS of trying I FINALLY got a drumstick from ROEL and he didn't even throw it out in the crowd. I just had my hand up and all a sudden it where there. and he just smiled. I was sooo happy. The club decided to throw us out cause we weren't 21. so we decided to find the big white van we saw the day before. It was parked around the corner and the guys were loading up there stuff. We said our Hello's to Hamish and Angus. and they went back inside. and Roel came out. we had some stuff for him. (a sippy cup b/c he spilled water all over himself at borders while talking to our friend bridget on jamies cell phone) and Bridget decided to intro all of us to him and she was like "....and this is jen." to which I got "oh I KNOW YOU. " Everyone said my jaw dropped to the ground. I was happy for like 6 months after that. I found out that BROTHER was gonna be at Celtic fling in july. We got a hotel, and decided to make a long weekend of it. Me mom Jamie and Mary. We got to our hotel we were hopping that BROTHER was staying there too, but they weren't. we did however have some really cool neighbors. like RED MCWILLIAMS, THE GLENGARRY BHOYS, AND BLACKTHORN. we had so much fun that weekend. the guys walking through our parking lot on the way back from the bar up the street at 2 am. we tried to follow them but they got lost in the bushes somewhere. They stayed at the hotel next to us. it was close enough I guess. I had just ordered the last 2 CD's "Pipe Dreams" and "Black and White" and even Jim their road manager said to me "Where the Hell did you get those?" since they haven't been offered in a while. I got the New poster and the Poster t-shirt. It was time for musikfest 2002. 4 Years after I first seen them I found myself at the same tent waiting for the show to start. The show was amazing. I knew that THIS is what it was all about. I got the free musikfest shirt my mom won from the radio station signed. I bought the exit from schreechville poster. and I found a musikfest Cd they were on while walking around the one day. I remember saying to ROEL "ok i have EVERYTHING now" he looked at me as if I was nuts. We tried to get him to cut inline with us for food too but he wouldn't. They played at BORDERS again. on the 10th. I wanted to play Roel lowrider on the pipes cause he was having fun with his hydraulic chair. he laughed and said I should someday. Aug Sterling was the most amazing show i had ever gone to ever in my life I will always remember it. I kept finding Rick somewhere behind me every 5 songs wanting to get back up on stage. I had rick come over and ask me if I was ok when every1 was waiting in line (i was kinda sick so i was sitting in the car) It was september and BROTHER wasn't coming to celtic classic so I did the next best thing I drove 6 hrs or 8 BROTHER cd's to Pittsburgh with Jamie. we got lost a LOT. damn city. We got pointed and stared at from the band backstage. They asked as we waited in line "what's wrong guys" reply "we're tired we drove here on 2hrs of sleep that's 6 hrs from bethlehem" they looked worried. we told roel that we wanted to treat the guys to a meal. (i think we were delusional at this point but it didn't matter) so he told us to meet them at the Harp and Fiddle we got lost and drove around pittsbugh for 2 hrs in a huge circle. Then BROTHER came back in November. They played the sterling again another amazing show. Jim gave me Roel's set list. Rick thanked me for applying for his internship and that he was keeping me in mind. Roel gave me a luggage tag from his cymbol case. I was happy. They played in lancaster at the Chameleon Club we watched as Hamish filmed Rick walking into traffic with his pants around his ankles, and the rest of them walking out of a bakers walk. We told dumb blonde jokes with Roel. We chatted on the street after the show with Hamish and Angus. They played at Jamie's school (temple) the next day. (me jamie and bridget got to hang out with them for most of the day since jamie was in charge of getting them to play there) they did a Didge lesson. I saw roel attempt at playing a didge. We chatted about what schools we all went to. i was wearing a penn state shirt and he said "well so you don't get beat up put you're hair over it and you go to NN ST" We bought them shot glasses. I gave Roel Chai and Red Bull. He said that they would let me play with them that night, but Hamish forgot I guess. Then... then was the dark day... Roel left the band and I cried. 1/23/03, so news came yesterday that the Funky Drummer Roel has left the band. TO roel: thanks for a great 3 years, I can't believe you're gone but good luck and don't be a stranger, maybe one day you'll come back, maybe for a REUNION tour of all past BROTHER'S. or maybe you'll come back with a new band and i'll see you then. But till then, you'll always be my all time favorite drummer!! and you'll always have a dedication page the Brother part of my website! But they came back and I supported the new members and wanted to see what the band was moving on into. the played the sterling again. Dez and T were great additions. I was happy they became apart of this GREAT BAND! Then it was off to midwinter in Valley Forge. They had 2 shows without a problem. it was then that the snow was supposed to come but it didnt' start until the next day. the third show was good. until everyone went outside and saw the snow that had accumulated. We were all stuck at the hotel. we grinned and bared it. It was fun to see the band just being guys. having fun playing in the snow. The show they organized for the day we all got stuck was so much fun. Making the band feel good when we passed the hat was even better. Having Hamish lecture me and Jamie when the hotel was running out of food was strange but soo cool. Update 10/23/03 Ok so it's been a while but i finally got to do this, i'd like to say farewell to Guitar God Rick Kurek. I was able to attend Rick's last show with the band on 8/23/03 in Knowlton Nj, and the news came as a complete shock to everyone that was present. I believe that I stopped breathing for a moment or several. All the best to Rick as he pursues a new path without the rest of the band. I hope he remembers who his fans and friends are that he made throughout the country. (hint hint) I know that I'll be front and center at a Rick show if he comes back out this way!! and i'll never forget the good times we all had with you Rick, especially the whole "there's a fork in the road........so you pick it up and put it in your pocket. only to realize later that you need a spoon to eat your soup. so now you have to find a spoon and a knife." yes that was actually a conversation that he had with me and my friends. Update 5/12/04 Another BROTHER season is about to start and I just wanted to wish Luck to Dez and T, since they have left the band this year. I'm so happy to finally meet the infamous Dalbo in a few days since he was the first drummer I had ever heard play with BROTHER a long tangled road we drive huh boys? Also very excited because I get to see the best didge player I know Mr. Didgeriedrew! Drew the east coast misses you make sure you keep in touch. ok so if you haven't noticed the brother number of shows has dramatically jumped in recent months to a whopping 50!!! woohoo go me!! and Drew even announced it at the last show!! thanks Drew your the bestest. ok so i've gone crazy now cause i've crossed the state line to see the guys now, and not just even one state line but several try 4 in one day!! no to mention that mom sent me to FL for my BRITHDAY!!! what i'm confused!! so excited though i'll never forget turning 20 who cares about 21!!! unless of course you have something better in mind mom!! lol 5/30/04~ Me being teh volunteer taht I am decided to take advantage of the need for someone to hold up dalbo's kick drum and got to actually play on stage with the boys! I'm working my way up to actually getting up to play pipes with them yet! It will happen I know it will. oh yeah the URBAN CAVE is finally out go and get yourself a copy at brothermusic.com or you can be like me and have 4 copies!! i have a special advanced copy, an advanced copy, an advanced copy with cover art, and the final release with album art and the cover art!! can you not say that i'm a super fan!! and hamish let me draw the winning didj raffle ticket in Va and i almost one it too i was off by one 1 number grrrr!! so guys get your butts back here and bring drew along with you since you've kidnapped him to the west coast! just don't come when it's snowing! haha So it's been 58 shows and it's always like the first BROTHER never ceases to amaze me and they never cease to touch my heart. 1998 Musikfest (2)
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