Monday, July 24, 2006

All About Hard Work, Trolls, Friends and Draws

Hard Work Thanks to the band members for their hard work over the weekend. We had a great time at O'Hanlon's and thanks also to the many band friends and supporters who came out to wish us well. Our thanks also and a tip of the glengarry to Niall O'Hanlon himself, always the supporter and an extraordinary pint of Guinness to be had there as well. The band's accomplishments this year have been nothing less than extraordinary: solid plays and wins at home against good competition, concerts and new music, a complete new set of drums, new chanters, and a trip to Scotland. Not bad all things considered, especially when bands in the heartland of Scotland are giving up the ghost because they are struggling with numbers and money.

Trolls Even in Regina, peaceable little prairie city, web trolls attempt nasty anonymous posts about the band. So unsure of your views or ashamed of your behaviour that you can't sign your name? If this blog really gets under your skin, perhaps you should get some counselling sessions or grammar lessons? There seems to be some need for both.

Friends Past and Present So many people have called or emailed to wish the band well, and our thanks for your support and interest. In preparing for another large trip, I have been thinking about how much Brian Fraser and Tim Dixon would have been into this trip. Last year, the week of the O'Hanlon's send off, Brian called to tell me how painful it was for him to have us go without him being in the band. I promised him the bass drum head when we returned from the trip, and sadly, I had to deliver it at his funeral. Thanks to all you past members for your contributions, all of which helped to make this season possible. You long-time, now retired or moved on players, we'll lift a glass for you.

Draws Another day, another crappy draw. Bridge of Allan has us on 2nd. Good news: after an incredible performance, we'll have all afternoon to scoop pints and listen to bands. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, all things considered.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

You, Me and The 78th Frasers


The draw for North Berwick was posted yesterday, and it seems as though the contest organizers have changed their minds since the entry form went out. The combined Grade 2 and 1 event will be a medley this year. This means we won't really need an MSR in Scotland, unless somewhere else has a change of heart, too.

Regardless, the best part is that we play the combined event just before the 78th Frasers. Years from now, you can tell your grandchildren, "Yes, at North Berwick in '06, we were just ahead of the Frasers." No one need know by then that it was the draw, and not the result. North Berwick offers a unique opportunity to Grade 2 bands: to play against some of the best bands in the World. For the Grade 1 bands, these can be hair pullers, as bands last year would tell you who lost to the Grade 2 Drambuie-Notplaying Pipe Band.

All things considered, it should be an exciting time, and I'm looking forward to some great tunes on Scottish soil.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Not An Ideal Draw, But Where Would You Rather Be?
So if you are thinking that maybe 2nd out of 20 bands in the heat [see Worlds draw at www.rspba.org] is a bad draw, you are right. Having said that, nothing has really changed except that, as Dave Roth pointed out, maybe we'll get a better parking spot this year? Don't count on that, either.

The good news is that the play time is a minute off 11:00 am, and shouldn't make it hard to get things together for then. Also, morning dew/rain will be dry, if it's going to be dry.

Here's the thing: at 11:00 am on the 12th, there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be than standing in the circle with the CRPB. Don't care about the time, the order, or the judges. Can't wait.