For a few years now, the band has been making good fun on St. Patrick's Day. We started a few years back doing the American thing: going bar to bar on St. Paddy's, raising free drinks and spare change, and having good fun and banter along the way. Of course, every so often a puzzled and likely sober bar patron asks what's with all the Scottish pipe bands playing on St. Paddy's, and we simply smile and shrug. There is no answer, except that it's fun and accepted.
Our tradition on St. Paddy's has had two strong focal points for the last few years, one being O'Hanlon's Pub in Regina as the start and finish of the crawl, and for the last five years the people of Glendive, Montana have welcomed the band each year. We perform in a concert on Saturday afternoon at their beautiful High School theatre, and often play at locations in the town. Some years there has been a parade, some years Seniors' Homes, the Library, businesses...and it finishes with a fantastic pub crawl through the eight or so bars and clubs on the main strip in Glendive. It's great fun, social, and the people couldn't be friendlier or more welcoming.
Every year, there is a great band of older guys who crank out the classic rock tunes in one of the bars, and we end up dancing long into the night after the pub crawl is done. When the weekend is over, we always have a boatload of stories, jokes and one-liners to last the season.
This year we have new bass drummer in [our] uniform for the first time, a dedicated djembe player, a bass guitar player, and some new band members, plus special guest Andy Rogers from NB, who will be bringing his considerable piping and social skills to Glendive with the band. Stay tuned for the full report.
And wherever you are, have a great day Saturday.
3 comments:
Thanks Aaron. Lots of fun was had by all. The Glendive event is bigger every year, and they had a full house for the Saturday concert. The Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence was great. We had great weather until the very last minutes of the show, and they had 300 people show up to hear the band! It was a huge success for all, and a great way to finish the weekend, although we really finshed it with bowls of curried pumpkin soup and scones with drams of Balvenie! Stay tuned for photos and video!
Judging from your recent photo, it seems the band was not wearing hats for your performance. What is wrong with you guys! Maybe a little ‘bush-league?’ If any of you ever make it to Ontario, make sure you bring your glen!
And here I thought "bush league" was when you sign your posts "anonymous"! ; )
Yes, we have glens, and do wear them, but not in circumstances like these. And as for those grown-up Ontario folk, have a gander at the 78th Frasers concert page and you'll those bush-league guys performing without glens.
Hey-good news! The 1960s are over!
Post a Comment