| Subject: |
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WOO-HOO! "I saw St. Neil-o, I saw St. Neil-o... |
| Name: |
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Helena Handbasket, a.k.a. Chanter |
| Date Posted: |
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Jul 29, 07 - 5:55 AM |
| IP Address: |
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216.204.233.178 |
| Email: |
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helenahandbasket@macrogue.org |
| Message: |
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He was in New York, right in front of me..."
After thinking we weren't going to make it, we managed to get out to Herkimer and the Great American Irish Festival for the day. Well, no, for four hours of the day - just enough time to catch Rathkeltair's 90-minute afternoon set and do some schmoozing with the band and some reconnecting with Neil. They ripped up the contemporary stage, playing to a full crowd and GUESS WHAT? Their bass player du tour is none other than the wonderful Struby! Wasn't that just a great surprise. He's as sweet as ever and sounds just as melodic as ever.
The Laird, of course sat up on stage for the set, as is his duty as MacRogue clan chief. He was accompanied by his new friend, Alan the purple monkey god. Alan requires some explaining which I will do at another time...
And AP rocked. A year in Iraq didn't tarnish him a'tall. Stupid party tricks and everything, unstoppable energy that won't quit no matter how many times he tells his audiences he's "an old man."
Once, years ago, when we saw him at a festival in Connecticut and he was newly wireless on pipes, he very extraordinarily piped while RUNNING up a hill beside the stage that was just barely not a cliff, and then stood on top playing, without missing a note. I've no doubt he could still do that today.
Oh, and Trevor said he's got some new songs he's working up. Since he told us that whilst I was lauding his song "Everybody," I'm thinking they'll be just as good or better than that gem.
The 90-minute set was worth every second of the 11 hours of driving we did to get there and back in a day. O'course, we are suckers for our Saint and his band. And we are notably foolish, and fond of stupid road trips. Couldn't NOT do this one - after not seeing AP for 16 long and dreary months. |
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