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I
coulda been a contender if it wasn't for
the bourbon
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Thursday,
23rd March
Tonight
is our concert at Georgetown College
(not to be confused with Georgetown
University of Patrick Ewing fame) and
thanks to Al it is a great success.
As an added bonus on this night we are
joined by Daniel and Amy Carwile (www.carwilestringstudio.com)
- great fiddle players and teachers.
Daniel is originally from Huntsville,
Alabama but has lived here in Kentucky
long enough to reliably advise us on
what Bourbon to drink.. This part of
the country, due to its high calcium
level in the water, is the epicentre
of both Bourbon and Race Horses and
as we cannot afford the horses, it seems
only logical to drink the bourbon.
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Friday,
24th March
There
is some conjecture that the Springfield
of Simpson’s fame is this Springfield
in Ohio. I believe that the jury is out
on that one but there is absolutely no
doubt that Ned Flanders is certainly broadcasting
on each an every one of the multitude
of god-mongering radio stations in this
area.
We have played here at Clark State College
before and it is a beautiful space well
run and always a big audience. My Aunt
and Uncle and cousins are also here as
well as Cindy Funk who has worked for
us running our mail list in America for
many years.
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Saturday,
25th March
Club
Café is a small venue in Pittsburgh’s
southside – A vibrant area full
of bars, restaurants and gigs –
and tonight’s show is a stormer
thanks to the enthusiastic crowd. There
is a mixed bag playing here in the weeks
after us: K.T. Tunstall, The Holmes Brothers,
A.B.C. and the Fixx…. If only they
all turned up on the same night: That
would be a real Spanish karaoke I can
tell you. After the Gig we adjourn to
the Pipers pub - no relation - whereupon
the boys partake of their favourite of
Dr. Bon Sante’s health tonics -
Gin and cranberry: “Guaranteed
to turn human flesh into rubber in two
easy pints” |
I'm Mike, dammit
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Sunday,
26th March
Tonight is the re-scheduled
concert at Jack Quinn’s in Covington.
Among the appreciative crowd is Conner,
Sean’s shy and retiring school pal
from Derry as well as a couple of my cousins.
Unfortunately we must drive to Columbus
for tomorrow’s flight so the post-match
festivities are curtailed for the chauffeurim
amongst us. But, as the old saying goes:
” Every clown has a silver Limo”,
and the upcoming week is a liver-friendly
potpourri taking us from Austin to Boston
and the nation’s former and present
Capital’s – New York and the
District of Columbia.
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Monday,
27th March.
Every time I have been
to Texas they have been in the middle
of a draught: But today it is pishing
doon, which is not wholly unpleasant as
it proves to be still much warmer than
either the northeast or home and the weather
inside the Continental
Club is just fine. Most pubs
in Austin have three different gigs on
each night so it is a great opportunity
to see loads of different bands. Today
we start with a meal at Guero’s:
then a Texas two-stepping sort of parisien
gypsy jazz band (I think they are called
paris 49) and follow that up with a trip
to the hole in the wall where Sick from
the Asylum
Street Spankers is fronting
an ensemble of godzillic proportions.
Tacos, Tequila and two-step: A wholly
Frijoles trilogy what one cannae whack
y’hear?.
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The
wet weather meant Sean couldn't get to
his anger management class.. |
... and Mike's beard took
the brunt. |
Tuesday and Wednesday,
28th and 29th March.
The groovy tones of Adolph Hofner are
polkaing through our imaginations as our
tiny van makes its colache and shiner
bock-fuelled way through Czech Texas en
route to Houston and McGonigals Mucky
Duck for tonight’s concert. Thanks
to Rusty, his staff, and the sell-out
crowd, it is another barry nicht y’all.
On Wednesday we head back to Austin for
our show at the world famous Cactus Café
in the University of Texas. Some of our
new chums from Monday night are here and
after the show we have a wee tune with
them.
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Thursday,
30th March
We
are heading further into the desert for
a gig in Scottsdale, Arizona, This is
a new gig for us at the Scottsdale
Center for the Arts , another
top-class venue set in a park at the centre
of the old town, just a stones throw from
numerous restaurants and with the springtime
sunshine offering peak conditions, we
feel it churlish not to contribute to
the local economy via a spot of al fresco
drinking. All of the crew at the theatre
are superb especially Abby who drives
and looks after us during our brief stay
here.
Friday,
31st March and Saturday, 1st April
We
are making our way from the desert to
Maine so on Friday we head to Boston Massachussetts
and a night off in the famous Burren pub
in Davis square. In the Front of the bar
is a fine session led by a great local
fiddler, Tina Lech, while in the back
is a very fine if somewhat portly covers
band playing songs from such diverse sources
as The Commodores, The Cure, Duran Duran,
and beyond. A rather scholarly young fellow
approaches me and says; “You must
get ZZ Top all the time. I get called
a mix between Lionel Ritchie and Rick
James.” Superfreaky.
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| Saturday
night we are playing at the Chocolate Church
in Bath, Maine. We have played here many,
many times and as always, it is sold out.
The committee here seems to be gradually
renovating the whole complex, and it is
improving as a venue each time we come.
The audience, however, has always been great
and tonight is no exception. En route, Alan
gets lost and asks directions from a local
man in central Maine: To be fair they have
changed the numbers of the motorways in
Maine since last we were here. Upon telling
Alan the correct route, the man enquires,
”What part of New Jersey are you from?”
After the show it’s back to the hotel
bar for more pool: We are nothing if not
athletic. |
Scary.
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Sunday,
2nd April.
The
clocks change today and we have a five plus
hour drive to Joe’s pub in Manhattan so
we have an early start. Tonight’s concert
is ostensibly part of the Tartan Week celebrations
in New York City. Whatever the case, we are
always delighted to come to this fine city,
which never disappoints. The concert is grand
and as it is Sunday, we head off to the 11th
street tavern for a session with Tony Demarco
and Fionn O Lochlainn. A great tune ensues as
well as a chance to catch up with all the locals.
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