New pic..

I came across this on twitter (a retweet by Scott Grimes) and thought some of this blogs visitors would appriciate it too :)

Cheers Karina :)

Last days of the challenge..

a few days late due to vacation with my 2 best friends... But here they are (the songs that is):

Day 28 - A song you hear every day without fail

Sara: "A Boat Like Gideon Brown"  It's my ringtone.

Karina: Sean wakes me up these days (alarm tone) so it's gotta be Protest Song

Day 29 - A song that you send to a friend to turn them into a gbs fan

Sara: "Captain Kidd"  I usually send them the video.  It seems the most "typical" of their work, and also shows them having a lot of fun.

Karina: Well I've send a few different songs to different people but the one I remember to work the best is Love me Tonight

Day 30 - A gbs song that fits your day today

Sara: "Walk On The Moon"  We're getting ready to go to Disneyland.  We have to fly there, and some of us have never been on planes before and are dealing with our fear of heights.  "I won't let my foolish fear get the best of me" seems appropriate today.

Karina: The mermaid because it's a silly song and I've been very goofy (again) toaday :)

Hope you've enjoyed our little challenge and if you didn't get to to it this month feel free to grab it and use it when ever you feel like it :)

Cheers Karina

GBS song challange - day 27

Day 27 - A song to sing always in school / work

Sara: "Ordinary Day"  It gets you through the day.

Karina: Walk on the moon is a song I often find myself singing.

GBS song challange - day 26

Day 26 - A song that reminds you of somewhere

Sara: Strangely enough, "John Barbour" reminds me of the ranch where I grew up.  He seems to have the same intensely independent fighting spirit that the cowboys I was surrounded with from an early age fired my imagination with.  Even though "John Barbour" is a seagoing man, and I'm a mountain girl, he reminds me of home.

Karina: Dear Hometown reminds me of Thorsager, the village where I live, but have strayed from a few times. There is just a part of me that never really feels at home anywhere but right here, which this song reminds me of evertime I listen to it

GBS song challange - day 25

Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh.
     
Sara: "Helmethead"  Fare thee well!

Karina: Yarmouth town :) Even though there are lots of them that makes me laugh :)

GBS song challange - day 24

Day 24 - A song to sing in the shower
    
Sara:  I don't actually do this, but I do hum "Ordinary Day" when I do housework.  Does that count?

Karina: lots of them but today I sang Wave over wave :)

GBS song challange - day 22-23

Day 22 - A song to cheer you up.
     
Sara:  "Let It Go"

Karina: Well Let it go is a good one but actually Consequence Free does is for me.

Day 23 - Best Drinking Song

Sara: I don't drink but I guess Old Black Rum

Karina: Road to Ruin!!

GBS song challange - day 17-21

Hallo we are still here :) Due to Karina being on vacation we've gotten a little behind on the bloggin'. Our Apology and here are the missing 4 days plus todays choice starting with:

Day 17 - A song that is "yours".
Sara: "Something Beautiful"  It was dedicated to me (unexpectedly, I might add) and to a friend of mine who suddenly passed away with no warning.  You can read about this in an earlier entry of this blog.

Karina: Lucky me - I love the lyrics and they fit my view on life aswell as the bumps I've overcome in life perfectly :)

Day 18 - Favorite cover song
Sara: "End Of The World"

Karina: Well Sara actually picked my least favorite as her favorite and I am sure I am about to do the same to her ;) My fav is Have a Cuppa tea :)

Day 19 - A favorite acoustic version
Sara: "River Driver"

Karina: I just love Sean's acustic version of Widow in the window.

Day 20 - A song that reminds you of someone
Sara: Two songs.  "Something Beautiful" for the reason stated earlier (see Day 17), and "Boston & St. John's", which reminds me of TWO people, Krista and her friend Jamie.

Karina: Well offcourse Boston and St. John's reminds me of Jamie and Krista too, and Sean's the reply reminds me of my own grandparents but the song I chose is Sweet forget me not which reminds me of my mom.

Day 21 - A song you would like to know how to play
 Sara: I can't actually play anything so this doesn't really apply to me.  I'm going to hijack this category to pick a song I would wish fervently to hear THEM play (but probably never will): "Fisherman's Lament".  The one time I asked Sean if he could please PLEASE play it, he sorta jerked his head at Alan and said, "Ask HIM to learn it!"  Oh.

Karina: Road to ruin (on guitar) because that would be a cool song to play at a party :)

GBS song challange - day 16

Favourite Itunes sessions song

Sara: I never heard these, so I can't say.

Karina: Dear Hometown

Get the Itunes sessions album here.

GBS song challange - day 15

A song you prefer live (a day late sorry)

  Sara: Pretty much ALL of them!

Karina: Sea of no Cares - the bedroom version :)

GBS song challange - day 13

Favorite live song from Courage, Patience and Grit

Sara: "The Mermaid" Sean's "Mermaid Dance" is priceless.

Karina: Scolidng Wife is by far my favorite :)



GBS song challange - day 13

Favorite live song from Great Big DVD

"Excursion Around The Bay"  I miss Darrell.  And where the heck does that bass voice come from in his skinny chest, anyway?

Karina: Well I picked up this Dvd at the library after seeing Alan on songwriters with Bruce Guthro, so this was the first time I saw the band together. The entire Dvd is amazing and special to me, but Donkey Riding beeing both the opening number and a song Alan and Sean sings together has to be my pick :)

GBS song challange - day 12

Favorite music video
Sara: "Can't Stop Falling"  This video, despite being low resolution, is hilarious.  I love young Alan's "Who, me?" helpless adoration of the very *ahem* muscular wrestler lady, despite her beatdown of Sean.  If you haven't seen it, do so.

Karina: it's gotta be stumbling in :) Funny and sweet :)

GBS song challange - day 11

A song that calms you

Sara: "Wave Over Wave"  This song just seems like a lullaby from Newfoundland. Well, except for Abel's wife.

Karina: Lucky Me always had a very calming effect on me

GBS song challange - day 10

A song that makes you dance.

Sara: "When I'm Up" DANCE, for God's sake!

Karina: Dance Dance - well just listen too the title :)

GBS song challange - day 9

A song that makes you cry (sorry the post is a day late)

Sara: Clearest indication

Karina: Yankee Sailor (not sure why but this song gets me everytime.)

GBS song challange - day 8

Again me and Sara agree - so one song only :)

Sara: "Love Me Tonight"  Is the answer EVER anything other than "YES!"

Karina: I just love this song and it is among my all time favourites.

GBS song challange - day 7

Favorite song from Turn

Today I'll only post one song since I still haven't gotten in touch with Krista and me and Sara totally agree :) This is what Sara says about the song: "Feel It Turn" 

"True story: the year before I discovered GBS, I was walking to the bus, and I actually did feel the earth turn under my feet.  It was an extraordinary experience, and I swear I was sober at the time.  So this song resonated especially deeply with me."

And well I don't know why I love it - the strange very Sean like lyrics I think, combined with his amazing voice and the music is just amazing :)

GBS song challange - day 6

Favourite Song from Safe upon the shore

Sara:It's a toss-up between "Yankee Sailor" and "Dear Home Town", but I think "Dear Home Town" has a slight edge in this contest.

Karina: For me it was a hard choice too - between Good People and Yankee Sailor, but I think Yankee Sailor's got the edge for me. These days anyway lol :)

Sorry Krista's choices isn't up these days - due to slow internet connection I can't get in thouch with her. I will add them later when she is back online! Promise!!

Cheers Karina

GBS song challange - day 5

Day 05 - Favourite song from Hard and Easy

Sara: Captain Kidd

Karina: Old Polina (come on just listen to that Bodhran ;))

GBS song challange - day 4

Favorite song from Something Beautiful

Krista: Lucky Me

Sara: When I am King

Karina: Well I have 2 favs of Something Beautiful - but since Krista picked Lucky me then I decided to go with the titletrack :)



GBS song challange - day 3

Your least favourite song:

Krista: Where are you at.

Sara: Sally Ann - It made me laugh when I found out the song was actually about Alan's three-year-old niece's birthday party, and she wouldn't have anything to do with her Uncle Alan--thus making him crawl on the floor.

Sorry but couldn't find the video for this song online :(

Karina: Follow me back - the one Great Big Sea song I just can't stand!

GBS song challange - day 2

Your favorite song

Krista: Boston and St. John's

Sara: Walk on the Moon

Karina: Had a really hard time deciding on this on (good people and Love me tonight were among the choices) but I ended on Nothing but a song (the amazing song that named on of my personal blogs and my youtube account).



Cheers see ya tomorrow for more music :)

GBS song challange - day 1

The first song you ever heard:

Sara: "Donkey Riding" - though they had the volume up too loud, so the only word I heard was "donkey", and I thought they were singing about animals.

Karina: "Ordinary Day" - I have been a Bruce Guthro fan for years and one day searching the net for his music I found Alan sing this song in a songwriter's show hosted by Guthro.

Are you ready??

Tomorrow we begin :) The 30 day music challange...

It will run here on the blog and we would love it if u share your choices with us as comments :)

I will also do the challage on facebook and I've shared it with a bunch of friends so hopefully lots of others will too :)

Untill tomorrow :)

Cheers Karina

30 days of GBS Songs!!!

For a long time there's been a 30 days of songs challange running on Facebook and I thought it would be fun to change it up a bit.. We gotta keep us entertained in the break the boys is on right?? :)

We on the blog will be starting the challange July first.

Day 01 - The first song you ever heard
Day 02 - Your favorite song (know this one is though but give it a go!!)
Day 03 - Your least favorite song. (the least favorite from your favorites)
Day 04 - Favourite song from Something Beautiful
Day 05 - Favourite song from Hard and Easy
Day 06 -  Favourite Song from Safe upon the shore
Day 07 - A song from Turn
Day 08 - A song from Fortunes Favour
Day 09 - A song that makes you cry
Day 10 - A song that makes you dance.
Day 11 - A song that calms you
Day 12 - Favorite music video
Day 13 - Favorite live song from Great Big Dvd
Day 14 - Favorite live song from Courage, Patience and Grit
Day 15 - A song you prefer live
Day 16 - Favourite Itunes sessions song
Day 17 - A song that is "yours".
Day 18 - Favorite cover song
Day 19 - A favorite acoustic version
Day 20 - A song that reminds you of someone
Day 21 - A song you would like to know how to play
Day 22 - A song to cheer you up.
Day 23 - A song that makes you dance
Day 24 - A song to sing in the shower
Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh.
Day 26 - A song that reminds you of somewhere
Day 27 - A song to sing always in school / work
Day 28 - A song you hear every day without fail
Day 29 - A song that you send to a friend to turn them into a gbs fan
Day 30 - A gbs song that fits your day today

You can do your challenge here, or on your facebook or on twitter or hey all 3 :) We will love it if you wanna share you picks with us in a comment under ours picks... Cause ofcourse we'll be in it too :)
Looking forward to a month of fan fun :)

Hugs Karina

Sean's "Best Friend"

A while ago Sean started a contest called "Tell Tosh a Tail." A lot of people did and Sean chose the best along with help from his fans and now he has as promised made it into a song.

Read the winning story here.

And download Sean McCann's amazing song "Best Friend" here.

Sean makes no money of this song himself as all profits goes to Heavenly Creatures, where Sean once upon a time got his beloved four leged best friend Tosh from.

Enjoy the song - I know I do.

Sean McCann interview and a couple of sincere, simple songs.

Thought it was time for an update on the blog, so I looked around youtube and found these videos. According to Sean we(the fans) got Alan birthday wrong - apparently he is 56 ;) Sorry Seannie but think you need to check your calendar on that :)

Another thing I do not agree with Sean on is this interview, is that he is not the funny one - cause he diffinatly is. I am not trying to say Alan is not funny cause he is, but so is Sean. I actually think Sean's humor is closer to mine (the danish maybe even) than Alan's even though he got me rolling on the floor at times to. But YES Sean it must be nice for you to get a chance to talk - cause your friend he sure do talk alot ;D

Talking aside here is a few beautiful songs from his solo album - Son of a Sailor recorded that same day.

An amazing son and my favourite lyric of his after Long Road :)

And this song just gets me everytime - maybe because it kinda reminds me of my own grandparents who has also past on.

One thing is for sure Mr McCann sure got the songwriting down :)

Cheers Karina :)
XXX

A Birthday Poem for Alan Thomas Doyle

 I remember that day, almost nine years ago, I was feeling lost,  my life moving in slow mo

Then by chance, one morning at school, I saw a poster, and on it was you.

 An evening with Alan Doyle, and his guitar; I'd heard the name, I knew you were a star

The price for the evening, a scant ten bucks, but it was more than worth it, just my luck

 From the very first time I heard from you sing, I knew exactly what it was I had to do

Become a fan of you and Great Big Sea, it was as simple as two plus two

 You were only in your 30s then, not married, and no kids at that point

But over the years you have been blessed, you now have a son, and your beautiful wife

 The years have been kind to you and although you're getting older its true

You're getting better with age Alan, Happy Birthday number forty-two!

Writers note: I did a poem for Alan on his 40th birthday, two years ago today. Now that he is on Twitter, and can read these sorts of things, I figured it was time to do him one for this birthday. If you read this Alan, Happy Birthday from me, and all your fans here at Great Big Sea of Fans. :

Cheers, Krista Eddy

6 years anniversary!!

This week was my 6th year anniversary of being a gbs fan :) And I thought it should be celebrated with the vid of where I first came in contact with the band.
Alan doing songwriter's circle with Bruce Guthro (Lead-singer of Runrig whom was my mom's fav band for years untill she saw Great Big Sea!)

Cheers Karina :)

Rocking the front row!

A post by Carolyn R. Parsons - check out her blog Breeze Daze



Sean McCann at the Starlight in Waterloo, May 11, 2011

Last night (may 22) I sat at the front of the stage at a little table with a Guinness and a good friend and we watched Sean McCann and Jeremy Fisher perform.  Sean had a guitar and his bodhran.  Jeremy had his guitar and a harmonica.  That was it.  It was perfect.

For those who don't know, Sean is one third of the band Great Big Sea.  Back about 15 years ago I became a huge fan of GBS and travelled all over Ontario, into the US and even Newfoundland to see them play.  I spent all but one show in the front row(I was in second row for that one).  This was an entirely different thing though.  Sean is a folk musician and songwriter in his heart and the desperately wild shows of GBS back in those days consisted of long lines with no bathroom breaks and squished hands and feet, a little molestation by drunken concert goers and much frantic fun and excitement.



Jeremy Fisher

 Last night we were in a line up of about 8 and only then because the doors were about to open.   My friend didn't want the front row but the table was open and, well, I'm a front row kind of gal!

It was amazing.  Because we were right at the stage it was easy to chat back and forth with the guys and Sean McCann was in the mood for conversation.  And since I rarely shut up it was a match made in heaven.  The highlight was when he asked if there were any Newfoundlanders and I spoke up yes. He was telling about where he came from and then asked where I was from.  When I said Change Islands his eyes softened and he said "Wow, gorgeous place, it's beautiful there.


Jeremy and Sean

 Lately I've been caught up in music a lot.  Live music.  I always have music playing.  And recently a few of my poems have been set to music, the first in February by my friend April Lindfors and then recently two more by Canadian folk musicians including well known Newfoundland entertainer, Terry Rielly.  Whether they will be recorded is yet to be seen but I love that my poetry is considered good enough to be made into a song and it's particularly gratifying since I have no particular musical skills at all.  I do have a deep love for music though, and I guess, being a poet, a great admiration for great songwriting specifically.

I've always been a small venue girl, preferring bars and pubs and outdoor festivals to theatre performances.  I've seen Jim Cuddy at the Horse Shoe in Toronto and enjoyed the intimacy of that and the opportunity to chat as well.  And oddly enough, seeing Sean all those years ago at all those shows, I never talked to him.  Last night it was like seeing an old friend and when I received a tweet from him this morning saying "Carolyn, thanks for rockin' the front row" I smiled, remembering all those long ago front rows I've rocked in the past! 

Sean McCann rocking his bodhran

Songs are also like old friends.  I cannot hear Sweet Caroline without thinking of my friend Dona who sang it to me every time we saw each other after a separation.  Some people have many songs that remind me of them and give me a smile. Great Big Sea got me through some hard times and I can't hear their recording of "Lukey's Boat" without tapping my toes and smiling.  I think music is the human race's best gift.  Not everybody enjoys art or reading or hockey or any of the many other creative pursuits we all have inside but almost everybody loves music.  We may like different genres but we all love music. So many of the special times of our lives are bookmarked by the song that was playing at the moment.  So often songs transport us back to that place, that time, the emotion we were feeling while it played as a backdrop for whatever we were doing and whoever we were with.  It gets embedded like a gemstone in a special piece of jewelry that you take out and admire and wear, then tuck away until you're ready to remember again.

I remember once reading somewhere that we all have music inside us.  But in this quote it meant the music that we were meant to play in our lives. We are meant to do that thing that makes our heart dance and sing.  For me it's writing, for others it may be painting or sculpting or photography and, yes,  even actual music. 

I had a face book friend who used to spend his days and nights playing his guitar.  Last night his face book wall said "I can't believe I gave up playing guitar for years".  How many of us give up those things we love the most because, well we're grown up now and we  must be responsible.  No we don't have to quit our day jobs but we have to incorporate our passions into our lives.  Those who have a drawing in their heart must draw and those who have a book in their heart must write.  It is how we become satisfied.  It is our own personal song that we have to sing to be happy in this life.  Find your song and start to play it.  It's not about being good.  It's not about doing it so others can admire it.  It is to get the joy in the doing!

I'm finished with my musical excursions in Ontario for a while and in about six weeks I'll be leaving here.  My next big adventure will probably be the George Street Festival in St John's this summer.   Sean will be back with his band mates and Great Big Sea will perform.  It's been ten years since I've seen them live, an entire decade and I've missed them.  I'll be a resident then. 

I certainly looking forward to rockin' the front row  once again! 

Full credit for text and pictures goes to Carolyn R. Parson!

Great Big Sea of Fans thanks Carolyn for her help and recommend you swing by her blog. If you too wanna guest blog feel free to contact us - see how under "Our own true way".

Cheers Karina

What's your favorite album??

Okay finally I got around to getting the first poll up and running. It'll run until may 22 and please vote :) If you want you can leave a comment under this post explaning your choice!
And now time for a plee - since I live in Denmark I don't get to attend concerts :( But if you do (Sean aswell as the band) please let us know if you want a review posted on the blog. Full credit will be given. Pictures and vidoes are more than welcome too :)

Cheers Karina

Twenty Questions

I just thought it would be cool if we asked people 20 questions about how they became a fan. Here's some:

1. Do you remember the day?
2. What song were you listening to when it happened?
3. Do you remember where you were?
4. Did you see a video or hear a song first?
5. When did you get your first album?
6. What was your first album?
7. Have you been to a show yet?
8. If so, how many have you been to?
9. Do you have a favourite song?
10. Favourite album?
11. Favourite band member (if any)
12. Why do you like said band member?

If you can think of any more questions, let me know :)

Part II--The Rest Of The Story

Okaaay, the mood in here is getting a little maudlin. Let's lighten things up a bit. And, fortunately, I have got a story that should make you chuckle a bit. Remember in my last post how I said getting the message to request "Something Beautiful" was a story in itself? Well, indeed it is, and here is that story.

So there we were, five fangirls on the the loose in Seattle, about to see a GBS show, excited and thrilled by it all. Jamie, annathepiper, Kate, Elane, and me. We had approximately two hours to kill before the show, and most of us had never met the others in person before. We all knew each other from the 'Net, but that was all. Someone (I didn't discover who until later; it was Jamie.) conceived the idea that, since the day before had been GBS's 18th "bandiversary", we should give them a cake. By the time I heard about it, two or three people were discussing it excitedly and it seemed like a grand idea to me.

OK. So we are on foot; we walk to a local supermarket featuring a bakery and ask them if they could pipe letters on a cake and, if so, how long it would take. They say, about 15-20 minutes. We say, perfect, and go to pick out our cake. We finally settle on a 1/4 sheet cake after seeing the label saying "Chocolate" (even though it had white icing and somewhat incongruous red roses). Chocolate is good.

So we decide on "Happy 18th Bandiversary!!", with some argument over the spelling of "bandiversary", and hand our cake and the writing in. We ask for pink and green lettering, but the lady behind the counter says she can't guarantee what color icing they have, so we say, OK, whatever you got is fine. And we wait. And wait.

Finally, she hands us a perfectly blank cake with pink roses on it this time and a can of red icing and says "Bandiversary" was too long and she couldn't do it. If we want that lettering, we are going to have to do it ourselves. You are kidding. Seriously? None of us has any experience AT ALL decorating cakes. None. Zip. Not even writing "Happy Birthday" on a kid's birthday cake.

We look at each other in bewilderment. But Jamie bravely volunteers. A different (and slightly more helpful) bakery lady assures that the red icing we were given is going to come out too thick, and we should use something different. So she comes up with some pink gel from the store's shelf. Jamie bends over the cake, and with deep concentration, spells out "Bandiversary". Next, she does "Happy". But she runs out of gel. And the bakery lady has disappeared, and we don't know where she got this gel from. And we can't find any more. So the "18th" part is done in red icing, which turns out not to be too thick for numbers. So the lettering is done in two colors. But at least it's mostly legible, if slightly spastic. It was the best we could do. (Picture of cake at top of blog)

So in triumph we pay for the cake and off we go. The theatre where the tour bus is parked is about three blocks away from this bakery. We are prepared to be very obnoxious to get the band to open up the tour bus if we have to. We are going to stand outside the tour bus and sing "Happy Birthday" very loudly if that's what it takes to get them to open the bus. But we didn't have to. Kris MacFarlane, the drummer, was sitting in the driver's seat, with his feet propped up on the wheel, doing a crossword puzzle or something. Since I was carrying the cake, I knocked politely on the door and handed it to him. I explained that the store wouldn't decorate it for us and that it was the best we could do. That night, on stage, Alan thanked us for the gift.

I'm sure he busted a gut when he saw it. The only reason it isn't a Cakewreck is because we aren't professionals.

Now, about the message requesting "Something Beautiful": I was wearing a hoodie with a front pocket. The note was in that front pocket. Since I was the one carrying the cake (entirely by coincidence), I slipped it in on top of the cake. None of the other girls knew about it. Presumably the guys read the note while they ate their cake. I know Alan changed the set list after he had already made it up because "Captain Wedderburn" is crossed out and "Beautiful" is written in by hand.

So there you go. I told you it was a story in itself. And wasn't I right?

a reply to 'something beautiful indeed'

I was going to write this as a comment, but I think its too long to be a comment.


You just brought tears to my eyes Sara. Those first few days, the first week actually was like a living nightmare. I felt like I was in hell. I was tired, but I couldn't sleep. Hungry, but I couldn't eat. I was like a zombie. I didn't know one person could cry as much as I did. I have tried to move on, but there are still some days that I can't believe she is gone.


When I saw that video, the tears started all over again. During the first few days after Wolf's death, the song 'Something Beautiful' was the only thing that kept me going. I honestly did not know how I was going to get through it. Some people told me to just get over it. Well, that's easier said than done, and I'm sure that those of you reading this, that have lost someone dear to them, know what I mean. Those words soothed me, and helped me find peace and come to terms with Wolf/Jen's death. It ended up resulting in one of the best blog posts I've ever written. 


Hearing those words again did my heart good, even though tears were streaming down my face. It felt like the guys understood the kind of hell that we had gone through; the loss of a good friend, for that's why the song was written in the first place. The guys had lost three close friends to cancer within a span of seven months. Wolf never had cancer, but the sudden shock of her death hurt no less than losing someone when you know they aren't going to make it.


Sara, thanks for sharing that. I think Wolf would be proud of how well we're carrying on.

Something Very Beautiful, Indeed...

Awhile back, I promised to tell why "Something Beautiful" has recently earned a special place in my heart, and I think it's time to make good on that promise. A dear friend, who I only knew as Wolf Whitewater on Facebook, quite suddenly passed away on January 29 of this year. It was completely unexpected and extremely heart-wrenching. Both I and my fellow admin, Krista, had been particularly close to her, and found the loss almost more than we could bear. I can't speak exactly for Krista, since she is physically so many miles away, but the first few days were full of a wild woe for me. I barely slept and didn't eat at all the first day. As you might know, the album "Something Beautiful" was written after several of the band members' friends died in a short period. It was written out of grief, to reassure themselves that there was still some light ahead. And nowhere do you see that more than in the title track. Krista and I found that "Something Beautiful" helped us grieve for Wolf (her given name was Jennifer, but I still think of her as Wolf), and indeed still helps us. That brings us to the March 12 show in Seattle. I determined to ask Alan to sing "Something Beautiful" in Wolf's memory. I managed to get a message to the band (that in itself is a story--perhaps Part II?), saying how Wolf had been inspired by Alan to sing, play mandolin and guitar and was about to learn bodhran, like Sean, but passed before it arrived in the mail. She never set eyes on it. (This is all true, by the way. She saw the way Alan delighted in the music and wanted that same fierce joy for herself.) I asked if they would perform "Something Beautiful" in her memory--that it would mean a lot if they did, and signed it. I thought if they did do it--IF--Alan would simply say "By request". Instead he said, "This song is for Sara, and for some of us who can't be here tonight." Another friend videotaped it, since I almost didn't believe it happened. He made me cry--a lot. The set list--which I saw later, showed that they had been going to play "Captain Wedderburn", but it had been crossed out, and "Something Beautiful" had been put in its place at the last minute. So that is why "Something Beautiful" means more to me than ever, and I'm sure Wolf smiled down when she heard that song. Cheers, Sara

and the sea he commands...

The son (or actually the grandson) of a sailor sing the titletrack of his new song at sea. Lovely song, great voice and amazing guitar play.

Make some noise for Sean McCann

Sorry I've been a bit busy for the last few days so the poll is still not up but it will be within the week. Again if you got any ideas what the first poll should be on drop us a note - here, on the mail, on fb or twitter (we are everywhere - uuuuhh) ;)

But know to the real reason I stopped in, Sean McCann is posting videos from his Ship and Dip show these days.. Here are the first two :) and you gotta love Alan's introduction of his friend - this sweet!!!

I'll try and keep you updated - but if I am too slow for you hardcore fans out there, you can find the vids at Sean's youtube channel greatbigsean :)

Cheers

Karina

the card

So, I tweeted the finished card to Alan today. This is what it looks like:

And this was his tweet, shortly thereafter:

I think he liked the card :)

Update on the card

I've decided to extend the deadline of the card til 12 am Wednesday. Email us or leave us a comment on this post if you want your name added. Cheers.

A Get Well Card for Alan

Of course, the card is a lot bigger than this. If you want your name 'signed' to the card, let us know by commenting here, or dropping us a line at the email address provided on the site.

Last chance to sign the card this Saterday (april 9th) at 12 am Newfoundland time.

new blog from alan, posted today

TOUR DIARY -- APRIL 5, 2011 -- ST. JOHN’S -- IN BED

OK, it’s day 5 of lying in bed and the novelty has worn off. Who knew that lying down for this long could be so exhausting? Might as well make the best of it. This repose affords me an opportunity to comment on things that I normally go unnoticed by Yours Truly.

For example, I have watched more Daytime TV these past few days than all the previous days combined. Regis and Kelly have a great chemistry. Regis I particular is the last of dying breed of Entertainers. Not hosts, or singers, or actors, or reality show celebs, but Entertainers. That guy could keep a show or concert or event moving smoothly along during a volcano. Cinders and ash could be running down the steps of the studio or theatre and that guy would still drop a funny one liner while singing a song and interviewing a kid with a dog doing stupid pet tricks. Truly old school in the best way.

I wish the Ladies on The View would not all talk at the same time. Eva Langoria is on there now. I shook her hand at the Robin Hood premiere in Cannes. Is it unfair that some people are just better looking than everyone else?

Ellen is really funny and quite possibly the best comedian on a regular scheduled show. Very appealing attractive person.

Every news show and talk show today has done an extended segment on Dancing with the Stars. Wow. This bed rest should give me a chance to listen to radio, watch TV and read magazines to catch up on pop culture. Dancing with the Stars defies me. I should say that I have never watched that show. Now, not like a singing or a music Idol show, where we “cool” folks like me won’t admit to watching it, but secretly have opinions about who should win. I mean honestly, full disclosure, I have never seen Dancing with the Stars. It comes on opposite hockey or something, I guess. There are many shows and bands and forms of thrill seeking and entertainment that I do not enjoy that others love. But very few that completely elude me like this program, while the rest of planet Earth is fascinated with every second of it. I can only assume that there is something wrong with me.

Can someone explain it to me? If you like dance shows, wouldn’t you watch really good dancers dance? Is there something thrilling about watching otherwise not that busy celebs compete at something they are not really that good at? Is t like attending a Charity Hockey game where musicians play against the pros? Is it a voting show? Is that it? People dig it because they are involved in the outcome some how? Fascinating to me. I would love to speak to a single person who likes this show. And I should not have to look very far as it is one of, if not the highest rated show on Earth.

Oops, back to the View. Who are the Real Housewives of New York? A reality show? They all talk at the same time too. Is that a pre-requisite for The View? Hmm.

Enjoying the Canadian Election coverage, I must say. Though, unlike the US, Canada is seriously suffering through a drought of Political Stars. You know, dudes like Cretien or Trudeau, or Obama, or Mr or Mrs Clinton. Not one of the leaders of either party up here have the Star Power to take the country on his back. I miss that. I know I should be mature enough to vote for a party or a leader and his or her policies. I know I’m supposed to be smarter than to vote for a clever talker with a quick wit who smiles at the right time for the camera. But I can’t help it. These dudes bore me a little bit.

Hey, how about Regis for Prime Minister.
Cheers, Alan

just sharing Alan's latest FTR, as an update on his health :)

here's Alan's blog, from April 1st.

TOUR DIARY -- APRIL 1, 2011 -- HOME

I am quitting music to pursue a career in Politics.

April Fools.

Everything else in this blog should be somewhat accurate.

Thanks for the great Sold Out closing show in Colorado Springs. Such an awesome way to wind up the whole Safe Upon the Shore Tour.

Currently, resting at home and not doing a whole bunch of anything. As some of you know, I re-injured an old chink in the armour early in the last tour.

The result is I have get a wee bit of maintenance on the old back and rest and rehab for a number of weeks. The biggest reason I mention all this here is that a few shows and events will be affected. And I’d feel terrible if any of you folks made plans assuming I’d be somewhere, when in fact I knew I would not. That would be uncool of me, so here’s a list of proposed and in some cases advertised public appearances that I, with apologies, cannot attend.

I am supposed to play tonight at a Fundraiser in St John’s for The Children’s Center but I cannot make the call. Likewise the Company Theatre Fundraiser in Toronto in early May will have to excuse me.

My biggest regret is that I’ll have to bow out of the proposed shows in May in LA with Russell and a host of others. I was looking forward to that time especially as we’d get to share some tunes from the Crowe Doyle Songbook in some cool and intimate environments.

The sum total of it all is that I have to lay low, professionally speaking, for the entirety of April and May. The maintenance I spoke of is quite simple, as far as back stuff goes, and there is every indication that I should be better than ever by the month of June.

As the old Skipper in Petty Harbour always said, when asked about his health or the weather or any general state of affairs,

‘Could be Worser’.

Thanks for your patience and understanding in all of this. I look forward to the GBS dates coming up in the Summer months. More than ever.

Cheers,
Alan