Every now and again my blog statistics point me to posts written long ago such as this one 'Great Big Sea, Newfoundland And The Pilgrimage' published on 14 May, 2013 about my trip to see Great Big Sea in Newfoundland.
When I first published the post I used photographs from the Internet which I thought were much better than those I took on that trip. Yesterday, over five and half years later someone objected to me using some of the photographs contained in this post which were either reported and they were then blocked.
While that is the copyright holder's right under copyright law it seems kind of odd that after all this time someone would object to me using these photographs. So I removed the photographs out of respect. I didn't take any photographs during the Great Big Sea concert in St. John's so I put one up on of the concert in Halifax on the previous night. That has been blocked and so I have removed it.
While that is the copyright holder's right under copyright law it seems kind of odd that after all this time someone would object to me using these photographs. So I removed the photographs out of respect. I didn't take any photographs during the Great Big Sea concert in St. John's so I put one up on of the concert in Halifax on the previous night. That has been blocked and so I have removed it.
I decided to revisit my photographs from this trip to St. John's, Newfoundland and include some that were of similar scenes. Now when I think about it I should have gone with my own photographs in the beginning.
To replace the concert images I went looking for photographs and videos. From what I remember of the concert there were a lot of people on their phones recording videos and taking photographs but when I did several searches on social media and YouTube there wasn't a whole lot of stuff. I found some nice photographs shared on Twitter. No copyright infringement intended
I also found a gorgeous video with an Alan Doyle and Bob Hallett interview about playing at home in St. John's and the concert by CBC. The video also shows a few nice moments from the concert in which the boys walk off the stage. Alan Doyle picks up some flowers and blows kisses to the audience. I have provided a link to the video called Great Big Sea, 'Here and Now'
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2382290498
I also found a gorgeous video with an Alan Doyle and Bob Hallett interview about playing at home in St. John's and the concert by CBC. The video also shows a few nice moments from the concert in which the boys walk off the stage. Alan Doyle picks up some flowers and blows kisses to the audience. I have provided a link to the video called Great Big Sea, 'Here and Now'
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2382290498
When I visit posts from long ago that have images blocked I am initially disappointed. But then the search begins for something new and I hardly ever fail to find something interesting and exciting.
(photo credit Heather Peters Jesso)
(photo credit Steve Kent)
(photo credit Barry Canning)
(photo credit Barry Canning)
(photo credit Marc A. Mapplebeck)
'Great Big Sea, Newfoundland And The Fan Pilgrimage' published on 14 May, 2013
(photo credit Heather Peters Jesso)
(photo credit Steve Kent)
(photo credit Barry Canning)
(photo credit Barry Canning)
(photo credit Marc A. Mapplebeck)
'Great Big Sea, Newfoundland And The Fan Pilgrimage' published on 14 May, 2013
From the moment I stepped off the plane and took the short ride from the airport to my accommodation in downtown St John's I have been in love. Newfoundlanders have been friendly and welcoming, a change from the hustle and bustle of a big north American city that is Toronto, the weather glorious in all it's Spring shades from the deep biting cold grey overcast skies and rain to the sunshine blue skies. It is spectacular physically, culturally and historically. I understand why the members of Great Big Sea Alan Doyle, Bob Hallett and Sean McCann are eager to return here after weeks away on the tour. It would be easy to call Newfoundland home.
(photo credit Liz Smith)
(photo credit Liz Smith)
I have been fortunate enough during my time here to visit all the sights associated with Great Big Sea. Alan Doyle tweets affectionately his love of Leo's fish and chips. It was one of my first stops on this fan pilgrimage. I sat in a booth with a picture of the boys in their younger days signed hanging on the wall along with other famous people who ate there for example the Barenaked Ladies eating yummy fish and chips but made the big mistake of not ordering the gravy and dressing. I have also been to The Duke,The Ship, walked past Erin's (Bob Hallett's pub), Fred's Records, down George Street, visited Petty Harbour the home town of Alan Doyle, the LSPU Hall where Russell Crowe and friends did the first Indoor Garden Party Shows, Memorial University (where a poster of an early GBS show hangs on the wall) and walked up Signal Hill. St John's and its people are glorious indeed.
(photo credit Liz Smith)
(photo credit Liz Smith)
(photo credit Liz Smith)
The loyal faithful fans gathered at the Mile One Centre in the early evening on the 29 April 2013 to celebrate twenty years of Great Big Sea. It was a full house as one would expect from the people of St John's. People came from St John's, all over Newfoundland, the Canadian mainland and overseas to listen to music and celebrated with the boys in the band. It was interesting watching the meet and greet among fans, the music of this fabulous band uniting and bringing people together who probably only see each other at Great Big Sea concerts.
From the moment they stepped on stage they thrilled the audience. The crowd was certainly diverse including the more mature folks who enjoy a sit down concert to the young group who love dancing and drinking. But pretty soon every one regardless of age was up dancing in their seats. They played most of their old favourites like The Night Pat Murphy Died, Ordinary Day, Lukey's Boat, Consequence Free and Donkey Riding pleasing the die hard fans and playing some new music like Heart of Hearts and Live This Life while continuing to evolve and move on successfully with the crowd loving it.
The home crowd and the big stage enabled Great Big Sea to shine. After years and weeks on the road together on the bus for this tour the members of the band Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, Bob Hallett, Murray Foster and Kris McFarlane still had a lot of friendship and love for each other. While Alan Doyle is clearly the showman of the band the other members each held their own as talented singers and musicians playing an incredible diverse range of instruments and shining in their own right not to be left out.
There were two encores as one would expect. The first with talented and funny trumpet player Paddy Joe Boyle and the second with former member Darrell Power. The boys graciously acknowledging his contribution and welcoming him to the stage, leaving the audience wanting more.
I don't often agree with Lynda Elstad or @lyndahere in particular about her observations about the audience at Great Big Sea concerts but with these observations she has written about in her blog. While it is great the band has attracted some younger people to concerts and their music, seated in front of us were three young guys who arrived really drunk. They drunk, well skulled what seemed like a drink for every song and could hardly stand up by the end of the concert. They hung around in a group like teenage boys spending more time checking out girls and the audience, checking their phones and taking the occasional video than watching the band perform and listening to the music. Guys maybe time next the pub may be a better venue for you.
It is a shame that Great Big Sea don't play as often as they should in their home town and as often as their home town would like. It leaves their fans not taking them for granted and appreciating them when they do play. It also allows room for other new and emerging talents to develop and take the stage and the tradition that is Newfoundland music to evolve and continue.
I don't often agree with Lynda Elstad or @lyndahere in particular about her observations about the audience at Great Big Sea concerts but with these observations she has written about in her blog. While it is great the band has attracted some younger people to concerts and their music, seated in front of us were three young guys who arrived really drunk. They drunk, well skulled what seemed like a drink for every song and could hardly stand up by the end of the concert. They hung around in a group like teenage boys spending more time checking out girls and the audience, checking their phones and taking the occasional video than watching the band perform and listening to the music. Guys maybe time next the pub may be a better venue for you.
It is a shame that Great Big Sea don't play as often as they should in their home town and as often as their home town would like. It leaves their fans not taking them for granted and appreciating them when they do play. It also allows room for other new and emerging talents to develop and take the stage and the tradition that is Newfoundland music to evolve and continue.
