I have not seen Great Big Sea in Concert since Bluesfest 2006. It’s been almost two years since I laid eyes on my favourite b’ys from the rock. It’s been a long two years with a lot of ups and downs and quite a few changes. The second last time I saw them I had just been freshly dumped two days before, and didn’t know if I could go on. My heart was lying in pieces on the floor and I didn’t know if life was worth living. Concentrating on that concert was hard to do.

 

And then it happened.

 

That man, with the long golden-brown hair opened his mouth, and out came the most beautiful of words:

 

 

Yah. He saved me that day.

 

It has been years since I have last seen them, and over four since I became such a diehard fan. And still I get excited to see them come onto the stage and pick up those instruments. Last night, June 25, 2008, was no exception. If anything, I was probably more excited last night than at any other concert of theirs that I have been to. Each and every concert I have ever been to has been a large one. Either outside, or in a large enclosed space where thousands of people can congregate to listen, clap, and bounce around to those beautiful celtic melodies.

 

Last night was a first for me. I won tickets online to the secret Great Big Sea show. It was so secret that I did not know the location of the concert until eleven o’clock in the morning yesterday. The excitement was a bit dampened when I found out my friend could not accompany me to the concert as she was not of age. Fortunately, I did have a friend who was over the age of nineteen that desperately wanted to go.

 

Getting to the Heart and Crown was an adventure in and of itself. Upon looking for the place, we stopped to ask a cart-runner, who offered to take us there for all of five dollars. What the hey? Something new!



Our runner put on some awesome music, and got us there within five minutes. It was entertaining to say the least. And we definitely made an entrance. 

Last night's concert was amazing. The b'ys were drinking the whole time, and by the end of the concert our dearest Séannie was really feeling the Guinness (in fact, I'm pretty sure he stole a glass from the bar). The concert was a mix of new and old, and a few bits of unprepared music thrown in. I do believe they spent about twenty minutes just playing stuff off the top of their heads.

Séan sang Graceful and Charming, which is one of my favourite songs. They really made me a happy girl. Séan was looking as beautiful as ever, and Bob. Well, Bob is back to being goatee Bob. I sort of miss his long hair, but this look does suit him the best.





 

Suffice it to say that last night was one of the best nights of my life. I was up close to three of my favourite idols and they sang some of my favourite songs.

But the best part of this night was skipping the encore. Yes, you heard me right. I skipped the encore.

We ran out back behind the bar, and found the tour bus.

Ooh! Look! A tour bus!


And we waited while my favourite band played two more songs inside. And then they came rushing out. They were in a hurry, as they had to be in Calgary the next day.

But Séan, being the drunken fool that he is, was nice enough to stop and sign our CDs and even take pictures with us. Alan had time for one picture. But for me... that picture with Séan was the best thing since that picture with John Rzeznik. Actually, no. Better. Because Great Big Sea is my favourite band, and I personally find Séan McCann much better looking that John Rzeznik (sorry Sarah!)



Meeting Séan reduced me to a squeeing fangirl. Who knew that there actually really WAS one inside of me?!

Last night, my dear friends, was the best night of my life.