Great Big Sea

I went to see Great Big Sea at Wolf Trap last night. This was the first time they'd played there without either being someone else's opening band or having an opening band. That is, it was just two solid sets of Newfoundland folk rock, plus a couple of encores. Alan Doyle kept saying things like, "I feel like a rock star." Uh, if you are the lead singer of a rock group that's managed to put out 10 recordings and tour all over for 18 years, I think you are a rock star.

Actually, I'd say Sean McCann sang about as much as Alan did. For example, he did the lovely title ballad from their new album, Safe Upon the Shore. Bob Hallett even sang lead on one song, though he's mostly known for playing an incredible range of instruments.

All in all, this is high energy, Celtic-influenced music that had the crowd up on their feet clapping and tapping their toes much of the evening. My one complaint is I, for one, have not memorized all of their lyrics, limiting how much I could sing along, even when Alan was sort of demanding it. Actually, I do have other complaints, but not musical ones. I found the lighting to be painful at times - bright and right in my eyes as I was sitting fairly far forward in the center. And I forgot to put on mosquito repellent.

How do you say "l'aissez le bon temps roulez" in Gaelic or Canadian?