Sunday, April 24, 2005

TEMPEST AT CANAL STREET TAVERN

After waiting months for this day to arrive, I awoke Friday morning to the realization that I was very sick! I had been under the weather all week, but it escalated into a real illness that morning! I had a fever and my sinus cavities were pounding. Nothing was going to stop me from going to Dayton to see TEMPEST. Nothing! I loaded up every drug I could lay my hands on, Alka Seltzer cold remedy, liquid fever relief for children, ibprophen, and nasal spray (I could not breath through my nose). As we left I remembered the  Hydocodeine from the eye incident! Naturally I tossed it into my bag..

I have talked non stop about this band to Poo-Poo since seeing their appearance at the Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival last summer. I had purchased one of their albums at the concert and Joe had listened politely to it once  and that was it.

It is difficult to describe this band. Celtic Music. What is that? My head becomes flooded with Irish whistles, brodhrans, the concertina. The type of haunting music that sends chills down your spine. TEMPEST does not use any of those instruments, yet they are without  doubt the leading Folk Celtic Rock band in the history of the genre.

It was with apprehension that I entered Canal Street Tavern with Poo-Poo in tow. I had been extolling the intensity of this bands live performance verses the studio album reassuring myself.  I was extremely nervous that he would not agree. Therefore my opinion regarding music  would become invalid and suspect at best. The venue was so tiny!!! Twenty tables with people milling around as if old friends chatting and becoming reacquainted. All of the tables were taken, so we claimed two chairs at the bar directly in front of the stage.

We ordered a pitcher of beer. I had popped one of the hydocodeine before going as  my head was killing me. I knew it would help me through the night. It did. I was feeling much better, so I had a beer.

Around 10:30 they took the stage. I had another beer.

For the next two hours they rocked the house down. Traditional Folk Music is the launch pad for this band. They add a great bit of many styles of music, taking from jazz, bluegrass, acid rock.....it is just indescribable, incredible....and mold it into the most forceful, dynamic, explosive, electrifying, animated, and high intensity band I have ever seen. I thought they were great on a large stage with thousands of people. It was totally exhilarating in a small bar sharing the intimate experience with 150 other people.

The best part of it all was when Poo-Poo turned to me and yelled, "Allman Brothers at Filmore East" and nodding at the band, as they jammed on and on and on.

I should not have had that third beer. I definitely should not have had that fourth. By the time they had finished the first set and were back onstage and well into the second set, I was unable to take any more pictures. Poo-Poo took over for me. 

After it was over, Poo-Poo was a fan. We went to the merchandise table to buy the 15th Anniversary set and talk to the band. I should not have been allowed. I should have remained sitting at the bar, propped up. But no, I was right over there gushing over them and babbling about God knows what.  Ireland I think and The Dublin Irish Festival. And I just happened to set my beer down on the table that the guitar player was sitting and naturally knocked it over on them.

I hope they forgive me. I suppose I will find out if I am banned when I try to attend another of their performances.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

COOL so glad you made ut. wish you had felt better. But glad atleast you got to go. Thanks for the pics. too.

Anonymous said...

Maybe I need some of YOUR medicine....glad you had such a wonderful time and that Poo-Poo enjoyed it too. Please Mary, explain the name Poo-Poo to your loyal peeps!   Anne

Anonymous said...

At least you made it and the evening sounds great, nice pictures as well. Did the beers make you feel better the next day, I mean did they cure it lol

Anonymous said...

OMGosh!  You are always the hit of each adventure you take!  Whether they forgive you or not doesn't really matter; they will never FORGET you...how did you take all that stuff?  I am knocked on my butt with a little Thera-Flu!!!  Hope you're feeling better...JAE

Anonymous said...

Wow...you've got me curious to hear them now.  It sounds like it was a terrific show.  Sorry you were sick.  All that medicine...I'm surprised you made it through the first beer.  I kept expecting you to tell us you slept through the whole thing.

Glad I was WRONG!!!
:)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great time, if you could remember it....xxoo

Anonymous said...

Drugs, Booze, Music, and someone named after #2. About the only thing that saves it from being a story of my youth is the lack of sex - oh, wait. That's the only thing that MAKES it like my youth.
:)

Dan

Anonymous said...

LOL aww! I can't believe you spilled beer on the band! But that probably was a NEW experience for them...;-) Sounds like a blast! I'll have to see if I can scam some MP3s of their music.

Anonymous said...

This looks and sounds like so much fun!  I love traditional Celtic music ~ Irish whistles and all.  I am sure I would love Folk Celtic Rock...Jazz Metal Grunge, or whatever this was.  

And didn't you know? ~ Spilling one's beer on the band is the highest compliment an Irish lass can pay a musician!  It's quite a tradition down at my local pub...or so they tell me... ;)

Anonymous said...

LOL.  You are funny.  I hope you feel better soon, and I'm glad you had a good time.  Pamela

Anonymous said...

LOL!
I can't help it, I was holding it in but I lost it when you knocked the beer over the poor guitar player...
I'm glad you had a good time and that Poo-Poo is now a fan!

I hope you're feeling better soon...

Anonymous said...

OMG I am way too neurotic to mix alcohol with any meds! Glad you didn't pass out. WE LOVE all Irish music. We have a fabulous band here called the Willie Lynch Band. I have not heard of this group. I wonder if they come North. I would love to hear them. Glad you managed to have a good time. :) Get well soon!

Anonymous said...

Hydrocodone and beer...good thing you took pictures, or you wouldn't have remembered any of it! lol!  

Sounds like a great band.  Now I have to go to Amazon.com and find them...  Lisa  :-]  

Anonymous said...

HOW FUNNY !   they sound like a good show.  i like celtic music  especially with a modern twist. ive seen some good ones live.  

Anonymous said...

         Hope you're feeling better, Mary...accidents happen, I doubt they'll ban you from the concerts there.

Best wishes,
Debi

Anonymous said...

I think a Celtic bar band can cope with a bit 'spilled beer, mi'lady. I want to hear them to compare with my favorite of the genre, Great Big Sea from Newfoundland.

Anonymous said...

great story
Marti

Anonymous said...

Hope you feel better. I don't think they minded the spilled beer, they are probably use to it. :) Love the pics.

Sharon
http://journals.aol.com/spurgins311/SLS
http://journals.aol.com/spurgins311/LovingIt

Anonymous said...

Spunds like fun!
*** Coy ***

Anonymous said...

Ban you?  Frankly my dear, I think you probably fit right in!

Glad to hear the concert was a musical happening for you.  Don't you just hate it when you look forward to something for so long, and the day of, you get sick.  Geesh!
~Dona

Anonymous said...

LOL! Well, you won't be forgotten. :-) ---Robbie