Natil - I am sorry you missed it!

So, here we go to the Great Big Sea concert, at the Molson Amphitheatre, which is in fact an outdoor venue. We are expecting the usual hijinks of the boys, and that's enough to have me bouncing, usually.

No, I think it's safe to say that I am really, really sorry you missed it.

There were two bands before Great Big Sea. This is what happens when they play here in Canada where their last six albums have opened in the Top 10 and gone at least Gold, if not Platinun.

They opened with "Bang The Drum" and followed up with "Donkey Riding." Then Alan took the time to introduce the band. This is also when Alan told us in a rather casual fashion that he thought we had Canada's biggest kitchen party happening, and that they didn't have anywhere to be tomorrow ... so if we didn't mind, they weren't going to hold back.

Was the audience with him?

Oh - I think it's safe to say that yes, we were. The show was pumped up several notches over their usual insanity. They played the longest version of "Lukey's Boat" I have ever heard. On all those lovely long notes, it almost seemed as if Sean and Alan were competing at times, because they held the notes longer and longer. "Mari Mac" ended up sung at a pace that even the Canadian audience couldn't keep up with. It started out at the speed that is quite often the middle of the song speed, and got faster from there.

Oh, and they did indeed play "Helmet Head."

I have lost my voice, my hands hurt, my feet hurt and my legs hurt from bouncing so much, but it was worth it.

This qualifies as the BEST GREAT BIG SEA concert I've ever seen, and I've been watching them since 1996 or so.