I was delighted to me TWO 'Catters last night. As soon as my daughter Tazi, my friend Carol, and I entered the Harp & Fiddle, Lady Jean introduced herself to me -I wonder how she knew who I was

;O)

LadyJean joined our crew as we found a table in the crowded bar & restaurant. There were singles, and couples, and groups of folks from age 30 to 81 years. [The 81 year old woman was celebrating a birthday and at Seamus' prompting we all sang Happy Birthday to her].

Seamus was GREAT! He started his first set off with 'Whiskey In The Jar' and went on from there singing and cracking jokes and getting the audience involved. There was no way anyone would want to remain just an interested observer-Seamus' songs and comments made you want to join in and sing along, clap along, hit the table in time with the music, and/or do the required hand motions...It was fun!!

During Seamus' first set, I got to see and hear the brodhran that was lightly mocked in a recent Mudcat thread. Probably this is a testimony to Seamus' skill with that instrument, but I thought that drum sounded just fine so I still don't get the joke...[??]

At the end of the first set, LadyJean and I introduced ourself to Seamus. What a nice man he is! He was so gracious and interesting- plus he has a great voice, and a personality that draws people to him. After talking to others during his intermission, Seamus came to our table, met my friend Carol & my daughter Tazi. We all spent some time talking about Mudcat.

Seamus' next set was full of memorable moments-not the least of which was his yodelling {WONDERFUL!} and his impersonations of vocalists singing "Oh Danny Boy" [including Elvis, Harry Belafonte, and a rap artist!} Of course, Seamus sang "Oh Dany Boy" the 'regular way'.

The song that I liked the best that evening was "Mary Mack [Gonna Marry Me]", my daughter liked "I'm A Music Man", and my friend Carol liked "Old McDonald Had A Deformed Farm" {which included an animal with Turette's Syndrome}. Seamus sang a Stephan Foster song for LadyJean and that might have been the only song that she didn't know.

I was most impressed with the high level of group participation that Seamus as performer expected and that the audience seemed to expect that Seamus would ask of them. The only adult African American musical experiences that I belive is similar to this are some gospel shows or church services. I wish that we {African Americans had a comparable participatory adult music tradition for non-religious songs...Oh well, if wishes were something [however that saying goes]..

After the second set, Seamus joined our table again and we briefly talked some more before we had to call it quits for that night {Seamus though had at least one other set to perform].

Seamus is truly a talented performer. I appreciate having had this experience. And though I won't be able to return to hear him tonight or tomorrow night, I plan to attend his 'show' again when he returns to Pittsburgh in May.

Don't miss him if he ever comes to your town!

PS.
Sorry, I couldn't get a hold of a digital camera, so there are no photographs to share.

And, for those who might wonder, Seamus didn't wear a kilt!


Azizi