Conolly/Sumner at Hyde Street Pier

Subject: Conolly/Sumner at Hyde Street Pier
From: radriano
Date: 31 May 01 - 05:08 PM

John Conolly and Pete Sumner performed aboard the Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco last Saturday. This was their first time in the Bay Area.

Their show was excellent. John and Pete were a real treat and if you have an opportunity to see them don't miss it. Good stage presence, very tasteful arrangements and a fine choice of songs and tunes made for a very enjoyable show. John's knowledge and store of tales of the fishing industry in England made his introductions to songs interesting and informative. An added bonus was their playful and often quite funny interaction onstage. They performed without a sound system and I was very impressed when John stopped a song after the first verse and asked Pete, who was doing a very energetic mandolin backup, to play a bit softer so the audience could hear the words of the song.

The duo will be doing one last gig in Northern California at the Adelphian Center for the Arts in Alameda on June 3, from 3-5 in the afternoon. The Adelphian is at 2167 Central, phone [phone].

Richard

Subject: RE: Conolly/Sumner at Hyde Street Pier
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 31 May 01 - 06:13 PM

Thanks, Richard. Sorry I couldn't have been there.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Conolly/Sumner at Hyde Street Pier
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jun 01 - 03:59 PM

Wonder if they're coming to the Mystic Sea Music Festival next week-end?

Subject: RE: Conolly/Sumner at Hyde Street Pier
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 01:56 AM

What a treat it was for everyone involved to have them perform aboard the BALCLUTHA. Not only do they do an excellent performance, but they are great to work with - easygoing, down-to-earth, lots of fun to be around. Another gem from their friendly on-stage slagging was Pete Sumner introducing John Conolly as the man who "put the grim back in Grimsby."

On Monday they came to a small memorial day gathering and barbecue at a home in the East bay, and sang some songs that are new in their repertoire, sort of a "works in progress" mini-concert. It was also pretty special to hear Fiddler's Green from the man who wrote it. There have been so many slight variations in the words from so many sources that it was a very special moment to hear the original. For me, it, among other things, put to rest whether the chorus starts out as "Dress me up in me oilskins..." or "Wrap me up in me oilskins..." It's "Dress me up..."

-chanteyranger