Shamrockfest 2008 has come and gone… Do you remember it?
16 Mar 2008 7 Comments
in celebrities, Green, music
Every year I say I’m going to see more bands than the year before but alas I only saw a few but I did catch a really important one. This band had me before but I have been thoroughly sucked in now. Ok I’ll get to that in a minute.
It seemed as if everyone arrived at once by the looks of the Armory/Stadium metro station. It was a sea of green and hoards of people hollering and cheering. Someone would yell “WHO’S ALREADY DRUNK?” Others would holler in unison “HELL YEAH! I’M EFFED UP!”
As we neared the stadium I noticed this redhead in front of me and I yelled “SCARLETT!” Wouldn’t ya know it, it was her. This was extremely lucky because she had arranged to interview Carbon Leaf. So after a few beers and the three o’clock hour hit she dragged me with her to interview them.
I’ve never done any interviews and had no idea what to say. I’m familiar with Carbon Leaf’s music and love the favorites like “The Boxer”. I’ve always thought of Carbon Leaf as such a famous band that last year I was pleasantly surprised to hear they would be playing Shamrockfest. I wondered how they could get such a big name like them to play in DC.
At the entrance to backstage we were met by Terry Clark. What an amazingly nice guy he is. They let us through and we were joined by Carter Gravatt, Jordan Medas and Barry Privett. We then walked out the back gate in search of someplace a little quieter to talk as Scarlett and I introduced ourselves. In any other situation this would seem kinda sketchy walking to the banks of the Anacostia River outnumbered by dudes. We found a decent spot and copped a squat in a circle. Well… it was more like an oval but I think you get the point.
Scarlett was ready and pulled out her notebook and started shooting off questions. I sat there with a goofy smile on my face and just amazed they took the time to chill with us like this. They are just regular guys with families. They talked about their most recent album, Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat, as well as future albums, hopefully two. They told us how their sound is moving away from their Celtic roots, which they are known for, in search of more.
I asked them what ties they have to DC that brings them to us for Shamrockfest. Terry told us their roots are Richmond, VA but coming to Shamrockfest started with Elliot from DC101 and Kegs and Eggs. Terry couldn’t say enough good things about Elliot and his crew.
These guys have a love of music and feed off the reactions of their crowds which is evident when they are on stage. When it was time for them to play I had gotten a spot fairly close and when the crowd would react I noticed this smile would come across Barry’s face. I felt like I was in on their secret.
Thanks for bringing them in Elliot. Please bring them back next year.
Alcohol was invented to keep the Irish from ruling the world
11 Mar 2008 2 Comments
But then the Irish started singing in their drunken stupors. This is how we got a plethora of traditional folk songs a/k/a drinking songs. It didn’t stop there and they hopped up off their bar stools and started dancing around and calling it the jig.
So many got injured while doing the jig that laws were passed against getting jiggy with it after downing a few pints. Some chose never to dance again whereas some chose to give up the Guinness. Those who decided to dance took it to new levels. This, my friends, is how we got Riverdance.
The music also evolved. I just can’t get enough of the Irish rock, as I call it. My first introduction to this type of music was Ashley MacIsaac and his album “Hi, How Are you today?” Who wouldn’t dig a dude in a kilt and combat boots?
As the years went on I found:
If you want to check out some of this music, LIVE, then you could always catch Scythian and Carbon Leaf, along with many many more, at the Shamrockfest.
When is the Shamrockfest?
SATURDAY, SATURDAY, SATURDAY
I will definitely be there to check it all out and maybe find some new music but I will definitely enjoy watching all the honorary Irish gettin smashed. If I’m lucky then I should be able to capture some great pics. Who knows I might get a pic of one of you!
The Fiercest one WON!!!
06 Mar 2008 Leave a Comment
in fashion
Personally, I like Jillian’s collection for this final episode of this fourth season of Project Runway. I feel Jillian’s collection is more real for the everyday woman with that edge and the cool cocktail dress at the end. I have to admit though that Christian is amazingly talented, especially for his age. I am not suprised in the least that this young Marylander won.
He has been a FIERCE force to be recokened with throughout and his confidence is abundant as well as his humor. He is known for doing his own catwalk as well as being snippy to other contestants. The one thing that cannot be forgotten about this boy is his hair. I would love to know what he is thinking but he definitely has his own purpose that defines his personal look.
All in all I think it was said best when Christian was likened to a cartoon character.
Congratulations Christian you do us Marylanders proud.
Do you know of Emma?
03 Mar 2008 3 Comments
in movie
After a long grueling day Mini Red and I are finally home.
We’ve gotten in our comfy clothes and mulling around finishing things up for the evening. As we are settling down Mini Red turned on the movie Emma, based on the book of the same title by Jane Austin.
Now I know some of you guys are going “Uggggggggh chick flick. I’d rather have a fork stuck in my eyeball.”. But wait because this movie is hilarious.
This story is about a chick who loves playing matchmaker and she is so far off kilter it’s funny. She picks wrong for everyone and doesn’t see any of the coupling that happens until they actually happen, even her own.
There is some definite bitchiness between the characters, even the men. The best part is Mini Red and I will talk all proper, like them, for the rest of the evening.
For any of you that have some aversion to these types of books then I suggest you try them again because these are some great stories. Some have even been modernized such as Clueless, which is based on Emma.
If you don’t want to start with Emma then might I suggest Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Maybe you heard of him? Kenneth Branagh brought in some BIG names to play in his screen adaptation.
Ok so maybe Emma is a chick flick but Mr. Knightly is HOT! His hottness cannot be denied.
Good night and good morrow.
