Okay, so it is pretty much official. After several meetings, Scythian still knows who we are!
This is a sobering thought. For me, it is similar to Bruce Springsteen not only knowing who I am but wanting to have a conversation. Okay, so maybe not that intense, but perhaps you can understand why all the words I ever learned desert me when a member of my favorite Irish band since the Chieftans asks me how we are doing!
Scythian severely tests my loyalties...
Ahh, the Chieftans. For me they are the Beatles of Irish music, great tunes, great musicians and great arrangements...however...
Let me begin at the beginning. Last night Seasons kicked off their official week of Irishness with a show at Warm Hearts Cafe from 8-10:00pm. Back in Harrisburg, Scythian was playing a show at Appalachian brewing company from 9 till an unknown hour in the evening or early morning...
We had known of Scythian's show for a while because Harrisburg is a new area for them and we were really excited to have them make this a new stopping point for the Church Bus! We were also really excited when Seasons and Scythian were mentioned on the same page of the Patriot News, which is currently magneted to our refrigerator (though technically the page belongs to 10-year-old Clare because she "claimed" it).
While I had every intention of going to the show, there were three obstacles that tested my resolve:
1. We didn't get packed up from Warm Hearts until 10:30 pm
2. Tickets were $20 dollars not $15 (just so you all know ABC Brewing Company does NOT sell advance tickets the day of. This is a common misconception.)
3. Peter had a paper on Paradise Lost due the next afternoon.
So, when we pulled into the ABC parking lot I was still going strong on a half hour of wavering between going to see whatever was left of Scythian's show or going home and getting caught up on LOST.
Luckily, I impulsively decided that we should just go in and at least check out how much longer they were playing. I also concluded that I will have many more chances to see twenty dollars bills than chances to see Scythian live, so decided to grab the opportunity while it was here!
Peter, Becca Delp and I climbed the staircase up to the Abby Bar
The Abbey Bar Stage. Insert tons of excited dancing fans, Scythian, and Seasons standing to the right of the stage. Oh, and beer. Lots of beer.
and found Scythian in full swing playing a blisteringly fast rendition of a tune that I know as "Ten-Penny Bit" (though Irish songs are famous for having a billion different names). Peter and I entered, basking in our over-21 year old glory and stood to the side of the stage. Initially we wove through the crowd looking for a good place to stand (which was rather like fighting our way through a herd of stampeding Impala who are holding glasses full to the brim of beer) and then decided that our original place was the best anyway. On our way, though, we ran into the awesome Jessy Hamel (and, with how tight the crowd was packed, we literally ran into her).
We were basically standing in arms length of the band, though we were watching everything in profile. I knew the minute we walked in that it was totally worth $20 dollars to see Scythian. Coming off playing a show I was watching and listening to them pretty closely, and as always was impressed with how technically awesome they are, and all the great subtle nuances in their music. I know what you are thinking, "It's fast Irish stuff," but Scythian does not cut corners, and while they could possibly get away with "Just playing the songs" without people noticing, they are super tight and have fantastic arrangements. Aas one of the main arrangers in my band I know how much work goes into taking an Irish song and making it sound different from the other Irish songs you play. Their arrangements are fresh and interesting, and make each song really unique with its own distinct flavor.
Anyway, we were clapping along, having a great time, when Dan looked over to our side. Suddenly, his face had that gradual dawning recognition of "I know those people..."
I waved, and thought "Wow, that was kind of cool," but then, when Peter wandered off to the bar to get a beer and I was contemplating following him I heard Dan announce "Hey Seasons is here! We have Seasons in the house, a great local band, raise your hands Seasons!"
I think Becca Delp had to practically grab my arm and raise my hand for me, so surprised I was! I think the rest of the audience was surprised to, but it was because they were thinking "Seasons? Who's Seasons?"
Then Scythian launched into "Dance All Night," which is an awesome song and one of my favorites of theirs.
Near the end of the show they mentioned us again (with the Delps supportively screaming "Seasons, Seasons is over here!") and played "My Son John" and "Final Song," as their encore (My Son John is awesome, and if you could wear a CD out, that song would be long gone by now I have listened to it so much).
Since I only had enough money for either a beer or a CD I figured that Scythian's live album part 2 would be a better long term-decision (you won out against a NewCastle Ale lads, be very honored)!
We were basically standing in arms length of the band, though we were watching everything in profile. I knew the minute we walked in that it was totally worth $20 dollars to see Scythian. Coming off playing a show I was watching and listening to them pretty closely, and as always was impressed with how technically awesome they are, and all the great subtle nuances in their music. I know what you are thinking, "It's fast Irish stuff," but Scythian does not cut corners, and while they could possibly get away with "Just playing the songs" without people noticing, they are super tight and have fantastic arrangements. Aas one of the main arrangers in my band I know how much work goes into taking an Irish song and making it sound different from the other Irish songs you play. Their arrangements are fresh and interesting, and make each song really unique with its own distinct flavor.
Anyway, we were clapping along, having a great time, when Dan looked over to our side. Suddenly, his face had that gradual dawning recognition of "I know those people..."
I waved, and thought "Wow, that was kind of cool," but then, when Peter wandered off to the bar to get a beer and I was contemplating following him I heard Dan announce "Hey Seasons is here! We have Seasons in the house, a great local band, raise your hands Seasons!"
I think Becca Delp had to practically grab my arm and raise my hand for me, so surprised I was! I think the rest of the audience was surprised to, but it was because they were thinking "Seasons? Who's Seasons?"
Then Scythian launched into "Dance All Night," which is an awesome song and one of my favorites of theirs.
Near the end of the show they mentioned us again (with the Delps supportively screaming "Seasons, Seasons is over here!") and played "My Son John" and "Final Song," as their encore (My Son John is awesome, and if you could wear a CD out, that song would be long gone by now I have listened to it so much).
Since I only had enough money for either a beer or a CD I figured that Scythian's live album part 2 would be a better long term-decision (you won out against a NewCastle Ale lads, be very honored)!
Oh beloved Newcastle...
but not as good as a Scythian CD!
After the show I got a chance to talk to both Lex and Dan, who were excited that Seasons was heading on its first mini tour to Alabama. When we told Dan that Ben David was heading down to EWTN with us, he knew right away that it was to be singing our St. Patrick song.
As you well may know, it is hard to have a normal conversation when you are
a. Amazed that you are getting to talk to your favorite band once again
b. Amazed that your favorite band wants to talk to you
c. Amazed that your favorite band remembers specific details about your band and likes your band!
With all this amazement going on, I think I can be given props just for answering basic questions. Though all you Seasons fans may groan that Mary-Kate AGAIN forgot 80% of her vocabulary and basic conversational skills, I am improving. The first time I "met" Scythian I was a college junior running into Heavenly Grounds Coffeehouse for Works of Mercy Van Keys while they were getting coffee, and I basically took one look, thought "Oh my gosh, it's Scythian", and ran away.
I am luckily getting over my "flight" instinct. So Scythian, thanks for the awesome show (Harrisburg's never had Irish music so good!), and next time you are in the 'Burg maybe I'll have advanced to a point where I can ask if you want to go to Neato Burrito...
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