The Irish Fest website had a handy itinerary page which became moot due to the company I kept. Good thing I’d committed it to memory. I did know I wanted to see The Screaming Orphans, but only got a taste. They, nonetheless, rocked that schmear.
The sign says “Shot of Vodka” which the audience sang instead of “Da da da da” during the chorus of I Could Walk 500 Miles.

I first thought the Chili Peppers were playing Irish Fest, and after a few posts on my Facebook Page found out the Red Hot Chilli Pipers were da bomb. Oops, too soon? Nah, they’re Scottish. I am now a true believer in the power of the bagpipe.
The Screaming Orphans opened for them and I don’t believe the Leinie’s Celtic Rock Stage stopped a rockin’ the entire day. (I missed the Gleasons due to some weird ailment which hit me early in the morning, but the power of Irish Fest dragged me out of my sick bed to eventually get there.)
Here was the Leinie’s Stage line-up:
The Gleasons, Screaming Orphans, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, The Guggenheim Grotto, and the Young Dubliners.
My biggest regret was hearing only a few sweet strains from La Bottine Souriante, a group from Quebec appearing on the Aer Lingus Stage.
I finally found the tiny Pub Garden Stage after heading off with the fam in the completely wrong direction. A small, but friendly stage, the Pub Garden features lesser known bands playing most excellent tunes. Sounding professional and inviting, Rising Gael from Madison was playing when I finally found it.
I heard the sound of Scythian playing across the waves of the High Life Stage, but never did find 3 Pints Gone or The Snug.

This new Piper guitarist was ON fire, and we had a nice view from the edge of the stage. The Pipers play a gig in a small club in Racine tomorrow.

I missed five, yes five bands, by tagging along with my nephew, sister, and cousin—all the time waving my dog eared itinerary in their faces. Good thing we stayed to the very end, which included The Scattering, Fireworks, and applause from the staff as we reluctantly exited through the main gate.

If you want to shop and wander better put in a full couple days to take advantage of the endlessly crackin’ tunes.
They’ve already had it with me and my “enthusiasm” at this point.

And a very good thing the Young Dubliners were playing on the Leinie’s stage when the crazy charged fans in the front rows at Gaelic Storm (Miller Lite Stage) decided to stand up on their seats. Uh, security? Bad knees and a bad attitude made me get out of there before the first tune ended.
Back to the North Gate and the prettiest stage on Lake Michigan I went.

What this young Dubliner did with a bagpipe was as electrifying as seeing Frampton’s guitar talk for the first time during Do You Feel Like We Do?. This was a very appreciative smaller, and better behaved crowd, so hooray for Leinies and hooray for their stage with its back drop of sailboats and cool breezes. (Boo for the few idiot seat standers, again in the front rows—WTF?)

A final sing-a-long of Will Ye Go Lassie Go set the crowd up for fireworks and a boot out the door.
The Scattering sent festival goers from the north to south side of the grounds at the Aer Lingus stage where all the bands gathered. It was quite the sight, a smaller version took place at the Leinie’s Celtic Rock Stage during the end of the Young Dubliner’s show.

Musicians walked the grounds, took photos with fans, signed autographs, and joined other performers in celebratory fashion.
And in the end, no one wanted to leave.

]]> http://chedcurtain.com/?feed=rss2&p=230 2 http://chedcurtain.com/?p=199 http://chedcurtain.com/?p=199#comments Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:36:13 +0000 Jeanna http://chedcurtain.com/?p=199

You know it’s time to shake the curds from your lap and get back to reality when the duck pond shuts down for the season.
It was an unbalanced summer with the boys heating up toward the end, but not enough wins to take them into the post season. There was talk of ruffled feathers and a few starters were pointedly absent from the last game.

But they crushed it anyway, to the musical strains of Mini Kiss no less.
Suspecting it might be the last game of the season, I tried to take some parting shots of the loyal and often sweaty staff. Hey, they work hard, that’s all I’m saying.

Elvis, we hardly knew ye. But I’m sure he’ll be back next season.

The Beerman had the deep, dark tan and a little hair this year. He shaved it off before the last duck call was blown.

A Most Valuable Player, Karen, the Free Soda or Sweet Tea Designated Driver Sign-Up Lady.

Our Beefstick guy is growing up. Look how tall he is, it’s like watching the Beaver go to college.

How this young lady runs up and down those stairs to the Home Plate Suite all night, food and beverage in hand, I’ll never know. Hope she takes good care of her knees.

I didn’t name a single tune this year, but Harrisimo stoically rocked the keytar.

The ever loyal and ever present Ron. I love the disapproving old dude in the seats upper right.

There was a lot of dressing up for games this year, even stranger because it was quite warm. Nope, no hot cocoa this year. But thanks to all the Pond Pirates who made it even more interesting. “Arrgg, funnel cake!”

I finally made it to the Duck Blind. So that’s where they put the Velcro Wall.

It was an exhausting season, see you next year.

Yes, that’s right, he’s texting at a stop light on a skooter in moving day traffic on Broom Street. She appears to be drying her nails.

If they loaded it through the back of the mini van, why is the side door open? The parents might not be taking up residence but they do much of the moving.

Note to Self: The next time I want to park on State Street remember orange cones. These bike cops aren’t falling for it, no sir. Bet they have pepper spray.

The best way to move on moving day is toward a pitcher of raspberry Margaritas.

But forget all that, my cousin and his family packed up everything they needed to nest in Wausau this week. Wanting to experience their culture shock first hand, I joined them for about a day and a half.

So begins the first in my series of Snap Judgment Road Trips.

My definition of Snap Judgment: A quick look not based on facts and research accompanied by colorful snapshots.

Snap Judgment of Wausau: Lots of soft serve ice cream stands, fit old people on bicycles, insane downtown street planning, prep football fans, friendly Northwoods League competitors, a large Hmong population, more racial diversity than I expected, small town friendliness, empty and ugly spaces, at least one place for very good thin crust pizza, wildly varying gas prices and huge area of big box stores under Rib Mountain.

This photo was taken in the area around the Wisconsin Woodchucks stadium and instantly become my favorite neighborhood, fitting for a snap judgment. It reminded me a little of the Vilas neighborhood where I grew up and Willy St.

This was my 14-year-old cousin’s first impression of Wausau. I’ll be posting more sweets photos on the Wisconsin Candy Dish.

Here’s what happened in the form of a warning about uninstalling old updates of WordPress on GoDaddy without first making sure that the latest version is correctly installed: Don’t do it or you’ll lose everything.

It’s all gone now, all those pearls, but I the Ched Curtain was a little moldy anyway.

Let’s pretend it never happen and talk about a Madison Mallards related day trip to the Harley-Davidson Museum. The Human Cannonball, David “The Bullet” Smith Jr. blasted by the Duck Pond again at the beginning of the season. Kids under 14 got capes from the Harley-Davidson Museum to encourage them to be shot out of and leap over things on high powered bikes. The Mallards have been working their tails off (yes, I said it) to promote the hell out of the museum all season.

I wasn’t there so please enjoy one of the pictures eaten by WordPress and GoDaddy of a Skky Dog jumping after Frisbees.

The name of the exhibit is True Evel The Amazing Story of Evel Knievel. It’s up from August 10 through September 6 at the Harley-Davidson Museum at 400 Canal Street in Milwaukee. It’s the 35th anniversary of the Wembley Stadium jump and according to the museum website, his favorite stunt bike was a Harley-Davidson XR-750.

“Visitors will see legendary pieces including his signature leathers and cane, personal photographs and letters, collectors’ toys and memorabilia, and the half-motorcycle, half-rocket “Skycycle” used to jump the Snake River Canyon.”

You can call: 1-414-287-2700 or 1-877-436-8738 or visit the Harley-Davidson Museum website for more information.

And speaking of daredevils, we got a chunk of family members together for a Mallard’s game at the end of July. Middle aged women kept giving my 87-year-old Unky Ray their Wrigley Field seat beer tabs, much to his delight. He got a taste of free Duck Pond beer, and he liked it.

The Mallards have become reenergized toward the end of the season, but it’s close to the end and it’s anyone’s guess how the season will play out, especially with the Eau Claire Express running so strong.