Question: What do quilting editors do when they just sent their newest and biggest issue ever (101 Patchwork Projects) off to press, it's St. Patrick's Day weekend, and they live near Boston? They go see the Dropkick Murphys at the House of Blues, of course!
This past Friday night some of your trusty Quilting Arts
team, Helen Gregory, Lindsey Murray, and myself, hoofed it down to the House of
Blues across the street from Fenway Park to listen to the Boston-based Irish punk band
The Dropkick Murphys. No self-respecting Bostonian
(who has even just a smidgeon of Irish blood running through their veins), doesn’t turn up
the volume and do an Irish jig when they come on the radio.
We had tickets for the floor, which is general standing only,
and were thrilled when we secured front and center placement...
...so much so that Managing Editor Helen became Manager of the Mosh Pit!
The place was absolute insanity and filled with riotous energy. Young Irish step dancers who looked about eight years of age performed alongside them for several songs, as well as a gaggle of bagpipe players who assisted for a few tunes (and I think is responsible for my loss of hearing in my left ear). Everybody was jumping up and down, dancing, singing along, and in the below shot, you'll see the band grabbed as many guys from the audience as possible on stage to sing to all the girls. (I'd mention the song title but I can't because it has profanity in it. Just think of an alternate ballad version of "Kiss Me, I'm Irish.")
Now here's where it got deliriously exciting for me. About three hours into the concert (there were not one, not two, but three opening acts), I was worried that the rumored appearance of a very special guest was not going to happen. But then the lights were dimmed and one of the lead vocalists, Ken Casey, brought his grandmother Peg onto the stage.
A little background: On their latest album "Going Out in Style," there is a song called "Peg O My Heart" dedicated to Ken's two grandmothers, both named Peg. It just so happens that Bruce Springsteen makes a guest appearance on this track. For those who read my letter from the editor from time to time, or perhaps caught my blog about taping Series 500 of QA TV you may know I'm just a tad fanatical when it comes to Bruce Springsteen. So imagine my excitement when Ken announced that he needed a little help singing to his grandmother, and just who was the one person who could help him?! (By the way, I'm pretty sure I can hear my obnoxious "wahooing" in the background of this video since the guy who took it was right in front of me):
All in all a fantastic time, and a great way to celebrate sending an issue to press. With Bruce closing his three-song encore by assisting with "I'm Shipping Up To Boston," a song that is as much a Boston anthem as The Standells' "Dirty Water," and is played at Red Sox games when relief pitcher Jon Papelbon runs onto the field, I couldn't help but think that Opening Day at Fenway will soon be upon us.
And with it...SPRING--something that Lindsey and I are very eager for!
Even though I have temporarily lost my hearing and my voice, and think I'm going to lose about five toe nails due to so many 200-pound Irish boys from Southie stomping on my feet, it was well worth it!
I do have a concert quandry, though, that I'm hoping some of you quilters can offer some advice. Lindsey and I each bought a
concert t-shirt, and the front looked cool enough, but we didn’t turn it
around to see the back.
Now these are all very fine sentiments symbolized on an Irish Claddagh ring, but spelled out on a
rock-n-roll t-shirt?! I don’t think so! Lindsey and I are going to figure out how we can either
paint, screen print, discharge or stamp it, or add some interest twist. If
you leave me an idea, I’d be grateful, and in thanks I'll pick one person to send a stash of green fabric to!
