Alan Doyle, Interplanetary Rock Star
Rock Op Haiti, St. John's
Congrats to all hands @TeamBrokenEarth for the wonderful evening and fundraising in St John's last night. Pleasure to be a part of it. - Alan Doyle, Twitter, January 15th
I grew up with my Mom's definiton of "Class": Doing your best not to behave in such a way as to cause trouble for the people you care about. It's a good definition, but I like taking it one step further: Understanding when it is most definitely not All About You...and behaving accordingly.
The next step again is when folks take the time and make the effort to give of themselves, willingly and freely, to others. The deeper the need, the greater the gift...the keener the awareness of just Who it truly is All About. Those kind of folks - Good People by any standard of measure - are the Classiest of all.
There was no shortage of Classy People to be found last night in the St. John's GeoCentre at the Rock Op For Haiti, put on by Team Broken Earth to raise funds for continuing medical relief work in earthquake-devastated Haiti. From the best-in-the-Province chefs (from Raymonds, Blue On Water, The Chefs Inn, and Red Oak Catering) to the best-in-the-Anywhere musicians (Great Big Sea, also with a dandy - but too short - opening mini-set from Andrew James O'Brien), to the host of assorted volunteers who helped make the evening happen, to the generous attendees who bid highly and well on the plethora of auction items ($5,400 for an 8-person dinner with Alan, prepared by Top Chef Todd Perrin!) and most definitely including the Team of travelling medical professionals who have made so much Healing happen where help has been, and still is, so badly needed...Class Acts, each and every one of them.
In any group of people, it's always easy to recognise those whose efforts and actions have earned them the praise of a heartfelt "Well done!" And a sincere and grateful round of applause goes perfectly with these words. Good People weren't a bit hard to find last night - they were right there, right in front of you, all along. Right there and looking fine.
One of the Very Best of them all plays a sizzling electric guitar.
I've been badly missing that guitar. Even more so its Player.
Just one video from this show, of a song co-written by Sean and his good friend (who was in tit-flashing attendance last night) Dr. Greg Browne.
A bit more later about the GBS portion of the evening. This is what I want to say for now.
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Even when there's only a handful of photos to choose from, somehow there always seems to be one that sums up the evening.
I've pretty much hit a wall when it comes to figuring out what more to say about this show. I'd really rather just go with how cool it was of GBS to so generously play this gig in support of such a worthy cause - to play a full set too...that surprised me and impressed me all the more, especially considering the several-months-long layoff taking place both before and after this gig, not to mention the interminably long delay before they took the stage on this evening - and how much I hope they all enjoyed the opportunity to re-board the "Mother Ship" for a few days here in St. John's.
I suppose I could add that, after having seen these men play so many shows in so many places for so many people, after getting a partial glimpse and awareness of how much hard work goes into doing what they do as well as they do it, there are certain audience characteristics I've come to particularly enjoy and appreciate.
While my All-Time Favourite GBS Audiences are those who are seeing - and being blown away by - the band for the very first time (by the band which is so wildly exceeding every single one of whatever expectations or preconceptions they brought into the venue with them), and I also love being in the midst of those rare and delightful audiences which are open and receptive to the full richness and variety of the band's entire catalogue, I think the highest and the best of all of any audience n any city that clearly feels - and clearly shows that they feel - grateful to be right where they are...grateful to the men for the music they have created and are now sharing. The gratitude these men deeply deserve.
Those are the nights the band responds to what's offered up to them with more of the same, and then the synergy flows back and forth like a multi-directional tide. Those are the nights when Magic happens.
They deserve that too.
It was a rough night for photos, but I do have a few more.
I did say "Right there and looking fine". For very good reason and most excellent cause.
Oh yes, and I should have said that I'm very fond of shows where couples dance with each other. That's always so sweet to see.
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