Weekend Shenanigans
- Kris
- Oct 4, 2011
- 2 min read
This past weekend I ignored all scholarly obligations and immersed myself in Maryland’s own little slice of Ireland. That is, I went to an Irish Pub and Grill in Ocean City to see my favorite Irish Rock band play late into the evening. Who can argue with dueling guitars and pounding percussion or a kilted man playing bagpipes and a five string violin-viola hybrid played by a woman who ALWAYS turns up the heat, no matter the venue?
The Rovers are a local Annapolis band, and I’ve seen them play three times this year. They were all special performances, but this weekend’s shenanigans (conveniently also the name of the pub) was so perfect and beautiful that I had to tell you all about it.
Ray Murphy (lead guitar,vocals), Eddie McGowan (bass guitar, vocals, and bagpipes), Jenn Garmen (fiddle), Jim Martin (percussion), and Garet Howard (drums) take traditional Irish tunes and rockify them to create high-energy music for all ages to enjoy.
Their pub concerts, though, often combine their album music with their twist on popular classics like U2, “Sweet Caroline,” and an awesome mash-up of “Sweet Home Alabama” and Sublime’s “What I Got.” Needless to say, their concerts are filled with lots of dancing, lots of drinking, and a whole lot of screaming. Okay… so that last one is mostly me and my friends.
While their music is thrilling and very scream-worthy, what makes the Rovers special is that they are the most personable and genuine people I've had the pleasure to meet. They interact with the audience between sets and get to know them. In many ways, we are no longer fans, but friends, and that is what made this weekend so special for me.
After the first night's show, the Rovers plugged in an iPod for dancing, since the crowd was still heavily energized. But they danced with us too. We spoke for a long time with Eddie McGowan and Ray Murphy who wanted us to stay for the second night, which we didn't think we were going to be able to do originally. We took pictures with all the band members. Time drifted away, and by 4 AM, my friends and I were walking down the boardwalk still singing the Rovers' music and excited for the second night of festivities, which ended up being just as special.
I highly recommend the Rovers' music. And support your own local bands as well because I think it's an experience you won't regret.
[Note: The Rovers are now known as Dublin 5, and are just as kick-ass. There website can be found here.]
Edited April 2016 from a post originally published Oct 4, 2011 via Wordpress
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