Hi Joe,
Yeah, I saw that performance while I was browsing the Kennedy Center website. It was fun watching them do a full hour, but it's too bad Jimmy couldn't be there. I don't know, there's a sort of chemisty they have as a quartet.
Also, it's remarkable how far they've come in such a short time. It's evident that they are very talented from the clip, but they've only gotten better, in my opinion!
To answer your question, I was browsing the official site's guestbook and saw your reference to a message board forum. I googled the keywords, and before you knew it, I was here!
Now I have a question for you...I've been trying to decide something for awhile, but I need to make a decision soon, and I would like your advice. Well, ever since I saw the concert, I've been really hoping to see The Cottars perform again, and I am contemplating going to the next show, the one in Richmond, VA (Wednesday). I used to go to school there, and I know my way around the city, so it wouldn't be a huge deal. I made that trip every weekend last semester, and it takes about two hours.
I loved the show. I wanted to see/hear more the moment it ended. That is reason #1 for wanting to make the trip. Number #2 is that it may be a very long time before they come back to my area, despite vague announcements about possible summer or fall shows in the U.S., and I don't want to have to wait until next March
. Number #3, of course, is that I want to support them - hopefully demonstrating to the venue bookers that there is interest in both The Chieftains and The Cottars.
Now about my reservations. I met Mrs. MacGillivray and Mrs. MacKenzie after the concert. They were selling CDs, and after I quickly snatched up the two earlier ones and said I already had Forerunner and loved it, we struck up a bit of a conversation. Now at the time,
I had no idea who they were . I thought they were just official vendors...I didn't detect the beautiful Cape Breton accents or anything!
There was a huge throng of other patrons around the table, some asking questions, some looking to buy...I don't know how it started exactly, but I ended up answering a few of The Cottars-related questions (which album a certain song was on, who is related to who, how old are they, etc.) I also helped someone who couldn't remember the name Natalie MacMaster, but in general I was gushing about how great The Cottars are (in front of and to their moms. Geesh
). Only then did someone ask the two ladies how they came to this job, and when I heard, all I managed to get out a "Really?!?! Well, tell them how great they are!!" before being striken completely mute.
Honestly, they were really very nice people and seemed to not be completely wierded out by me and my inane ramblings, but maybe that will change if they see me again in such a short span of time. The last thing I want to do is make anyone feel uncomfortable or threatened, and I worry that my enthusiasm might be a little unsettling, especially to their parents. They did seem surprised that I knew so much about their kids (but it
is only what I've read on the official site and from CD cases). Now people tell me all the time I look more like I'm 16 than 22, and as a petite woman, they would probably take me more for a fangirl than as something more sinister. And it's possible that I'm flattering myself that they'd remember me at all after such a long tour. But, like I said, I don't want to give them a bad vibe.
So that's the LONG and short of it. Mostly the long. Sorry, my thought process is as much of a blowhard as the rest of me
. I'd really like to hear your thoughts, especially as you have met the kids and their parents before. I just want to be a respectful fan!
Cheers,
Meredith
. Number #3, of course, is that I want to support them - hopefully demonstrating to the venue bookers that there is interest in both The Chieftains and The Cottars. 
There was a huge throng of other patrons around the table, some asking questions, some looking to buy...I don't know how it started exactly, but I ended up answering a few of The Cottars-related questions (which album a certain song was on, who is related to who, how old are they, etc.) I also helped someone who couldn't remember the name Natalie MacMaster, but in general I was gushing about how great The Cottars are (in front of and to their moms. Geesh 
). Only then did someone ask the two ladies how they came to this job, and when I heard, all I managed to get out a "Really?!?! Well, tell them how great they are!!" before being striken completely mute. 
. I'd really like to hear your thoughts, especially as you have met the kids and their parents before. I just want to be a respectful fan!
