As to whether or not these guys are going to have their delicate sensitivities injured by any remarks...forget it...if you're in any of the bars in Chicago this week, you'll see that they break up into small units and work the bars where "pay the piper" is very much the practice. So, like Liberace, they cry all the way to the bank. (Although maybe people are giving them money to get them to go away...or, like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack, they're throwing money at them and telling them, "...here...go take some music lessons.")

I haven't really heard them in a situation where they've just stood and played...they're usually marching by...so I can't honestly compare them to some of the other local pipe bands who I have heard stand in competition and do some amazing things. Never forget: if you're in a marching band, all you have to know is two tunes...

I have been in bars where they show up and they do create a buzz among the overserved...it's almost a reverence, no matter how much they may not deserve it. And why? Strictly on reputation...they've been around a long time and have a catchy name. Consider that Helen Hayes was once asked how she became the "first lady of the American Theatre" and her reply was that she had just managed to outlive the rest of them...sorta/kinda the same thing here. But consider that for most of these folks who are out on amateur night, Whisky In The Jar is the crowning achievement of Celtic Music....a fact that continues to frustrate a whole lot of my friends who are accomplished Celtic Musicians and who will be taking second seat to the "three chords and a pint of Guinness" set.

As to the politics involved in this, I seriously doubt that there is any real serious connection...just that the people expect the Shannon Rovers and will be disappointed if the Shannon Rovers don't show up so the special events people are going to do whatever they can to make sure that the crowd isn't going to be disappointed. Seriously, if the bulk of these people took the time to listen critically to pipe music while sober, they would be cheering for any of several other pipe bands instead of these jokers. The fact that some of these guys might know some of the folks in public office is probably not as important as they might think. I'd hazard a guess that most of the folks in the upper echelon of the city and county don't know these cats from Adam and that they certainly wouldn't put their prestige on the line for them. These aren't the "good old days" and there are a lot of people still running around thinking that they have a lot more clout than they actually do...but, take it from me, that was true back in the "good old days" as well. Keep an eye out to see if maybe things get "rearranged" next year. These days nobody likes controversy and will adjust accordingly.

Interestingly enough, I was thinking of going downtown this evening and stopping at the Italian Village...be funny if the roving bagpipers showed up at the ITALIAN VILLAGE expecting to play...bet that the manager would tell them, "...go away! Come back with some accordions and mandolins!".

And so it goes...

Best

AA