Éowyn Hits Waterford Thursday

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Post on Jan 22, 2025

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Éowyn Hits Waterford Thursday: A Wild Night (and a Few Lessons Learned)

Okay, so, "Éowyn Hits Waterford Thursday" – sounds like the title of a really bad, low-budget action movie, right? Well, it was kinda like a low-budget action movie, but instead of explosions, there was questionable pub food and a whole lotta spilled Guinness. This is the story of how my band, The Shire Hobbits (yes, really), almost imploded before even hitting the stage in Waterford, Ireland.

The Pre-Gig Jitters & A Pint (or Five) of Panic

The build-up to the gig was, uh, intense. We'd been touring for weeks. My fingers were raw from playing the fiddle (a real fiddle, not some electric thingy). I was running on about three hours of sleep a night, fueled mostly by strong tea and sheer adrenaline. We were playing at a small pub in Waterford—The Salty Siren—and the anticipation was a killer. The pressure was on.

Remember that feeling right before a big test? That's how I felt. Except instead of a math exam, it was a live performance in front of, well, I don't know how many people exactly, but enough to make my palms sweaty.

The "Almost" Disaster: A Tale of Lost Luggage and a Very Angry Bassist

Then, the luggage nightmare hit. Our bassist, Baruk, – a grumpy but brilliant guy – discovered his entire bass rig was MIA. Gone. Vanished. Poof. Like magic, but not the good kind. The airline had completely lost his gear somewhere between Dublin and Waterford. We were all freaking out. This wasn't just any bass; it was his baby. Baruk was, shall we say, less than thrilled. He muttered darkly about guitars being better anyway.

We were staring down the barrel of a gig cancellation, a total disaster. It was already Thursday!

Problem-Solving, Pub Style: Turning Chaos into (Almost) Harmony

This is where things got interesting. We, uh, improvised. We rallied. We called every music shop within a 50-mile radius. We even tried to sweet-talk a local musician into lending us their equipment – which he did, thankfully. He was a nice fella and an even better guitarist (I admit I may have been somewhat influenced by his lovely wife).

It wasn't his bass, of course. It wasn't even the same kind of bass. But it was something, and thanks to the lovely people of Waterford, that “something” was enough. We got lucky.

We learned that night that community is important! People really came through for us when we needed it most.

Lessons Learned: The Importance of Backup Plans (and Extra Strings)

This Waterford gig taught me some serious lessons:

• Always have backup plans: Seriously, this is crucial. Always. It's important to plan for the worst possible scenario.
• Check, double-check, and triple-check your luggage: Seriously, take pictures of your gear before you even leave. It might save your butt.
• The power of community: People can be awesome. Don't underestimate the kindness of strangers (especially musicians).
• Pack extra strings (and maybe some duct tape): Because things break. That's just how it is.

The Show Must (Almost) Go On

Despite the pre-show chaos, the gig itself was actually pretty amazing. The crowd was fantastic, the energy was electric, and even Baruk seemed to enjoy himself – maybe because he now had a decent guitar to play (as an aside, I would love to have his gear now – it was lovely!). We rocked Waterford, baby!

So, yeah, "Éowyn Hits Waterford Thursday" might not sound like much, but it was a wild ride. A true testament to the unpredictable nature of live music, the importance of community, and the sheer resilience of a band desperate to play a gig—even if their bass player almost had a complete meltdown. It's a story I'll be telling for years to come.