Begun as a way to blow time waiting for the turn of the millennium, Colin's Way was as surprised as everyone when the world didn't end. Figuring there was nothing better to do, the boys decided to sit down and drink until they sounded good... at least to themselves. What they didn't count on is that beer is the magical "secret ingredient" to ruckus Scottish & Irish folk music. Within 24 hours of this "hoppy accident", Colin's Way (going under the alias "The Skraelings") found themselves walking away as first-place winners of a multi-national music competition.
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Figuring this to be a fluke, the boys played (and drank) on anyway, much to the delight of those closest to them. They could hardly even begin performing before their rabid, die-hard fans would leap to their feet, shouting and screaming "That's enough for today!" "For the love of all that's holy, would you quit it with those cursed BAGPIPES already?" And of course, the ever-inspiring "C'mon, do you only know THREE songs?"
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This got Colin's Way thinking: If they learned even more songs, they could play for longer and thereby be given an even greater quantity of beer by those who realized that, if you're holding a pint, you can't play your instrument. Tirelessly they set to work, expanding from three songs to four and by the time of the following music competition, this had grown yet again to a staggering FIVE song set!
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Certain of their looming defeat, but feeling obligated to defend their crown (and take advantage of the complementary beer) "The Skraelings" made their second appearance at the "CHALKMAN IN THE KEY OF D MUSIC COMPETITION." Waking up in a ditch the following afternoon, the three folksters were astonished to learn that they had won yet again, suggesting that they might not be quite as bad as they had first imagined.
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Wanting to take advantage of their sudden run of success, they wasted no time in selling out. Within two months, Colin's Way had quadrupled their set list and began to include a number of popular, modern radio-friendly tunes... "for the kids."
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With world-wide fame and fortune just around the corner, the band's piper, Ryan, wasted no time in packing his things and moving to Louisiana. A bold move, considering the trio had been located in western Pennsylvania.
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The band was put on hold temporarily. A year and some later, Ryan returned to his northern homeland, ready to play and drink once again!
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Then Ross, CW's mandolin player, accepted an offer to study abroad in Bolivia for a year. Without their trusty high-end, The remaining members knew that to overcome the loss, a great deal had to be done. Together they drank until they forgot what a mandolin sounded like.
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Finally, Ross and his mandolin came back to PA. A reunion show was played, inciting rave reviews from the three people in the coffee shop. Things were turning around and the band was fully loaded and ready to unload both barrels in the gut of the folk music industry.
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Until Vade got married and moved to Virginia.
Then Florida.
And then England.
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Undeterred, the musicians made it a point to get together regularly when all three were in the same place at the same time. They played shows, drank together, recorded several tracks in various studios and live venues and drank some more.
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In the midst of this confusion, Colin's Way somehow managed to pull a 25-track album, "Fuel for the Fire" out of their collective posterior. The record captures the band in their many various elements, from carefully produced studio tracks to drunken live performances in an outdoor venue.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Now, in 2007, Colin's Way has finally REUNITED!
The band has come back together and once again fused their unique individual approaches into a single, cohesive whole. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
All three members of CW agree:
"A Colin's Way show is NOT to be missed. Stop by, pull up a chair and get ready to sing."
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"Oh... and since we're playin' - you're buyin'."
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Cheers.
Damn...missed Pennsic again. One year I'll actually haul my ass to that crazy event...though I think I'd need to train my liver before hand to take all the alcohol...or are my friends exaggerating?
Tara's Fire is playing at the Meigh Eo in Youngstown:
July 11th (Friday) @ 8:30 pm
July 13th (Sunday) 2-5 pm
We're packing the place on Sunday - It's open solely for our show, and this is going to be one you don't want to miss! Heck, I'm even giving away free pints of Guinness.... (only on Sunday). This is the time to get your copy of our latest CD "Fair Enough" and you may even have a chance to get your mug into our video, since we'll be filming that weekend.
706 Steel Street, Youngstown OH!
Wanna try out your hand at filming? Bring a video camera and take your own shots and you may get your clips in our video too!
Thanks for the add! I really loved your show at the Strawberry Festival and can't wait to buy the next CD available. Oh, and, I love the bagpipes! They're a great way to scare the English.
That's for accepting me as a friend. I know I am just a hopeful groupie and all but I think you guys are so cute. I think if you gave it a chance you would see I would fit right in with you guys and we could be really awesome friends. I bet we like a lot of the same things. lol :0)
Just wanted to say that you guys were awesome. I'll definitely be at Lanigan's on the 8th and the 21st to hear ya'll. I was wondering where I can buy a cd of you guys and how much are the cd's.
Oh those freezing Pennsic nights certainly do require you to learn how to maintain body heat.
You guys need to pick up a gig in Harrisburg or Lancaster, so that I don't have to drive 5 hours to see you guys play again! If I can swing it, I may be able to catch your Dec 7 show.
