Lisgar O'Connor at O'Connell’s: there's no business like show business

Lisgar O'Connor performing their own twisted version of "Dirty Old Town" by The Pogues.

One of the first things Bill and Sly learned when they entered the world of small-scale show business is that the stage is only one of the many elements of the show. All those long hours of practicing, choosing the right songs to build a repertoire, and improving our skills and dexterity amount to nothing if we don’t have a friendly venue and a keen audience.

That's why Lisgar O'Connor loves to play at O'Connell's. We've always been warmly welcomed by their friendly staff and their unique and colourful clientele.

Crooner Mike, who was attending the show Saturday, gave us his impersonation of Mick Jagger and asked us what is so sexy about the way the soon-to-be-retired rocker moves on stage. We see exactly your point Michel.

Saturday night, Sly had a cold and couldn't sing, so much that he earned the nickname "Laryngitis Sly". However, other singers and musicians in the audience pitched in to make sure the evening would go well. Ah ... Friendship and support ...

Bill and Julie the Unruly sang together to convince Sly to take his needle of antibiotics to avoid getting some damage done.

Julie Element came on stage to interpret a few of her original songs as well as some classics.

Crooner Mike and Casino Guy are mesmerized by Julie's rendition of "Echo Beach", and you can tell that Bill is impressed.

Jeff the bartender and Bill jam on Neil Young's "Down by the river".

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was when we realized that Jeff the bartender was a budding guitarist who shared Sly’s left-handedness. So, while waiting for a couple of pints of Guinness to settle for patrons, Jeff joined Bill on stage for a little jam.

Finally, late in the evening, several guests arrived from New Brunswick and graciously showed us a few steps of Maritime folk dancing. Tables were pushed away on the patio, Maritimers packed the floor and many onlookers gathered to enjoy the performance.

Lisgar O’Connor would never have guessed that breakdancing was so popular in New Brunswick.