It’s common knowledge that you can’t always trust everything that comes out of the mouth (or the pen, or the computer) of a publicist. It’s not their fault; they’ve got a job to do, and that job is to put the best possible spin on the product they’re pimpin’ this week, making it sound fan-fucking-tastic whether it actually is or not. In the case of Great Big Sea, however, I say this to Monica Hopman of Think Press: you weren’t lying.

Monica told me I needed to go check out Great Big Sea at their Norfolk appearance at the Attucks Theater, but I was on the fence; I checked out a few samples at her suggestion, and I said, “Okay, well, they sound like Carbon Leaf, and my wife likes Carbon Leaf, so maybe I might swing by, if I can find a babysitter.”

She wrote back immediately and said, “I will tell you they are better than Carbon Leaf, having seen Carbon Leaf open for Great Big Sea years ago. Their live shows are simply amazing! Bring your kid, because you’ll find families – grandparents, parents, kids – all there, dancing and singing along to every song. Lots of Canadian flags waiving and beer flowing… What is more family than that?!?!?”

Okay, fine, I was sold.

Circumstances beyond my control - including a sick kid, a wife stricken with a headache, and an unscheduled bridge lift - led me to miss the first 45 minutes of the show, however, and I was briefly considering blowing it off entirely…but, man, I’m sure glad I didn’t. Now, keep in mind that this isn’t a formal concert review, since I walked in having missed 2/3 of their opening set and knowing almost none of their songs…but, still, I was so taken by the proceedings that I’d be remiss if I didn’t write at least a little something about it.

Monica was right on the money. The crowd was as disparate as any I’ve seen in some time; in the front in front of me were two little girls under the age of 10, teenagers were plentiful, and for every person my age (mid- to late 30s), there were as many who were a decade or two, sometimes even three, to be found. Even more oddly to me, however, was the fact that I didn’t recognize a single person; this might not seem weird to you, but I go to a fair amount of concerts, and I can’t think of the last time where I didn’t see anyone I knew. This was a very unique crowd of folks…and they knew every freaking word! They were clapping during virtually every song, and they never missed a cue to leap to their feet and dance…and, let me tell you, any band who can inspire four teenage girls to take to the aisle and begin a spontaneous rendition of the Riverdance must be doing something right.

Not only did Great Big Sea sound phenomenal, performing acoustically and switching up instruments (a mandolin popped up on a few occasions), but they were funny, too. They had a pleasant stage presence throughout, telling stories about the origins of their songs as well as throwing in the occasional anecdote of personal experience, like the time they found themselves opening for Barney.

Yes, the purple dinosaur.

I’ll tell you: I’ll be back the next time they’re in town, and not only am I bringing my wife, I won’t be afraid to bring my parents, either. Again, once more for the record, Monica was right on the money: a Great Big Sea concert is a family experience, and I’ll be glad to share it with mine.

Check out their website here, and see if they’re coming to your town anytime soon. You’ll get caught up the frenzy just as readily as I did, guaranteed. If you’re still unsure, though, try this CD/DVD combo of one of their performances:

It won’t be the same as being there, but it’ll give you a surprisingly good idea of what it’s like.