Sunday, May 20, 2001 - Kite Festival - No Show Ponies

Sunday, May 20, 2001
Kite Festival
No Show Ponies
http://communities.msn.com/NoShowPoniesFanClub

Riding in the car on our way to the kite festival, we spotted various colorful kites soaring high over a field full of parents and their cheerful children. We were on our way to see the No Show Ponies with Shannon's parents. Hopping out of the car, the brisk wind hit us hard. It was the perfect weather for kite flying. We all commented on the unusual kites (such as the one that appeared to be an upper half of a man's body). We made our way to the stage that the No Show Ponies had been playing on for about ten minutes (their first set started at noon). Mrs. Brown chatted with us for a while (she told us how the local news stopped by for a visit), and we then sat beside Mr. Brown, as well as the Browns' family dog. Kids were racing around and flying their kites (which some of them crafted at the festival), as the NSP kept the kite-flyers lively.

The guys were not too lively themselves. Maybe it was because of the c-c-cold. Each of them wore a short-sleeved shirt. Did anyone think before they went outside that day? Some children must be immune to the cold since a few were running around in bare feet. Most of them didn’t even wear jackets.

Bopping to the music and gazing into the bubble-filled air, we spotted a scary shark kite (which Mrs. Brown flew later) gliding in the breeze. The atmosphere was definitely different than most venues the Ponies were used to, but it was cute to see all of the families out together having fun. Some other NSP fans arrived, including the infamous "White Russian" and Justin (the other Shover brother, known for wearing his Guns N' Roses shirt).

Shannon's parents left around one o' clock, to visit Pete and Jeff (of the Badlees), who were performing at Strawberry Square. Guess who they saw there?! One of our favorite local rockers ever, Deuce Gibb of the Martini Bros. That is another fine example of how local musicians support each other.

Back at Fiala field, the No Show Ponies ended their final set around 2:40. A writer from the Patriot News paid the festival a visit, and talked with the band for a few minutes. We continued to chat with Mrs. Brown, and tried to keep ourselves warm until Shannon's parents returned. Mrs. Brown ended up making a kite of her own, while we made ourselves comfortable on a wooden bench, hidden behind a fence on the nearby baseball field. Jeff and Ben kept us company until Shannon's parents returned around 3:40. We said our good-byes, and drove off, on our way to the MDA benefit.