Here are a bunch of photos taken recently during Dauber’s 15th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party, which took place on March 15 at the Gallitzin American Legion’s Oriental Ballroom. The event is named in honor of its founder, Christopher “Dauber” Cox, a longtime member, officer and former chief with the Gallitzin Fire Company; “Dauber” passed away in 2022 after a valiant fight against cancer. Proceeds from this event helped out the Gallitzin Fire Company and the Gallitzin American Legion.
Hundreds of green-clad attendees again filled the room to celebrate Dauber, St. Patrick’s Day, food, libations, friends, and live music from the bands Full Kilt and the Giants Of Science. As dinner was being served, Full Kilt kicked off the music with their mix of Irish and Celtic rock, traditional Irish folk and drinking songs, Irish takes on popular rock songs and more. Singer and guitarist Mike Zerbee, bassist and singer Chris Myers, fiddler Mandy Passmore-Ott and drummer Jake Yarnish played two sets, keeping people and inflatable leprechauns dancing as they did numbers from Great Big Sea, Gaelic Storm, Carbon Leaf, Steve Earle, Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, U2, Van Morrison and many others. Some of their highlights included Mandy’s fiddle fireworks during “An Irish Party on Third Class” (from the film “Titanic”), the annual clapping contest during “Whiskey in the Jar,” the group’s Irish takes on the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” and Charlie (Mc)Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to (Dublin), and their closing sing-along rendition of Smokie’s 1977 hit “Living Next Door to Alice.”
After prize baskets were given away, the Giants Of Science immediately packed the dance floor, starting with Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning” and continuing with their nonstop mixture of 1980s, 70s, 90s and other favorites. Singer and guitarist Mick, singer and keyboardist Scotty B, bassist and singer Johnny 5 and drummer Shumac kept the party going with songs from Green Day, the Cars, Violent Femmes, Ramones, Simple Minds, Men At Work, Georgia Satellites, Soft Cell, Sublime, The Killers, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and more. The Giants welcomed a few guests onto the stage along the way, including Second Hand Monkey’s JR “The Worm” West, Full Kilt’s Chris Myers, “Spiderman” behind the drum kit, audience members and more. The collective energy between the Giants Of Science and the crowd rode at the consistent high from start to end. Even though Mick told the crowd he had “to be back home in Scranton by Sunday morning to go to church,” he and the band responded to several encore requests for the various closer songs the group usually does – such as Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” Aha’s “Take On Me,” Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” and – slamming the lid on the night – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ “American Girl.”
As the photos below clearly illustrate, smiles, laughter, fun times and music were plentiful from start to end. Hats off to everybody who keeps Dauber’s memory and legacy alive by presenting this fun event every year!
