Here are photos taken during the recent Dauber’s 14th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party, which took place at the Gallitzin American Legion’s Oriental Ballroom on March 16.
On St. Patrick’s Eve Saturday, multitudes of green-clad revelers came to celebrate food, libations, live music from Full Kilt and the Giants Of Science, prizes, and the memory of the event’s founder, Christopher “Dauber” Cox. A longtime member and officer with the Gallitzin Fire Company, Chris passed away in 2022 after a valiant fight against cancer. Proceeds from the event helped out the Gallitzin Fire Company.
After dinner was served, Full Kilt kicked off the musical festivities with their spirited mixture of Celtic-flavored favorites, original songs, folk songs, fiddle tunes and more. Opening with their original number “Plastic Paddys,” singer and guitarist Mike Zerbee, fiddler Mandy Passmore-Ott, bassist and singer Chris Myers and drummer Jake Yarnish led the audience on sing-alongs, including their audience-dueling rendition of “Whiskey in the Jar,” their rowdy send-up of Smokie’s 1976 hit “Living Next Door to Alice,” Shel Silverstein/The Irish Rovers’ “The Unicorn.” They also did other Irish/Celtic folk and drinking songs such as “Johnny Jump Up,” “The Black Velvet Band,” “Irish Rover,” “The Night Paddy Murphy Died” and others; rocked with some Irish punk rock numbers such as Dropkick Murphys’ “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” and “Rose Tattoo”; and gave their own Celtic rock send-ups to renditions of “Wagon Wheel,” Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls,” Charlie (Mc)Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to (Dublin),” Van Morrison’s “Wild Night” and U2’s “With or Without You.” The dance floor became busier and busier as Full Kilt’s performance continued, with a large leprechaun joining in on the fun during the performance’s latter stages.
After prize baskets were given away, people were clearly ready to dance by the time the Giants Of Science were ready to perform, evidenced by the dance floor filling up quickly during the first verse of their first song, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The Giants – Mick on vocals and guitar, Scotty B on vocals and keys, Steve on drums and Johnny 5 on bass and vocals – kept the floor packed throughout their two sets with their mix of 1980s and 90s rocking hits; including numbers from REM, Sublime, Simple Minds, the Cars, Tom Petty, Greg Kihn Band, Georgia Satellites, Modern English, The Cure, Men At Work, Black Crowes, Soft Cell, Bruce Springsteen, Killers, Chumbawamba, Green Day, Dexy’s Midnight Runners and many more. The Giants welcomed several audience guests to the stage to help sing on a few numbers. The party stayed feverish through it all, and when the packed house called for one more, the Giants responded with Tom Petty’s “American Girl” and Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself” to slam the lid on a joyous and jubilant night!
Once again, Dauber’s 14th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party delivered the fun and merriment, further establishing itself as one of central PA’s top St. Patrick’s Day celebrations!
These photos document the evening from the arrival of the green-clad celebrants (including a happy green-clad Professor) to the dinner, both bands, the group photo of all the area firemen in the building, the basket giveaway, nonstop dancing – and the end of the night, as the tables show the evidence of a fun evening!
