Ides nor 'air?

More than just a close shave for Caesar, here. Wouldn't St. Baldrick have liked to take a razor to those marble locks? Speaking of which, we're still looking for sponsors for the Riggity Jig shaving team at St. Baldrick's this Friday in Sacramento. If you haven't signed up yet, go have a look and pitch in if you can.

I suppose Julius could have done with a bit of the luck o' the Irish that day back in the Senate, on the Ides of March these many years ago. Had it only been a year like this one, with St. Paddy's day falling in Holy Week, he might have spent the day of March 15th in a pub toasting St. Pat's name a few days early (by order of the Bishop of Rome, no less!) instead of famously uttering his last words to his betrayer from that cold, marble floor.

Don't you make that same mistake. Let this be a lesson to us all! Beware serious undertakings this year on the Ides of March! Instead, join Riggity Jig at Little Prague Restaurant in Davis as we honor the Crook-Bearer of Erin, that Chaser of Snakes, the man who blessed the very water of Waterford -- in short, isn't it St. Patrick himself that we'll be toasting this Saturday?

So grab the phone and call the folks at Little Prague to make sure they have a table set aside for you. Then set yourself apart from the toga-and-dagger set this Ides of March, and have yourself a proper Irish feast, complete with fine music and of course a suitable beverage.

Erin Go Bragh!

Hair Today . . .

Hey kids! Here's a new official Riggity Jig band picture that you add to your collection! We'll be playing at Little Prague again on March 15, but several of us will also make a musical appearance and tonsorial sacrifice March 14 at the UC Davis Cancer Center in Sacramento for this year's St. Baldrick's benefit.

Founded in 2000, St. Baldrick's has raised over 34 million dollars worldwide to support research on the prevention and treatment of childhood cancers. The money comes courtesy of thousands of volunteers -- this year including a few of our own -- who set aside both vanity and sanity for the few minutes necessary to have their heads shaven clean of hair. Yes. Exactly how that translates into money is not entirely clear to me, but friends assure me that it does work somehow. It seems to have something to do with other people (you, for instance?) making pledges to St. Baldrick's in support of a shavee.

What do you say? Make a donation to the cause and we may well dedicate a song to you at our next gig! Wow! You'll certainly have our gratitude, as well as the gratitude of children and their families who find themselves coping with cancer every day. Sometimes it feels awfully lonely when you're facing such a serious problem as this, but it's gratifying to know that other people care enough to support the research that can reduce cancer and the suffering that comes with it.

St. Paddy's, Two Days Early?

Riggity Jig reverently joins in with our pious brethren by celebrating St. Patrick's Day a few days early this year: we're playing our customary St. Pat's gig at Little Prague Restaurant this year on Saturday, March 15. Why's that? Well, Easter is what the Catholics call a moveable feast, see -- and that doesn't mean it's a picnic (though a lot of people DO have Easter picnics), it means it doesn't fall on the same calendar date from year to year. In Easter's case, it brings the entire Holy Week with it wherever it goes, and you just can't have special Saint's Day masses during Holy Week. It wouldn't be the thing to do. Likewise, the Church frowns on loud, colorful, and festive parties and parades so close before Easter. Parades on Easter? Maybe. Just before? Nope.

In addition, band members noted that a Saturday night might get us a better audience than a Monday night. Maybe better tips. And then there would be the matter of getting up for work Tuesday morning.

Let's just say the forces of organized religion, the movement of the planets and moons, and plain common sense have prevailed on us this year to play the gig a few days early. It's a good thing! Come out and hear us play! As ever, you may want to get reservations in advance. The food will be great, and the place may well be packed. One hopes.

By some stroke of Irish luck, St. Pat's hasn't fallen in Holy Week since 1940, so you can bet there was a lot of rummaging through rule books when folks realized that this year was the odd exception. So don't be late for the celebration this year -- make it two days early, and join us for a fine evening of food and entertainment at Little Prague on Saturday, March 15, starting at 6 pm!

A Right Guid-Willie Waught

Thanks from the band to all who came to see us play at Little Prague on January 25 and at the private party the next night, and even to those who would've come but stayed home on account of the rain. We saw lots of familiar faces along with plenty of new, and the kilts were in evidence as were some authentic Scottish burrs. In case you missed the festivities, there's always next year!

But don't deprive yourself of the Bard just on account of a little rain or a small streams advisory. Remember, you can find Burns online, and he's always well worth the reading. Take a look at "To a Mouse" or "A Red, Red Rose" and you'll see, once you've looked up one or two unfamiliar words, that the man had a wonderful gift for words and remarkable insight into the way we live, and feel, and love, how we stumble, and how we go gracefully on.

Happy reading til next year, and maybe then you'll want to read out a poem or two with us!

Burns Night Update -- The Pipes Are Coming!

Late word comes that we will indeed have a piper joining us (at least for part of the night) during our Burns Supper performance at Little Prague Restaurant in Davis, Friday night, January 25. World-class piper Cameron Scott has made time in his schedule to come by and share the joy for awhile; then he's off to another Burns Night event. Busy time of year for pipers.

So whether it's for the mellifluous skirl of the Highland pipes or the mysterious contents of the proud, enigmatic haggis -- or you're just ready for a nice night out -- do come by and join the fun! Note that dinner reservations are advised (and the dinners are always delicious). See you there!

Also, thanks to the Davis Enterprise for including us in their entertainment calendar!

Robert Burns Supper? Czeck It Out!

Join us January 25th for good music, good food, grrreat poetry, and all-around good "crack" as we honor Scotland's national bard with a Rabbie Burns Supper at Little Prague Restaurant in Davis, California. You may not know Robert Burns as anything more than a revered national hero and cultural icon, but you almost certainly know at least three words of his poetry, set to music every New Year's Eve as "Auld Lang Syne." And there's lots more where that came from!

This is Riggity Jig's third annual Burns Supper at Little Prague, and we've always had a good crowd. One time a group of step dancers showed up and took to the floor; last year we had a tableful of local knitters. Go figure! And every year, a few more kilts are in evidence.

So come on out, have your first taste of haggis, and to wash it down you can raise a glass to the Bard. Become one of our once-a-year regulars! Do it for yourself; Do it for Scotland; Do it for auld lang syne! And we'll see you there, lads and lassies!

Half-Pat's Day at Little Prague!

Hey, kids -- In advance of our Halfway to St. Patrick's Day gig at Little Prague in Davis, here's a swell new graphic that you can download and print onto the beer coaster of your choice. You can even use it as a temporary tattoo if you can fit your upper arm into your computer's printer! Please do not -- DO NOT -- print this onto self-stick label paper and stick it onto road signs, parking meters, police car windows, etc. We're into, like, beauty, man, not ugly. That's why we love to hear and play this fantastic music!

Please plan to join us at Little Prague this Saturday night for fine food and music to match. Call for reservations (530-756-1107), and let the nice folks know whether you're coming for dinner or for dessert only, and whether you'd LOVE to have a place close to the band!

See you there!