Hi All…

I just noticed that there is news to be posted here and that I forgot to do it….

Last month…I decided to leave the stage to stay at home and be with my family….

So….below is the official note that I sent out to The FireStarters’ family and am posting to you all….
———————————————-

There is a saying with Roger and Everyone involved with The FireStarter family.
“That Family comes first… foremost an forever”

As most of you know….My second Grandchild was born June 13th. And as I was holding Little Miss
(Selah Winter)…..I came to a decision that I was needed much more at home than on the road…

So, with much thought, I talked to Roger, John, Eric and Mark and told them that my family “must” now come first.
And that I have decided to leave the stage..

This is not an easy decision, for me because I’ll miss seeing each and everyone of you..

I want you all to know that this has been the best year and a half of my life….
I guess I can now leave knowing that I fulfilled all of my dreams…..(the best dreams, I found out, are the one you’re not lookin’ for, but what God gives you instead..)

My job…now…will be to turn a 3 year old into a future fiddler (or at least open this goofy world up to him)
and to teach my grand daughter that “boys are bad”….and “don’t date musicians”..

And that, my friends, is what I’m truly looking forward to it…..
No more missed youth….

I do want you all to know how honored I am to have been a part of the band…….
And that I am leaving on top due to 4 of the best musicians and friends that a person could ask for.

Oh….Don’t fret….We’ll be seeing each other again….Maybe not from the stage…but, perhaps, that seat right next to yours…

All My Love To You All!
——————————————————

I’m not going away, y’all…..
I’ll be seein’ ya.

Rico

You know….

I used to think that Dayton had one of the best St. Patricks Day parties when I played with Homeland. And we’d travel down to play at the Dub Pub’s annual event.

But I was mistaken……

I found out that Molly Malone’s Irish Pub, in Covington, Ky put on a day that would equal or maybe even surpass the day in Dayton……

We walked in to play a 7 o’clock show and the place was packed with everything and everyone Irish……
They had dancers……they had pipers (:0)……and they had partiers.

We came out to have a great time…and that we did…..
This crowd was so big and ready that they got me doing something that I haven’t done in a very, very long time…..
And that was jumpin’ off stages, speakers…..runnin’ into the crowd….dancin’ and whatever else came to mind at the time….
They put the “Fire” back in DahFiddlah!

I just want to thank all that were involved……From the owners and staff at the pub to….most of all…you….the friends and fans of Roger and The FireStarters….

Next time, I’ll take pics and post them…..
If anyone has pics that they’d like posted here send them to me at
Fiddlah (at) gmx (dot) com…And I’ll make sure I get them on here…..

To be honest…….I have played many a St. Paddy’s day celebrations in the past 15 years….But this…..by far….was one of the best times I think I’ve ever had……

Thanks all…..Now onto South Bend….
Talk to ya soon….

Ric

Hey All….

I would like to take the time here to Thank all that were involved with the Music Fest at O’Bryan’s Nine Irish Brothers, this past Saturday, at the East Side Location in Lafayette, Indiana.

It was truly a great time…

Got a chance to hang around after the show to catch some dinner, with The Lady, and some music from my old friends Mother Grove… I haven’t heard them play in a very long time and their choice of tunes and showmanship was fantastic. We had a really nice time watching their show.. Great to see them again…..

Well..If you notice…I’ve been keeping the Side-Bar updated with upcoming Firestarters dates…. And they include maps…..So check out where we’re playing and I hope you’ll get a chance to come out to a show or 2….

So….for now…..I’m going to finish this update with a very Big Thank You to Jerry, Tim and the gang at Nine Irish Brothers…..

All the Best to One and All… Slan

Ric

Ok Everyone,

It looks like my Sound Post is good to go…… I have given it a new look and feel… I have tested all the possible postings that I can…

So now…it’s time to get serious…..

I will be updating constantly now…..from my laptop, from my phone. It may be text….it may be audio….it may be video… The important thing to now….IT WILL BE UPDATED!

What you will find here will be show updates. Road Blogs And what I think about stuff in general…..

If I have a goofy thought (which I usually do) it will be posted here. If I have an opinion (which I always do) it will be posted here…. If I see something I like (or dislike) it will be posted here…

So please check in from time to time…… You’ll always know what’s on the mind of a MadMan!

Thanks to all

Ric

Almost ready to head out for tonights. Show at the home of Purdue university Hope to see you there.  O”Bryan’s Nine Irish Brothers will rock…..

- *Fri, March 5* – Firestarters at O’Bryan’s NIB West Lafayette – 9:00 pm – O’Bryan’s Nine Irish Brothers, 119 Howard Ave, West Lafayette, IN, USA (MAP)

- STOP THE PRESSES! The Firestarters just set a date to perform at O’Bryan’s NIB in West Lafayette in the beginning of March. We had so much fun there when we last came to this O’Bryan’s location that we both worked out a short notice arrangement to come back. It’s only a WIN, WIN, WIN if you are there with us. Don’t miss this very fun evening at the most exciting Irish pub in Indiana. Let’s see if we can coax Jerry on top of the table to send off good friend, Pat Murphy.

- *Sat, March 6* – Firestarters at Claddagh Irish Pub Mason – 8:00 pm – Claddagh Pub Mason, 5075 Deerfield Blvd, Mason, OH, USA (MAP)

- Experience true MARCH MADNESS as you go wild with the music of *Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters*. There are a lot of new songs on the set list awaiting you. Warm up this evening with your friends while raising a glass to the music of the Firestarters and outstanding food of *Claddagh Irish Pub Mason*. You’ll be very happy you came!

Hope to see you at one of these shows..

Slan Ric

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their patience while I spend time building and updating this site…

I now know that I can post Video and Audio so that will definitely be something you’ll see (or hear) on this site..

I will also be updating this more and more in the future so be prepared…
Because….To think like a MadMan…You first must become one….

See y’all soon
Ric

I am trying something new…
Click on the link below to hear the audio..

Thanks
Ric

—
Sent from my BlackBerry