Molly/Introduction
Tim and Shannon O'Malley were part of a moderately successful folk band in the 1950's and early 60's, but had settled down in San Diego to teach music and raise their newborn daughter Molly. When she was about 2 years old, their former bandmates got invited for a tour of Europe, and Tim and Shannon joined them, leaving Molly with her paternal aunt and uncle. And shortly thereafter, on a night of torrential rain in the Alps, their bus crashed and they died.
And so Molly was raised in a much different environment than she might have been, a world of high expectations, rigid rules, careful etiquette, and a value on ambition, rigor, and constant grind. Appearances mattered. Not without affection, but her aunt was definitely a Tiger Mom long before the phrase was invented. Her parent's talent and love for music was respected... insofar as Molly was given no option about violin lessons, music lessons, singing lessons, and hours and hours of practice. Skill was expected, praise came with being exceptional.
And she was exceptional. So much so that she got a full ride to Juilliard to become a classically trained violinist. Her aunt and uncle worried about her being off on her own all the way across the country, but could hardly say no to such a prestigious institution, and so off she went.
She didn't last the year. Dropping out before the end of her freshman year, Molly took off to become a bartender, then travelled the Renaissance Faire circuit for a while before going on to travel the country and take jobs at all sorts of interesting businesses across the country. And then a friend of a friend decided to sell his Houston area blues club, and Molly snapped the building up.
Now she's running Fiddler's Hearth, an Irish pub with a focus on music down in the 3rd Ward.