WWW.PINKPANTHERFAN.CA That is about me! This blog is my view of the world around me, the absurdity of the inhabitants and how we fit in. I have written diaries for nearly 30 years of my life, at times this will be an extension of that in so much as I will be writing about life as I experience it. Mostly just my personal musings about whatever thought(s) pop into my head and flitter there until I let it out. ENJOY!
Showing posts with label Rain Down on Me. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rain Down on Me. Show all posts
I went to a Blue Rodeo concert last night in Halifax. There was a driving rain event that had me drenched within 10 minutes of leaving home for the venue. But I felt like I was walking on the water, I was so excited about the concert. I bought the tickets on a pre-sale last October. I've been hearing about the tour for the past month. Now it was my turn.
So let it "Rain Down On Me" for soon I may be hearing that very song. Live, instead of just playing in a loop in my head. (And indeed it was on the set list!)
The opening act was The Strumbellas which I have been listening to but never before saw them live. I loved how they engaged the audience by talking about experiencing our official food - the donair and going out for a lobster feast. No scripted banter and what an animated performance! A real joy to experience and music that draws you in and spins you around. You decide for yourself and I'll go listen to my new favourite tune of theirs, The Fire.
Lobster Art at Halifax Airport
Back to the main act. We found our seats and I was immediately drawn to the activity in the row ahead of us. There was something exciting going on and it looked like a set list was the cause of some of the giddiness. Let me in! :) Sure enough, we had ourselves some other mega fans in our midst. Connected fans, they knew the security guard who did pass along the set list. And the girl near me had two copies, one which she generously shared with me. I've collected my share of set lists but never before have I had one before the show! She did a very nice thing and it will be one of those unique moments that I will forever remember from this show. As luck would have it we shared the front of the stage when the time came as well.
It's always nice to hear the band talk about the inspiration for the songs that they have penned. It may be one of the most rewarding aspects of going to a live performance, having that inside scope. Then again, I could be an anomaly in gravitating toward the need to know, but there are websites dedicated to trying to decipher lyrics meanings. It's something quite different hearing the explanation from the artists own mouth. That knowledge adds an additional level of appreciation and admiration for the song for me. I knew I would love the new song 1000 Arms just for the story it told alone.
In the introduction of the final new song being showcased, Greg apologized for the proliferation of new material and promised it would be the last before declaring it a bit weird. Although there seemed to be a musical disconnect between the soothing vocals and harsher instrumental interludes, I didn't think there was anything weird about The Flame. Greg's vocals were clear, haunting and soulful as per usual. I can only hope that this song will be released in a future full length album.
Album, I can say that again, without sounding like a dinosaur, since many artists are returning to the vinyl offering of their music. Recently I encountered a musician who was selling cassettes which precipitated a lively conversation on who even has the machinery to play such archaic technology. To be fair, there was a download link included with purchase. And so it continues that everything old is new again.
And that was true for most of this winter 2016 Blue Rodeo tour. I really loved hearing some of the older releases live that I never had a chance to before. Songs like Side of the Road, One Light Left in Heaven and Dark Angel and of course Rose-Coloured Glasses (my first loved BR song). I have to say that although I really like the smattering of new material throughout the concert because for me it means a new release and more touring :)
Although my preliminary count suggested that this show was concert #12 for me seeing Blue Rodeo, prior to three years ago, I had never once seen them live. You could say I am making up for lost time since my love affair with the band has been going since their very first release in 1987, Outskirts. And there is something memorable about each one of those dozen shows.
Whether it is a set list, a guitar pic, a picture or more importantly meeting someone new and forming an ever-lasting connection (Christine and Debra :) there is always something about a Blue Rodeo show.
My picture from the concert
An added bonus to this Halifax show is that by sheer coincidence I happened to be at the airport and a unique set of circumstances led to me having a brief conversation with Greg Keelor as he made his way to catch a plane. A dream came true for me right then and there. I was so in awe of seeing a person I deeply admire that I was gob-smacked and completely tongue-tied. I usually have a better command of the English language lol!
The next time the universe puts me in a similar position I hope I will be better prepared and be able to take a photograph to record the moment.
For the record, Greg is a humble, soft-spoken and utterly charming man and I was lucky to be in his presence. I am and have always been a Keelorite! Team Greg! As if we must make a choice between the talented members of Blue Rodeo.
From Glenn Milchem to Michael Boguski, Bob Egan, Colin Cripps to the founding members Bazil Donovan, Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy. Each one is talented and an integral part of the team that is Blue Rodeo. All the past members that have helped create the Blue Rodeo sound and John, Lee and the other members of the crew that bring them to us live.
Going to concerts has become a very important part of my life in these later years, enhancing the love of music that has been as pronounced as every breath I take. I am counting on another dozen sessions with Blue Rodeo in the next few years or so.
I will see you down the road! I already have my tickets for the August show in Toronto. WOO HOO!
In the past month or so I have been lucky enough to rub shoulders with artists whose talent I admire deeply and share with the crowds some amazing music. From the east coast local Rasta Gumbo, to the visiting Royal Wood and Peter Katz. And on my travels to central Canada to see My Kind of Karma, Devin Cuddy Band and Blue Rodeo as well as some local talent at some Queen Street haunts. Severely sleep-deprived and frantic about being late I attended a long awaited reunion show with Peter Cash and the Skydiggers.
I can't turn off the great music running like many ear worms in my brain and I don't want to!
I missed some serious photo ops and will forever regret and kick myself for those, however, these are a few I can share. But please, if you want to share off this site please credit the source. They are my creative brain cells and I can't afford to give them away :)
All pictures are the property of the subject and www.pinkpantherfan.ca
Peter Katz in Halifax
Royal Wood in Halifax
My Kind of Karma in Ontario and from the west coast
James Hockin on bass Garrett Scatterty on guitar
Isaac Balson on ukulele and banjo
Taylor Gross on drums
Mid song trombone solo
The Devin Cuddy Band
DCB - Nichol, Devon, Zach, Devin and special guest keyboardist
Devin Cuddy away from the keys and killing the vocals
Zach Sutton...my favourite drummer of all time!
Nichol Robertson makes those string dance and sing
Devon Richardson - vocals and bass!
Another picture of Devin - because I like this one :)
BLUE RODEO!
Old friends still close after all these years...magic!
The One The Only GREG KEELOR
The melter of ladies hearts coast to coast - JIM CUDDY
Colin Cripps - musician and all around talent
Greg
Jim
Hi'ya you! ;)
Standing at their feet in awe!
l -> r Colin Cripps, Glenn Milchem, Jim Cuddy, Bazil Donovan, Bob Egan and Mike Boguski
Jim
Greg
Best playlist I've heard in awhile! Awesome
Even his promo poster at the Cameron house has a boo-boo!
I wasn't there in its Hey Day and in the middle of the day there were no performers...but I was there!
After near memorizing each and every lyric of the new Blue Rodeo release, In Our Nature late last fall, the time for the live show finally arrived. Truth be told, I knew most of it before I even had the disc in my hands. Some of the songs I had heard played in previous concerts, including the 25th Anniversary concert I attended in London, Ontario. I was so mesmerized that I recorded (on my phone) one song so I could listen to my hearts content afterwards. And my heart was indeed content. In fact every time I hear Never Too Late I am transported back to that mystical moment when I first heard those moving words.
Yes it is ROW 2! :)
And the same thing can be said for many Blue Rodeo songs for me. Some for love, some for joy, some for comfort. It's nice to know that we are not alone in our thoughts. And some for new found friends, like hearing Hasn't Hit Me Yet on the Canada AM soundstage with my new friend Debra. She sailed into the waves of my heart with her energy and our common love for Blue Rodeo and music.
Now that I am living in my own Paradise, the song I chose for this blog is Greg's version of the same. It has become my favourite on the In Our Nature offering. Although even making that determination is a difficult one, like which diamond do you like better? I'll take them all! :)
Zach Sutton's gear for the Devin Cuddy Band
There was a great headlining band, that although I am quite familiar with them, they are up and coming. The Devin Cuddy Band, is fronted by none other than the talented off-spring of Blue Rodeo's own Jim Cuddy. But that is where the similarity ends musically. They are both tall, talented and handsome. Devin has a throaty husky sound to his voice that is perfect for his chosen style. It is not the type of music that you will hear on your typical top 40 radio, but I would sure like for their music to become more well known. I appreciate the fact that they strive to be the best at what they do without bowing to the commercial cookie-cutter. By his own admission, Devin likes to write in the style of one of his favourite artists - Randy Newman, and I sure like what he has created. I get a sense of an east-coast sound myself. His album is a collection of a dozen songs all penned by Devin himself. The Louisiana/Blues influence makes for really catchy tunes and danceable beats. Hard to sit still when you are listening! The people who came in late...missed a fabulous performance.
From the beginning to the end, this was a professional show. Okay, there was a little glitch when the guitar slide that Colin Cripps needed for Never Too Late, was not where it was expected to be. But Jim made light while we waited the few seconds for it to be located. The pre-show and the show itself started on time, we were treated to two hours of energetic performances. There were several switches between full sound and acoustical performances where both Glenn Milchem (drummer) and bassist, Bazil Donovan (nice to see you Baz!) had to be re-located closer to the front of the stage and this was done flawlessly. Even the cameraman who moved along the front of the stage for the right shots and angles was unobtrusive.
framed ad from the local paper
As expected, the first set was comprised of mostly new music from the In Our Nature release. I have to say that one of the best things that come from attending a concert like this, is getting some of the back story to the songs. And Greg shared a beautiful story behind the inspiration for Mattawa that helped me see that song in a whole new light. I will now always be reminded of a long drive home halfway across the country in the snows of December. And I am not the only one who got weepy when they heard Tara's Blues!
It was an interesting change to see Greg performing without a guitar in hand, but I felt like there was more raw emotion in the songs when he only had a microphone stand to hide behind. It made for an unmistakable connection between the music and the man. Staying on the performance of Greg, one of the fans in the audience made a wonderful observation about how mellow and happy that Greg looked throughout the concert. And I wondered if he was in his Paradise...lol!
Surrendering the guitar was made possible with the addition of Colin Cripps as electric guitarist for the band. Not unknown to the band, he played with Greg Keelor as part of Crash Vegas, and as a member of the Jim Cuddy Band. He has had quite a prolific career on and off the stage. He is an accomplished musician, singer, song-writer, producer and entrepreneur. Yes, those jeans that you admire on the backsides of Jim and Greg are probably Outsider Denims, his company. A quick glance at the resume of Colin Cripps and it seems I was a fan long before he joined Team Blue. Yes, Smoke by Crash Vegas was one of my most well-worn vinyl tracks, but there is also Sarah McLachlan, Ladies of the Canyon, Oh Susanna and Junkhouse to name but a few that he has had a hand in.
There was an easy flow between the full sound performances and the acoustic offerings and I really enjoyed the outcome of effort. A surprise departure from the vast Blue Rodeo catalogue, was a Blue take on the classic Rolling Stones song The Last Time, done acoustically and with heart! There have been very few songs that they have covered but they do do them well. Til I Am Myself Again is one of their better known re-makes, and Greg's rendition of Out of the Blue on this newest record is fabulous. And if you want a real treat - look up Greg's take on Heaven that he performed on both his solo record Gone and for the James Gray tribute concert. Unbelievable!
After a quick beer break, the boys were back with the promised second set of some of their classics. And near fandemonium broke out when Greg begged the security to let the fans approach the stage. Now, I had already checked, the floor seats were all bolted to one another to keep them in line and the front row extended across the aisles. Like gazelles they began to leap over - quite frankly my gymnastics days are over - but I made it to the stage! A stranger who was a beautiful soul would not leave me behind and offered her hand so I could climb over the chairs. This is a true East Coast soul and Blue Rodeo fan. Kim didn't need to care but she did and won't be forgotten! We danced and swayed and got Lost Together in the love of the music.
Both Jim and Greg did solo acoustic performances. Jim shared Girl of Mine and Greg gave us Dark Angel. Hauntingly beautiful but not a clap along :) In this second set with the crowd bopping at their feet, Blue Rodeo covered songs from Outskirts, Diamond Mine, Tremolo, Casino, 5 Days in July and Lost Together.
It was during this second set that it really hit me how old I was. Even before rushing the stage, I was noticing how young the crowd around me was. That might be par for the course in this university heavy town, but as I thought back to other shows I attended, I realized that as the boys and I age gracefully together (they are older ;p) the audience is getting younger and younger. Of course only die hard fans like myself would throw the concept of age out the window in order to have the chance to be at the foot of the stage where it happens and you can connect with the Debs and Kims of the world.
And you know, this older material isn't lost on the younger set. They sang along to After the Rain and Bad Timing like us seasoned veterans. And that does my heart good because Canadian music is to be appreciated at all ages. And this is good music that happens to be Canadian. I hope that the gentleman (who ironically lived in Coldbrook, a small town I once called home) is wrong when he said that this would probably be Blue Rodeo's final tour because of the severity of Greg's ongoing ear problems. I hope not because seeing these old friends on stage with my new friends is a highlight in my life that I am not ready to end.
Kim and I pegged it right, the encore was Try and Lost Together. I have a back story for Try. In my sons Dalhousie University days when he lived so far from my then Ontario home, he would go to the Lower Deck and listen to the great local band Signal Hill play. Sometimes he would request it, sometimes it was on the playlist - but when they played Try he phoned me and held his cell phone high above the crowds so I could be part of the audience with him. And coming full circle in life, when I hear Try I do the same for him!
Lost Together was performed with Devin, Nichol Robertson, Devon Richardson and Zach Sutton returning to the stage. It still blows my mind to see father and son Cuddy sharing the mike on stage. And the choreographed guitar dance between Nichol, Devon and Greg made me smile. They looked like they were really enjoying it.
That's the marvelous thing about a Blue Rodeo concert is the connection you can feel with the band. The theatrics come from the musicians and not pyrotechnics. The music is real and not something that is manufactured in the studio. What you hear at home is what you hear in person but with flair! Watching Baz strum on stage I can go home and listen to the same song and hear it clearer and louder on the recording. You have to watch Bob Egan carefully for he switches between his instruments like they are an extension of his own arms. And Michael Boguski has taken piano to a level that I had aspirations for in my youth. But he has the passion and the talent for the instrument. The five member of the band fit Jim and Greg like a well-loved glove. Perfect compliment.
Years of friendship and respect was evident when for the final encore it was just Jim and Greg on stage with their guitars sharing one mike and two voices that go together like a country mouse and a city mouse. I was reminded of what it must have been like when they started back in the day, two young guys jamming. Well, after Greg taught himself to play guitar! :) The song was What Am I Doing Here and, well, if I ever get that meet and greet, I will tell you what you are doing here in Halifax and every other spot large and small that you stop and plug in the amp! And all I'll have to do is smile, because that is what you do for me. Make me smile. Thanks!
Still on a musical high I rushed over to the Carleton to catch my second helping of the Devin Cuddy Band. I had just enough time to wet my whistle to get ready for more singing when the boys started coming into the bar. I knew and loved the music before I knew the band and only got to know them when I bought the first CD and got the musicians turned salesmen to sign it. Tonight marked the second time that I saw them at the Carleton Music Club in Halifax. The first time, I had just moved here and knew nobody - it was like seeing an old friend. That Devin and Zach remember me swells my old heart and I appreciate it so much.
(For the record, you don't have to worry I am not a stalker it was just a lucky guess that I knew which hotel you were staying at...I watched you walk to the stage door before the concert. I knew the direction you came from and the hotels in the area.) I'm just a fan who admires your talent and loves your music. And you are really nice people!
If anyone skipped the show at the Carleton thinking that it might be a repeat of the stage show, they were wrong. The closely quartered bar crowd was treated to a full helping of original songs from the album (aptly titled Volume One) along with some rocking country covers. And I think I understand why some performers on stage have their eyes closed for there was quite a show being performed right on the dance floor! Hey to be young and drunk :) lol! SOCIABLE!
It was an awesome night! And I look forward to seeing you all again "DOWN THE ROAD". This time, I'll travel :)
Rain Down On Me - Blue Rodeo and Devin Cuddy
Some Links for you to check out:
Blue Rodeo
http://www.bluerodeo.com/
The Devin Cuddy Band
http://www.devincuddy.com/
The Carleton Music Bar and Grill, Halifax NS http://www.thecarleton.ca/ Colin Cripps entrepreneurial venture Outsider Denim http://producttoronto.com/2013/10/details-outsider-denim-2/
And that was true for most of this winter 2016 Blue Rodeo tour. I really loved hearing some of the older releases live that I never had a chance to before. Songs like Side of the Road, One Light Left in Heaven and Dark Angel and of course Rose-Coloured Glasses (my first loved BR song). I have to say that although I really like the smattering of new material throughout the concert because for me it means a new release and more touring :)
