Jim Cuddy - A beautiful soul with a voice and talent as big as a skyscraper

Everyone Watched the Wedding - Jim Cuddy Band

A dream came true for me last night. Not only did I see the Jim Cuddy Band in concert but I actually got to meet and speak to him. In my wildest dreams I never thought it would happen. My "love affair" with Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and the boys of Blue Rodeo began back in 1987 with the release of Outskirts, which spawned the singles Rose Coloured Glasses and most notably Try. That was it I was hooked! I wasn't always in a financial or physical position to see them in concert a lot, but I supported them with the purchase of every release. My first time actually seeing the boys in concert came back in 2007 at the Jarvis Corn Festival in Jarvis Ontario. Being that close...I was in awe. Besides the musical talent in the writing of the music and the voices so pure, for me it is what those words say. They speak to me, they make me feel a part of the story, they make me like I am not so different, they make me feel like I am not alone. That's a tall order to fill and they do it again and again with the release of each new album. 

On the way to the concert my daughter and I were noticing the aggression of some of the drivers on the highway and began to wonder why people can't seem to speak to each other anymore? There doesn't seem to be a noticeable respect among us. That is unfortunate, but there are exceptions. Blue Rodeo and the two front men - Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor for example. Consider the respect that they have for each others talent that they can separate to create solo careers in between the release of a collaborative effort. Ah, but then, fans like myself are torn - My favourite group is Blue Rodeo, that's an easy one. My favourite male artist is...Jim/Greg Keelor/Cuddy? lol! Their differences compliment each other as part of the group and make them stand out as solo artists.

I have both of Jim Cuddys' previous solo releases - All In Time (1998) and The Light That Guides You Home (2006). If you are looking for deep, meaningful and beautiful music - you have found it here. There are some tracks with a country feel, some with a more rock/pop beat. It speaks to the talent of the man that he can write the words and music for such a varied genre of music. Something for every one and every taste except for me - I love it all. I couldn't possibly choose one track to call my favourite. Additionally, as my daughter pointed out last night - he also has a cute butt. Yes, he is handsome and talented - the whole package. 

I have to tell you that Jims' latest effort is more meaningful to me as a fan. I really feel like to some degree I was a part of the process from inception to the release and ultimately to the live performance. Prior to the commercial release of the CD, fans were invited to participate in the "putting together of" via web downloads. I saw Jim sitting in the studio where he composes, playing on the acoustic guitar into a tape recorder that has seen better days. I watched him lay down preliminary versions using that tape deck and an i-pod. I heard him talk about how a song progressed from idea to final cut. And I pre-ordered my copy of Skyscraper Soul so I could be one of the lucky ones to have a signed copy of hand-written lyrics. And a very special bonus was the CD of cassette demos...the works in progress I had read about. I had them to forever appreciate them. And then top it all off with the live performance. I don't think there war anyone in the audience who wasn't moved by the final performance of the evening, when Jim invited the opening act artist Doug Paisley out to join him and violinist Anne Lindsay and guitarist Colin Cripps in an "unplugged" up close and personal version of Wash Me Down. SPECTACULAR. The opportunity for the post-concert "meet and greet signing" was pinnacle of the journey. 

Try - Blue Rodeo

Try. 

As part of the encore, Jim came back and treated the audience to the Blue Rodeo signature piece. Often copied never duplicated - if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...there are a lot of admirers out there. For four years my son went to school far from our Toronto area home, he attended Dalhousie University in Halifax. As most young people do, he quickly discovered the vibrant Nova Scotia night life and became a fixture at the Lower Deck on Sunday nights to revel in the musical accomplishments of Signal Hill. Signal Hill is a fabulous local band that specialize in covers and uniquely Maritime classics. It was late on a Sunday night, just after the boy had settled in when I got the first of many bizarre phone calls. On my end, it sounded like so much noise and screaming that I couldn't decipher. I hollered into the receiver for the caller to identify themselves to no avail. So I listened more intently, it was vaguely familiar but I couldn't be sure. Eventually I learned that my mystery caller was my slightly inebriated son - Signal Hill would begin their rendition of Blue Rodeo's Try and he would dial home and hold his cell phone high above the crowd who were all singing/screaming along with the band. It was his way of letting me know he was thinking of me and (dare I say it) missing me. If they didn't play it automatically every week, my son made sure they played it with a special dedication to his Mom a thousand miles away. So last night when Jim sang Try, I called my son and left him a voice message on his phone - it was Jim Cuddy singing for us. Thank you for giving my son and I a special bond! 

My love affair with Jim Cuddy singly and collectively with Blue Rodeo is about to intensify. From the bottom of my heart I wish my new friends a special Valentines Day that they will spend with Jim Cuddy at Massey Hall. I wish you both much love and happiness and hope that I will see you again soon. If not cruising through my town on your two wheels, then at an as yet undisclosed location ;) 

Playlist

Jim Cuddy Band, Saturday, Feb. 4, Hamilton Place

Watch Yourself Go Down (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

I Could Never Be That Man (Tremelo, Blue Rodeo)

Married Again (The Light That Guides You Home, Jim Cuddy)

I Still Want You (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Everyone Watched The Wedding (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Bad Timing (Five Days in July, Blue Rodeo)

All I Need (The Light That Guides You Home, Jim Cuddy)

Banks of the 49 (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Regular Days (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Water’s Running High (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Ready To Fall Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Five Days in May (Five Days in July, Blue Rodeo)

The Light That Guides You Home (The Light That Guides You Home, Jim Cuddy)

Skyscraper Soul (The Light That Guides You Home, Jim Cuddy)

Pull Me Through (The Light That Guides You Home, Jim Cuddy)

With You (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Till I Am Myself (Casino, Blue Rodeo)

Second Son (All In Time, Jim Cuddy)

Sad Nights (The Days In Between, Blue Rodeo)

It Could Happen To You (Tremelo, Blue Rodeo)

Encore

Try (Outskirts, Blue Rodeo)

What Is So Wrong (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Wash Me Down (Skyscraper Soul, Jim Cuddy)

Blue Rodeo - More than Small Miracles!

Try - Blue Rodeo

What kind of fan would I be if I didn't acknowledge the accolade that have been bestowed upon the greatest (in my opinion) bands in Canadian history. BLUE RODEO is to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 2012 Juno Awards, according to the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Spanning their 25+ year career, Blue Rodeo has won 11 Juno Awards over the years and given the adoring public 12 studio albums. Personally I can't get enough. 

Although Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor have been collaborating since their high school days in 1977 as a psuedo-punk band trying to crack the New York City music scene, it wasn't until 1984 that the boys returned to Toronto to form Blue Rodeo. Their first album Outskirts was released in 1987 and spawned the above hit Try. 

Outskirts and Try was my introduction into Blue Rodeo. A crossover band that at times has struggled with the notion that they were a country band, trying to break into the mainstream top 40 radio playlist. I still find some people who think they are a predominately country band. While there are some tracks that do have that country feel, the talent of these boys transcends to many genres. You cannot pigeon hole them. 

Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo is the only band that I would pay money to go see live. What I hear on the mass recording is what I hear on the live albums and in concert. It is a true sound based on music they create, play and sing. There is no need for a lot of electronic enhancement to make them sound better. Sadly, I have only been able to see them live once. I just never had the finances to put towards concert tickets - well I tried but the ankle-biters insisted on eating. :) But the one concert I saw was amazing, a small venue, a county fair. I was beside myself with joy. 

Maybe it was because I sacrificed in order to feed him, but when my son went off to university, he would go to a bar and listen to a band he had come to like. Signal Hill played Sunday evenings at the Lower Deck in Halifax and they did an excellent version of Blue Rodeo's Try. And now and then, I would get this crazy phone call that just sounded like a lot of undecipherable noise. But it was in fact Signal Hill playing the requested song for his mother many miles away. Try...It warms my heart thinking about it.

As a band, Blue Rodeo has sold over 4 million records. Both Jim and Greg have managed to have successful solo careers, always returning to collaborate once again. If you enjoy Blue Rodeo, I encourage you to look into the solo efforts that the boys have put out. Talented in their own right and phenomenal as a team. 

I can't pick any one song that I would lay down and say this is my favourite Blue Rodeo song, because so many of them have meaning for me. A connection to a moment or person in my life. The music moves my soul, and warms my heart the lyrics speak to me. For every emotion there is a song that comforts me. It is the music of my life. I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't had a chance to experience and enjoy the talent which is Blue Rodeo! Do it now!

All The Things That Are Left Behind - Blue Rodeo

So finally Blue Rodeo will get some well deserved recognition for there musical contribution by the CARAS - Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. I'm only disappointed that it took this long, but I offer my heart felt congratulations to Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and the rest of the band. It is more than well deserved and well earned! By far the best of Canada and this saying a lot considering the wealth of musical talent here in the north!

If I have peaked your curiousity and you would like to hear or learn more about BLUE RODEO, I invite you to check out their website at
www.bluerodeo.com
and look up some of their music on YouTube. Each album has its own unique feel and sound. Don't like one, TRY another :)

Love it like I do? Let's get LOST TOGETHER...