blast from the past: Blue Rodeo

I was just checking ticketmaster (am going to see Russell Peters tonight..woohoo!!) and saw that Blue Rodeo is coming to town in August.  I was like OMG! I have not seen or heard them for a long time.  I used to be a HUGE fan.  And not just a jump-on-what's-popular kind of fan.... I mean I fell in love with their music before most people even knew who they were. 

I saw them the first time they came to Vancouver (ever) and played at the Commodore (the original Commodore with the best bouncy floor ever!!).  We were walking by and there were these guys outside the Commodore practically giving away tickets so they could fill the room.  I convinced my friends to go because I had heard one of their songs and loved it. (that, and having already been refused at the Roxy (when it was new - OMG I feel older than dirt now! haha!) down the street because we were underage - we were all dressed up an no place to go....)

Anyhoo, the Waltons (gosh - remember them?) opened for them and that was fun..haha! cute farm boys jumping around on stage rocking their brains out!  But Blue Rodeo owned the night.  By the time they got on, the place was packed and we were right up front against the stage....perfect!  They were awesome!  And, for you Blue Rodeo fans, this was back when it was the original group with Bobby on keyboard.  Man, Bobby was a show all unto himself!  He was crazy on the keyboard....even playing with his feet at times!  The whole place bounced all night long....it was wild! (remember that crazy bouncy floor....sad its gone....)

I have seen them a few times since then, including the time that Sarah McLaughlin joined them in a surprise cameo.  But....I have never felt the magic of that first concert.  I think bands sometimes lose some of their magic when they get too big....which is tough because if they are good then its ineviitable.  (The only exception to this rule is Great Big Sea...and well, they are just one big party EVERY time! lol!)

I love the different voices of Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo...kind of like sweet (Jim) and salty (Greg).  I still know all the words, verbatim including musical riffs, to their entire first album!  I wasn't sure until I just put on some of their music...and it all came back! 

To name my favourite Blue Rodeo songs would be hard because there are just too many to list or count....they just rock!  But...here is the song that started it all.....a true blast from the past......."Try"

(*note - I don't really like the offical video much BUT the song is amazing as is Jim's sweet voice singing it!  This song still give me shivers....especially at the end when he has that part that kind of reminds me of the end of Sheriff's song "when I am with you"....did I just say Sheriff?  O-M-G where is my walker?...)