RECORD STORE TALES MkII: Getting More Tale
#402: Meeting Blue Rodeo
On June 14 1991, touring to support their third album Casino, Blue Rodeo came around to headline at the COE – Central Ontario Exhibition – in Kitchener. The opening act was Strange Days featuring Shannon Lyon, a local singer-songwriter whose earlier tunes didn’t appeal to the older ladies in the crowd. The younger folks dug Strange Days, but there was clearly another segment of the audience who thought they were too loud and raucious.
When Blue Rodeo took the stage, it was with the near-legendary Bob Wiseman on keyboards. Wiseman departed Blue Rodeo about a year and a half later, so we were lucky to see this unique individual live in concert. Also present were leaders Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, bassist Bazil Donovan, and drummer Mark French. French would be gone soon after, too. It was a very short-lived lineup: one album only.
I had just graduated highschool, and we had four tickets to the show; a great way to kick off the last summer holidays before university. My sister and I attended with my friend Bob and a buddy of his. Blue Rodeo played a generous selection from their first three albums: Outskirts, Diamond Mine, and Casino. In addition Bob Wiseman was given the spotlight for a moment to pick up a guitar and sing a brand new solo song called “We Got Time”.
The big surprise of the night was when a few (probably loaded) guys in their mid-20’s decided to go stage diving at a Blue Rodeo show. The band were noticeably surprised themselves by the stage divers. Not something you’re used to seeing at a country rock show where a percentage of the audience was over retirement age.
When Greg announced this song, both Bob and I asked, “What did he say? Is the song called ‘Piranha Poo’??”
After the big encores, the house lights went on. We were all but ready to leave the COE, when Bob noticed Jim Cuddy and the rest of the band exiting through a side door. “I think I just saw the guy from Blue Rodeo go through that door. Let’s follow him!” he said. There didn’t seem to be any reason not to, so we made our way out the door, down the hallway of that old hockey arena, and followed the band right into the dressing room! I was a bit more nervous than my friends, but nobody tried to stop us or even talk to us. My eyes went wide as I scanned the dressing room. It was filled with food and drink, and fans!
We each made the rounds to ask the band to sign stuff for us. The two we didn’t approach were Bob Wiseman and Mark French who appeared too busy so we didn’t bother them. Bazil Donovan quietly smiled and signed our things. Since I didn’t have much in hand, he signed a photo of my guitar that I kept in my wallet! Greg Keelor signed my ticket stub. While doing so, I expressed amazement at the stage diving! “Yeah, it was fun!” said Greg, who probably hadn’t witnessed it too often in his career! Jim Cuddy signed the other side of my ticket stub. Bob had already chucked his ticket and had nothing to get signed, so he handed Jim Cuddy a $5 bill. “Can you sign it, ‘To Bob, the best $5 I ever had?’ said Bob. Jim chuckled and signed it as requested. Unfortunately, Bob being the cheapskate that he is, spent the $5 bill later! Somewhere out there in circulation was a $5 bill that said, “The best $5 I ever had, Jim Cuddy.”*
I already liked the band’s music, but I became a Blue Rodeo fan for life that night. Not only are they a consistently great live act, but nice guys too. I met Jim a few years ago at one of his solo concerts, and he still treats his fans like gold. That’s the kind of band that has earned my undying support.
* In 2012, Blue Rodeo came out with their box set, 1987-1993, containing their first five albums plus three discs of rarities. Having re-bought the albums, I sent my originals over to Aaron! What I forgot was that I had stored my signed stuff with those CDs! Fortunately Aaron found the autographs inside, and sent them back pronto! Thanks man.
Wow, never heard of stage diving at a country rock concert before. You broke new barriers that night! Still, it must have been real cool to meet the band after.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well it wasn’t me who broke the barriers, but barriers were broken indeed!
I have never stage dived, except at Sausagefest where I fell on my ass.
LikeLiked by 2 people
In the US, I couldn’t get anywhere near the stage to dive but I did get to do so at a gig in London.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please tell your mug out was captured on video!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was actually:
Click to the very end of the video, you can kind of see me whiping out at the end of the song.
https://mikeladano.com/2014/07/13/video-sausagefest-xiii-part-ii/
LikeLike
That is a very cool story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! Definitely a great way to close my highschool years.
LikeLike
Righto – reckon I need to check these guys out now! Good starting point?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I gotta say: Five Days in July. The album was recorded on a farm in five days, hence the title. They went there to make an album, but they started playing new songs and recording it and put that out instead!
LikeLike
I like the sound of this. I also like the look of that Casino album. I’ve added these dudes to the list … and will endeavour to get to them soon.
LikeLike
Casino is good, but it wasn’t a favorite of the band. They felt pushed into a mainstream country direction and preferred stretching their musical wings a bit. Keelor prefers the demos to the final album. It was a big hit though.
LikeLike
Ah, mainstream country isn’t something you wanna go getting into. I’ll go for the one you suggested!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I truly can’t think of a better starting point for someone like yourself, than Five Days in July. If you were my mom, I’d say Casino. Not that Casino is bad! After the Rain alone is worth owning the album for.
LikeLike
Cheers, Mike – I’ve noted my starting point! I’ll let you know when I finally get some listening done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Check yer email ;)
LikeLike
We say this a lot, J., but YES! Get them all! Haha sorry about your wallet. :) But really, any that you see, buy with confidence. BR is a stellar band.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a cool story! I love stories where it’s like, “there they are LET’S FOLLOW THEM!” and you end up in the effing DRESSING ROOM!! lmao I bet you charish those signatures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do…which makes it so embarrassing that I accidentally mailed them to Aaron! Headslap!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool story Mikey ..poor Basil man I still Remember that Kim Clark Chapness or Chapstick whatever his last name was going on about Basils pot arrest with like 3 seeds in a zip loc or some b.s like that on Muchmusic it was around the time u seen EM or maybe before but I felt bad for the poor bugger getting hung out by MuchMusic! Kudos to Blue Rodeo for just going about there business…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember that too man! If that happened today it would have made Blue Rodeo folk heroes in an instant.
Bazil, by the way, is one hell of a bass player. Just listen to their bass lines, he’s all over the neck.
LikeLike
What a cool story! And lucky to have seen that line-up. Not having seen them live myself (I know, I know, bad Canadian, bad!), your post reminds me that I oughta. We had a friend in Saskatoon who exchanged Christmas cards with the band, and saw every show she could.
Haha stage-diving. People are nuts. I remember at Edenfest people were moshing to the tape they were playing between band sets. Ah well. As for the autographs, of course I’d send them straight back. They’re yours! Besides, I owe you huge thanks for sending on those CDs to me. They’re keystones in my CD collection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really glad you liked em. I like to make sure that my discs go to an appreciative home.
LikeLike
Like ’em? Haha no. I LOVE THEM. This is a very appreciative home!
LikeLiked by 1 person