Concert #496 - Blue Rodeo at McCabe's Guitar Shop (February 20, 2009)

Not nearly as popular in the States as in their native Canada, Blue Rodeo can only play smaller venues when they cross the US border and that is actually good for those of us gringos who appreciate their melodic country-rock and great vocal harmonies. Sitting in the second row, along with my friend Jay, I witnessed an excellent evening of music that made me want to dig deep into their large back catalog.

Band Line-up

Jim Cuddy (acoustic guitar & vocals)

Greg Keelor (acoustic guitar & vocals)

Glenn Milchem (drums)

Bob Egan (pedal steel guitar)

Basil Donovan (bass)

Michael Boguski (piano & organ)

Set list

  Now & Forever 

Cynthia
  Bad Timing
  Blue House
Disappear
  Rebel
  Trust Yourself

Crying Over You 

3 Hours Away
5 AM (A Love Song)
5 Days In May
  Try
Is It You
  Rage
  Photograph

To Love Somebody

Head Over Heels

Encore
'Til I Am Myself Again

It Hasn't Hit Me Yet

The best songs of the evening: "Cynthia", "Head Over Heels" and "It Hasn't Hit Me Yet", which coincidentally, all come from the same album, "Five Days In July". 

Imagine my surprise when, shortly after the show, four songs recorded at this very concert showed up on YouTube. Here they are:

To Love Somebody:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opUMh5ZFpc0

Bad Timing:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQwOsb8RqrY

Trust Yourself:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfuZCZ6FcP4&feature=related

Is It You:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCBu-fqPvaQ&feature=related

And one other thing: I can still see the face of bassist Bazil Donovan, who appeared to be totally disconnected from the other five, just sitting there emotionless and utterly bored by the proceedings. I hope he wasn't.