Blue Rodeo, Serena Ryder, Odd Years - Riverfest (Aug 23)

Blue Rodeo

The epitome of Canadiana (alongside The Tragically Hip alone) and they are still wowing with their performances. Almost nonstop for well over an hour they mixed in all sorts of tunes, both beloved (5 Days in May) and new (New Morning Sun, Mattawa) - and even the new stuff sounds beyond good. Their lasting power definitely has to do with the shared songwriting, primarily provided by Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, as each has written definitive classics and performs them magnificently. It was really stunning to watch up close, and they've surrounded themselves with the finest musicians on offer too - writing and selecting songs that showcase those talents by including pedal steel, drum, and piano solos (Disappear) galore. Jim performed his own mini piano solo, but Greg also got a few moments in the limelight (Diamond Mine, Rose-coloured Glasses). The crowd had it's chance to shine by singing along to Hasn't Hit Me Yet before the encore. Try had to be one of the standouts among great songs all night but as it should it all came down to Lost Together in the end. As previously they've allowed guests to share the stage and have a go at the vocals (Wayne Petti - Vancouver Olympics, Cuff the Duke - Amphitheatre) this time they invited Jadea Kelly and Dan Mangan himself (his bandmates could be seen grinning sidestage cheering him along too!). Jadea just harmonized but Dan went a step further and utilized his sandpaper voice for the second verse which was really neat to see. But it wasn't like the rest of us were left out, we all had the opportunity to sing it out together into the Elora night.

Odd Years
While sitting at the back just listening to Odd Years after the mind-stretching Dan Mangan set I didn't realize that there was a contemporary Guelph indie rock supergroup playing, but it did sound like it so I moved my lazy ass into the tent. Perhaps because of their combined experience the sonic territory they covered from song to song was incredible. At first I was going to peg them as a folk group, borrowing elements from this night's headliners, Blue Rodeo. Then on the very next song they would change it up with a bluesy number and then an indie rock tune (and even some Super Mario music from the keyboard.) Regardless of the genre they were consummate musicians and with a deeper Beatles cover they had people, both young and old, dancing in the tent. Only afterwards when I went to get their album, inspired as I was, did I realize that their ranks include members of Cuff the Duke, Minotaurs, and Lowlands.

Serena Ryder
Serena Ryder has never been anyone I've called myself a fan of but I don't mind her from what I've heard. That being said, I didn't feel the necessity to watch all 60 minutes of her but only felt the rumble in my belly. I suppose this isn't the place to complain about the "No Outside Food" policy with very limited (and then sold out) vegan options but as you can imagine I was a little perturbed when I returned for the end of the set. Rather than fight the crowd we hung out partway back which showed just how into her the patrons were. Even in the limited five songs she showed off her vocals, sultry at times, and guitar work, as well as the solid work of her multicultural band with their big drums. The Sharon, Lois and Bram-esque actions to the one song were rather obnoxious but it proved how she had the crowd eating out of her hand even before Stompa and that bank commercial song (What I Wouldn't Do).

Blue Rodeo, Bahamas - Amphitheatre (August 17/13)

Bahamas
Afie had the distinct pleasure of opening for Blue Rodeo for their annual summer show in Toronto. Granted with the Amphitheatre's penchant for punctuality a majority of the 20,000 attendees were not yet in their seats when he strolled out along with his band precisely at 8pm. Those of us who were on time were treated to the Bahamas affair, a fleshed out solo project that is rooted in electric guitar, alongside a drummer and additional guitar, yet has feelings of folk well embedded. As an added bonus there were two lovely ladies accompanying him on vocals, including Tamara of The Weather Station. As the audience filtered in the band confidently performed numbers from the most recent Barchords like Caught Me Thinkin' and standout Okay, Alright, I'm Alive, plus a throwback to Pink Strat with Hockey Teeth. The song of the set had to be the surprising strength as Never Again grew and grew. Seemingly humbled by the slot Afie gushed not only about 'biking to work' but also the beauty of the massive audience with the trees and the blue sky in the background as the sun set. Agreed - it was a very pleasant scene with a fitting soundtrack.

Blue Rodeo
On this perfect summer evening the boys of Blue Rodeo, all seven of them, came to entertain and prove why this has become a summertime staple. Twenty-six years in the game they certainly have mastered a live show but that is not to say that it comes off too excessively polished. The pedal steel and Cuddy's many harmonicas featured prominently and weaved their way right from opener Head Over Heels on through. With Jim and Greg passing the mic with ease they brought most songs from their recorded state to live brilliance, slipping guitar solos in wherever possible such that even mid-set numbers came across as epic closers. An example of this was Diamond Mine with its piano and Cuddy's electric guitar solo, or even Five Days in May which had their third guitarist laying it down. Interspersed with these Canadian classics were a surprising number (5) of new tracks like Mattawa from their forthcoming autumn release, all of which sounded strong and could very well be mainstays in summers to come. That said people come back year after year for moments like Jim Cuddy playing the piano on After the Rain and their rendition of the Bee Gees' To Love Somebody which has taken on a life of its own. The most hair-raising moment was the twenty-thousand strong choir who without prompting took to their feet and took Hasn't Hit Me Yet from the band before they even sang a note - belting out the nearly literal line "..out here in the middle of Lake Ontario." This was followed by closing number - a standard - Somebody Touched Me which was dedicated to the memory of the recently departed former member James Gray and had more than a touch of gospel in its call and response.

Amazingly an hour and forty minutes had passed by in what seemed like a flash and people were hollering for more. Fortunately they would deliver with Til I Am Myself Again, before Jim Cuddy awed us all with Try. What else could be left in the tank but the ultimate Blue Rodeo song as the ladies of Bahamas joined them while Afie had to the honour of singing a verse of Lost Together to play us out into the gorgeous Toronto night. Until next year, boys.