BLUE RODEO RIDES AGAIN
Future had been up in the air
It’s been a challenging year for Blue Rodeo. The future of the Canadian roots-rock band was up in the air for months because of a progressive inner-ear problem experienced by singer-songwriter Greg Keelor.
For a while, not even co-frontman Jim Cuddy knew what would happen, although he kept busy with his latest solo album, Constellation, and subsequent tour until the decision was made for Blue Rodeo to tackle a few dates. Tonight’s appearance in Ottawa is the sixth of 10 shows this summer — and, by my count, their 11th time on Bluesfest’s main stage since 2001.
“There was a while that we were done, then we weren’t, then it was limited shows,” Cuddy said this week. “It was easier for me because I was embarking on a solo tour and that took a lot of attention and energy so I could just do that and let everything lie.
“It was probably the best thing,” he adds. ”I’m a meddler and a planner, and it was probably best for me to not be part of the decision.”
After some time off the road, it seems Keelor’s condition improved enough to, first, write and record (he released a four-song solo EP in the spring) and then book some Blue Rodeo shows. The Bluesfest date was a late-stage addition to the
lineup after Shaggy cancelled.
According to Cuddy, the summer shows are going well, Keelor is doing fine and everyone is enjoying the slow but steady pace of the itinerary.
“It’s been a difficult year so these summer shows are a great relief because everybody is playing really well,” he says.
“There’s a lot of musicianship in the band, and a lot of components are coming together. It feels like a normal summer. If we can do this, we can keep going.”
Part of the cohesion may be due to the presence of newest member, Jimmy Bowskill, a twentysomething loaded with natural musical talent. He plays part time with Blue Rodeo, and also has a steady gig with the Sheepdogs.
Like Neil Young facing off with Willie Nelson’s sons, or Bob Weir jamming with John Mayer in Dead and Company, it’s a case of a young musician giving new energy to the old-timers. The youthful boost is like “getting a new puppy for an old dog,” says Cuddy, who’s full of admiration for Bowskill’s instrumental abilities.
“He can play anything,” he says. “When he picks up a new instrument, he already has an idea of how to play it. It’s a fascinating thing to witness. He plays mandolin, violin and pedal steel with us, and he just took those things up in the last five years. Those are very difficult instruments. So yeah, we thrive off his energy and it’s been good for us.”
At the same time, the creative core of the band will always be the songwriting team of Cuddy and Keelor. Whether there’s another Blue Rodeo album, however, remains to be seen.
“It’s another thing we’ll have to discuss,” says Cuddy, who will make another solo album if nothing else. “There is a certain amount of Groundhog Day to what we’ve done. We’ve done a record every two years for 30 years, and there are a lot of different things we could do. Should we make a folk record? A live record? What should we do? I think we need to go through the summer to see where our playing is at, and then decide.”
In the meantime, they’ll be entertaining fans with the same sweet blend of country and rock that’s made them one of Canada’s most reliable concert attractions. Cuddy has a theory on the reason for their enduring appeal.
“I think you have to present something that people can relate to that day, and also something so they can mine their own musical memories,” he says. “If you’ve been around a long time, people are coming to see you because they’ve come before and it’s been a pleasant experience, or they listened with their parents, or they are the parents. I think to have a consistent appeal, you have to make that day different. We’re not satisfied unless every show has felt like, in its own way, a unique experience.”