FEELING THE ENERGY
Johnny Reid excited for big Mosaic show
For Johnny Reid, bigger isn’t always better when it comes to the size of an audience.
Reid, a frequent visitor to the Queen City over the course of his career, is back tonight as part of the Regina Rocks Mosaic Stadium concert with Bryan Adams and Our Lady Peace.
The concert, which is the second test event for the new venue, will have an attendance cap of 25,000 people, which is 75 per cent capacity of the facility. While many artists would assume such a large audience would result in a better show than perhaps a smaller crowd in a smaller venue, Reid pointed out that this isn’t always the case.
“It’s funny that you bring this up because I just had this conversation two days ago with my agent. I love to play and sing songs for people and this will be an electric evening, an amazing environment but I think it really comes down to the audience,” Reid explained during a recent telephone interview. “You could be singing for 100,000 people that are a pretty good audience or you could play for 100 people that are an incredible audience. For me, it always comes down to the energy coming off the people that you’re singing for.
“I don’t think bigger is better; it just comes down to the environment and the situation. Every night is different, regardless the size of the crowd. It will definitely be cool to have that many people in front of us.”
That’s not to say that Reid is assuming that the show won’t be memorable. He’s played before large audiences previously, such as the Craven Country Jamboree, and he’s always managed to connect with the audience and make the event special.
Known in the business for his polite manner and humility, Reid recognizes the importance of being part of a historic evening for Regina and the new Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s very significant,” said Reid, who is planning to spend the next eight weeks in the studio recording his seventh album. “Anytime you’re involved in the first of anything it’s a big deal. I’ve spent a lot of time and a lot of years coming to Regina, I’ve met a lot of great people up there, so the chance for me to be part of opening up this venue that’s going to host some of the biggest acts in the world and it’s going to host all these incredible events, that’s special. To be part of the inaugural concert is a pretty humbling experience. It just shows you the love. They would never invite you to come do that unless there were some people that wanted to see you.
“The most important thing is we get the opportunity to smash a bottle of champagne against the side of this building and open it up to the people.”
Reid has regularly played Regina over the years, performing at The Pump, the Casino Regina Show Lounge, the Conexus Arts Centre and the Brandt Centre. He has great memories of Regina and has many reasons why he continues to come back.
“I love coming up there. There’s a wee sandwich shop behind our hotel (Italian Star Deli) and every time we roll in we always, always go there,” Reid said with a chuckle. “I’ve just met some incredible people in Regina. Right from the very get go, from when I first started, I’ve been shown a lot of love there. What I sing about seems to really resonate with a lot of people there and that’s why I’ve come back through the years. I’ve had some great experiences there — whenever I come in, people show up. I hope to always keep coming back to play shows.
“I’ve played other venues but this brand new venue and having the chance to play it with Bryan Adams and Our Lady Peace, who would’ve thought it, you know?”
The years have resulted in changes for Reid, both personally and professionally. He was single when he first started chasing his musical dreams and he’s now a husband and a father. Professionally, he’s continued to strive at getting better each and every day, which has allowed him to evolve as a performer and a songwriter.
It also has provided him with the reasoning of why he does what he does.
“I was reading this book that was talking about the voice and the artist and that it’s not until you’re 40 that you actually find what your voice is,” said the 42-year-old Reid. “Not just your singing voice but what do you have say and how do you want to say it. I’ve been in rooms, back in the early days, where a guy would come to me with a song idea and I would say, ‘Cool, let’s do it,’ but now if the idea doesn’t line up with my audience and who I am as a person, which ironically is my audience, I just can’t stay with it.
“I’ve learned a lot about who I am and who I strive to be.”
I don’t think bigger is better, it just comes down to the environment and the situation. Every night is different, regardless the size of the crowd.