Blue Rodeo, Tim Easton @ The Magic Stick, Detroit MI

As cool as it was to see Blue Rodeo in such a small place, I think it was a little too small. I borrowed the digital camera from work and I was standing in front of Jim with a camera lens that could have taken his eye out (okay, it wasn't quite that big, but I think I scared Bazil). I think next time I go to a show like that, I'm gonna stand a little farther back. I was listening to show from the onstage monitors, so Jim's guitar was the loudest. It made it difficult to hear the new songs, especially the chord progression on Cause for Sympathy. And I know it was on the setlist, but I don't think they played Bulletproof. Ah well, next time.

A choice highlight from opening act Tim Easton: he was talking about Blue Rodeo and how they were enjoying their time before the show watching hockey on the bus... Toronto vs. New York. He also promised us that if the Leafs won, then they were gonna play the show naked. A couple of people yelled out "Go Leafs go!" (in Detroit of all places... and I was one of them!) So later on, during Blue Rodeo's set, this guy from the crowd shouted "Tim said you guys were gonna play naked!" and Greg didn't quite hear him and said, "What?" with this confused, amused look on his face... the guy said it again, and Greg laughed and replied, "No, not me." Jim, thinking that the naked comment was just about Greg, replied "I have pictures if you want to see."

During What Is This Love there was a bit of confusion, since the rest of the band had already gone offstage when Greg decided to do the "band version". Everyone came back except for Jim, who eventually returned and remarked, "But I don't play on this one!" Of course, he did play it and it was awesome. At the end, Jim started rubbing fake tears from his eyes, saying how beautiful the song was. Greg responded with, "Almost good enough for you to sing!"

Speaking of the setlist, they seemed to muck around with it a little bit. Greg also tried to call out a couple of songs to Jim, but Jim refused... "Jim, Five Days?" "No"... "Let's do 'Try'" "No". Although, they did do Diamond Mine (and that wasn't on the setlist) so that was cool.

Now for the fun stuff. One highlight was Dayna and I screaming/singing across the front row to each other, especially during To Love Somebody. And Greg grooving to one of James' solos. Anybody else notice that Greg's been shopping at the same guitar strap store as Gord Downie? ;)

It was James' birthday, so at one point, the horns came out and played Happy Birthday as the crowd sang along. This guy kept screaming over to James (who was teetering quite close to the edge of the crowd and the stage) that he was "AWESOME! F**KING AWESOME!"

Did somebody say pictures?. My faves are Jim with his harmonica and Greg on the drum kit. Don't forget to take a look at Greg singing Hasn't Hit Me Yet with the crowd (you can see Dayna and the girls in the front row). Sorry about the dark, grainy look... I forgoed (forwent?) using the flash 'cause I was so close, then went back and colour-corrected everything as well as I could. The images are pretty big too, but then again, I like 'em that way.

Setlist (in no particular order):

Cynthia
Rose Coloured Glasses
Rain Down on Me
Bad Timing
English Bay
Cause For Sympathy
Say Goodbye
Time Won't Let Me
Diamond Mine
What Is This Love
Trust Yourself
Girl In Green
Floating
Hasn't Hit Me Yet
Photograph
To Love Somebody
Somebody Waits
Beggin
Side of The Road
Falling Down Blue

And not to end this review on a bad note or anything, but apparently, there were cockroaches on stage. Fortunately, I didn't see them, but that's just gross. Yet another reason not to play the Magic Stick again.