Blue Rodeo, The Whitlams @ Chrysler Theatre, Windsor, ON

Hi folks!

Well, I flew back from Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon and the concert was on Sunday! I guess I'm still a little slow...

...especially since we got to the theatre late... so we missed the Whitlams (we didn't want to walk in in the middle of their set). Instead we sat in the lobby and I shared my pictures from Europe.

Just before 9:00, we found our seats, and Yvette sitting right in front of me... I talked to her for a bit, then Blue Rodeo came on stage... and you could tell right away they were in a good mood... here's the setlist (in no particular order, 'cept the first two and the encores):

Somebody Waits
The Seeker
Beggin You
Hasn't Hit Me Yet
Is It You
Last Laugh
Floating
Cinema Song (woohoo!)
It Could Happen To You
Five Days In May
What am I Doing Here
Dime Store Greaser...
Trust Yourself
God And Country
Til I Am Myself Again
Bad Timing
Head Over Heels
Days in Between
Lost Together

Encore 1:
Fools Like You
Rose-Coloured Glasses

Encore 2:
Falling Down Blue
Better Off As We Are

As for the surprises of the night, there were several... first of all was how talkative and cheerful Jim and Greg were. Near the beginning of the night, Greg mentioned that we should be at home watching the TV special... and that he guessed this was the next best thing... without the commercials.

Later on, continuing on this theme, after one of James' solos, Greg said something to the effects of "James Gray, ladies and gentlemen... brought to you by Kraft Velveeta Cheese Slices..." then something else that I didn't catch about marshmallow salad...

I just realized that Greg was actually talking more than I've ever heard him... and he looked really healthy, which was great. He mentioned something about having merchandise for sale in the lobby... including Jim's solo album... then asked if everyone would like to hear a sample and pretended to start playing, at which point Jim interjected with "You're such an a--hole..." (jokingly of course). And Greg seemed to be getting such a kick out of raising Jim's ire... he kept saying stuff, and Jim just turned around, as if to say, "I don't have to take this..." It was hilarious, to say the least.

Then during the solo for What Am I Doing Here? the guys from the Whitlams stomped across the stage to announce their exit (because it was their last show). One of the guys rubbed Greg's head (for luck, I assume?), and needless to say, it was too cute.

And Greg did that thing, where he started singing Try... Jim just gave him the death stare again... "Don't tell me I'm wrong... 'cause I've been watchin' every move that you make..." completely off key...

I managed to take a couple of pictures towards the end of the show, 'cause there were flashbulbs going off for most of the show, something I'd never seen at any of the shows at the Cleary before. I felt kinda guilty ('cause I was so close, 3rd row) but I only took two, so it wasn't so bad (I hope!)

Then as we left the theatre I saw Yvette again outside, and went to say goodbye because my friends wanted to leave, which is when she was kind enough to offer me a ride home if I stayed... so that was a tough decision.

We waited outside for a while and kept ourselves busy with some chit-chat and my pictures. Then the stage door opened and Baz walked out followed by a couple of friends... he headed towards the bus, then James peeked out. I said "Hello James!" and waved and he said hi... and told us to come inside 'cause they were having a meet and greet!!! I thought we'd just be waiting in the stairwell, but then he turned the corner and I wasn't sure if he wanted us to follow, so I asked, "Where are we going?" and he said, "In the elevator!" Duh, Reem! So Yvette and her husband and I along with another couple that had been waiting outside followed James into the elevator. I told him that it was a great show and he mentioned that they'd just come off the Massey Hall shows and were feeling kinda tired and appreciated the crowd here.

Then the elevator doors opened at the top level, and we followed James to a room... where it looked like everyone was starting to leave... Bazil was already back at the bus, Bob left shortly after we walked in (I waved hello and said hi), and Glenn was sitting on a couch chatting with a couple of people. It didn't take long for Jim to come over and say hi. Yvette gave him some cookies, and he was extremely pleased with them. We told him to share, but I don't think he paid much attention to that. Then the guy from the other couple that had been waiting mentioned that he'd seen them 4 times now or something (he was getting autographs from all of them) and Jim asked if he was at the show at Malden Park with Burton Cummings... and Jim mentioned that the band STILL talks about that woman who was flashing them! Just the way he was talking about it made it quite obvious that he found it more repulsive than anything. Then I got a chance to tell him a story from Europe (S.A. and I played Diamond Mine at an open mike night in Liverpool)... and he seemed genuinely interested, which I think is what makes talking to him so easy and fun! Anyway, I got to the part about how I started bleeding while playing the guitar and I think I impressed him... he kept saying "Right on!" and totally encouraging me... it was so great to hear that from him. I had the people listening in laughing a bit too. I also told him how Blue Rodeo has to go to Liverpool now to redeem themselves and their good name, since we tarnished their reputation there... and he said something jokingly in a (not too bad) British accent like, "Hey, you blokes are trying to sing that song! That's not your song!" And Yvette's husband said something about owing them royalty checks and Jim joked that he'd give us a freebie. It was sooo great! After I told him the story and Yvette and I got a picture, we let him go down to the bus, 'cause he looked really tired.

On to Greg! As I said, he was in such a good mood... Yvette gave him some banana bread (with the recipe on the back) and he was quite grateful... then I gave him the abbreviated version of the story I told Jim... he asked me how I played the song (Diamond Mine), and I wasn't quite sure what he meant. Then he clarified by asking me if I played the "Dahn dahn dahn da da" part (like, that's the way he said it... too cute!) or if I just played the chords. I told him just the chords that night (but I can play that part too!) And I showed him the pictures, even though he seemed more interested in looking at the rest of the pictures which was fine by me! After he flipped through them, he signed my calendar, but not before saving my pictures from flying across the floor 'cause I was fumbling around between the calendar and putting the pictures back in the envelope and in my purse (HE TOUCHED MY HAND!) Then we got a couple of pictures with him and said our goodbyes... and left the Cleary International Centre floating on air!

So that's my story... thanks again Yvette!!! (I can't say that enough) This couldn't have happened without you!