Blue Rodeo connects with their country roots

Blue Rodeo
with Terra Lightfoot
Wednesday January 20 – 8:00 pm and Thursday January 21 – 8:00 pm
The Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (11455 87 Ave NW)
$25-$80 (ticketmaster.ca)

There’s no doubt that Blue Rodeo is considered to be a Canadian treasure. The band has been together for over 30 years, and they’re still performing and writing new music, as well as re-living older classic hits. As their music has evolved and grown over time, they’ve become “comfortable with their Canadian identity,” as drummer Glenn Milchem says.

They’re in the beginning stages of their nation-wide tour, hitting Edmonton for two shows on January 20th and 21st.

With the recent releases of their albums In Our Nature and Live at Massey Hall, Blue Rodeo has truly connected with their Canadian country roots. In Our Nature, in particular, showcases the band’s authentic sound, particularly due to its recording process. The album was recorded in Greg Keelor’s (founding member, alongside Jim Cuddy) home in the rural parts of Southern Ontario. The band recorded the entire album in his living room alongside a mobile recording unit.

“I love recording at Greg’s place,” Milchem says. “Mostly because I love being able to go for a walk in the countryside in between takes and clear your head.

“It’s absolutely beautiful out there.”

He also mentions that the Southern Ontario countryside “speaks to it’s own musical tradition.”

By recording at Keelor’s home, albums like In Our Nature and Nowhere to Here are the epitome of the band’s aesthetic. They have truly embraced what it means to be a Canadian country rock band, allowing audiences to connect with their authenticity.

One of the main reasons for the band’s decision to record at Keelor’s home is due to his recent hearing loss. Milchem mentions how it was easier for Keelor to record here as it provided a comfort zone. He was able to adjust equipment and recording spaces to fit his needs more easily than that of a professional recording studio in Toronto. However, despite these challenges, the album was a great success for the band and provided audiences with a true Canadian country vibe.

Milchem believes that Blue Rodeo truly found its true sound with the release of their album, Five Days in July.

“Basically the band went from being an all-electric rock and roll band to kind of a band that had a broader sonic palette and could play quieter stuff and more rustic sounding music,” he says.

This can also be heard on their most recent album, Live at Massey Hall, as the band has a well-established niche.

Blue Rodeo’s tour kicked off in Thunder Bay and continues across Canada until Feb. 27 in St. John’s Newfoundland Milchem mentions that the set is around two hours and ten minutes with a handful of new songs, as well as classic tunes that the fans will enjoy hearing once more.

“We’re doing four new songs, one of which is a nine-minute epic. Also we’re doing a bunch of songs that we haven’t done in several years, so we are biting off a lot.” Milchem says, for Edmonton fans, they can expect an ambitious setlist.