Meh
by Winston on 2023-10-25Scotiabank Centre - HalifaxAs popular as Blue Rodeo has always been, I believe they were always most popular in Southern Ontario...in the 1990's, when you went to a Blue Rodeo gig in Ontario, the audience all sang along to every song because they knew the lyrics to every song. So the Halifax crowd, which is often more quiet than other cities, wasn't much help in making the concert fun. But I think it was more than that...I didn't get the impression the band really wanted to be there. Two specific examples...first, whenever Greg Keelor sang lead vocals, Jim Cuddy left the stage, which struck me as odd...second, Bad Timing has always been (for me) a biot of a tear-jerker...I can't listen to the recording without welling up, even after 30 years. But last week? Nada. Nothing...I felt like they were just playing the song without actually performing it, if that makes sense. It was nice to see them again...they're a bit like Lennon & McCartney, Keelor & Cuddy...Cuddy has the nicer voice and his songs are largely upbeat and optimistic, with Keelor being deeper, less tuneful, moodier, but ultimately a deeper songwriter. I'd give it a "meh"as an evening, though I still of course love and appreciate their work.