Blue Rodeo!

One of my great musical loves is the Canadian band, Blue Rodeo, and if they put on a concert every weekend, I would pay to go see them every weekend. In the midst of the tacky mainstream musical mess that is ''popular'' today, it is rare and beautiful to find a band that sounds better live than they do on a record. Blue Rodeo is one of those bands.

My love for them began growing up with their music. ''Bad Timing,'' ''Five Days in May,'' and maybe their most well-known ''Try'' were staples in our household, and ''Hasn't Hit Me Yet'' was the first song I learned on guitar. In university, I started listening to more of their lesser-known work, and was equally impressed. ''After the Rain,'' ''It Could Happen to You,'' ''Head Over Heels,'' and their cover of the Bee Gees' ''To Love Somebody'' joined the playlist. I love meaningful lyrics, and Greg Keelor never disappoints. 

Then I saw them live for the first time a few years ago. The first thing I noticed was their level of comfort on the stage. They drew the audience in and made you feel as though you were sitting in their living room. Next was Jim Cuddy's ability to play nearly any instrument - guitar, piano, harmonica, mandolin - and the effortless way his voice flowed out and captivated everyone in the room. And although Greg Keelor's voice is much different, it is unmatched on those haunting ballads, like ''Dark Angel.'' 

But what is most apparent in this group is that there is no ''Jim Cuddy'' or ''Greg Keelor'' ... there is Blue Rodeo. Without one, you can't have the other. Their sound is instantly recognizable, but at the same time, they move effortlessly from country, to rock, to blues, to whatever else they want. They are the masters of their craft, and we are privileged to share it for a short period of time. Friday night in Halifax was the third time I have seen them live, and I hope there will be many more times in the future.