BLACKIE AND THE RODEO KINGS SOUTH (FU:M)
Keeping the magic going The only time I saw Blackie and the Rodeo Kings in
concert – so far – was a dead-of-winter freezing rain, hail- lashed night. The drive from Ottawa to the Black Sheep was wicked, the return from Wakefield on sheets of ice disguised as a highway an absolute nightmare. In between, though, a couple of amazing sets for an
appreciative if weather-reduced crowd, the warmth of the venue and a lovely Quebecois chérie, and chitchat with the trio in between sets. A memorable evening indeed. Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are three veteran
stalwarts of the Canadian music scene - Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson. Initially, it was a one- off, one-time thing: the three of them getting together to record the songs of acclaimed singer-songwriter, mandolin/harmonica player Willie P. Bennett. Always in the shadows but doing his background thing
on a bunch of folk/country Canadian classic recordings, and a key part of Fred Eaglesmith’s band over the years, Bennett passed away early - in 2008, age 57. The three of them had such a nice groove – to say
nothing of reverence and the musical chops – that their cover tribute (High and Hurting: The Songs of Willie P.
Bennett) led to another fine album full of his songs and some of their own, the double-sided Kings of Love. Keeping the magic going,
they’ve put out critically-acclaimed albums sporadically, even as they all continue to perform individually. A half dozen albums on, the chemistry remains – South is the latest from the collective brilliance that is Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. I always think of them as combining the best of distinctive genres, though of course there is lots of crossover. Colin Linden is the blues maestro – involved everywhere project wise, with numerous fine solo albums under his belt – Stephen Fearing the soulful, observant folk troubadour, and Tom Wilson the rocker, former leader of the short-lived but excellent Hamilton powerhouse band Junkhouse. Collectively, they are always in tune - cohesively solid and bound by shared musicality. On South they showcase their
maturity and skill over twelve dynamic tunes. Originally, the album
www.bounder.ca BOUNDER MAGAZINE 13 BILL MACPHERSON
was intended to be an acoustic collection of songs by other songwriters they admired. Things evolved and, while there are some co-written songs, mostly it’s the three of them sharing lead vocals, interchanging licks and making from-the-heart music. Long-time rhythm section players John Dymond (bass) and Gary Craig (drums) anchor the sinuous, virtuoso guitar interplay. On a couple of tracks there are some keyboards added, but that’s it. The album kicks off with two cleverly juxtaposed road
songs, North and the title track South. The first is jangly and excitable, all about heading home. The second is languid and almost resigned. Youth as opposed to middle- aged, perhaps.
contiinued on page 46
MUSIC REVIEW
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