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TORONTO -- Perhaps it's becoming too much of a good thing.
Blue Rodeo once again made their late August appearance at Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre Wednesday night, but unlike previous years where it was nearly sold out, the venue only seemed to be about two-thirds full.
Regardless, it didn't prevent the group from giving a nearly two-hour performance that featured several warhorses as well as a few new songs from their forthcoming studio album Small Miracles.
With nothing in the way of video screens, large props or backdrops, the band led by the tandem of Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor spent most of the night in close quarters on a half-circle protruding into the audience on the floor. And it was this simple manner that let songs such as the relaxing, laidback opener What Am I Doing Here set the tone.
"It's very nice to see so many familiar faces," Cuddy said following the rousing rockabilly-meets-honky tonk ditty Blue House. These same faces also were quite vocal throughout the night even if remained seated during the slow chugging Five Days In May as Keelor briefly went off on a slightly spacey tangent in his guitar solo.
Like with every Blue Rodeo show, the chief songwriters basically split the material down the middle. For every short, tight and crisp song Cuddy delivers such as the tender ballad Bad Timing or the Beatles-like This Town Keelor is there with the lengthy, winding gems such as the dramatic Side Of The Road and Diamond Mine. It's like a friendly tug-of-war each night with no clear winner except the paying customers.
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Yet the group is still getting used to the new material from Small Miracles. Prior to starting the radio-friendly single C'mon, Cuddy asked what key it was in. "We's startin' fellas," Cuddy joked. "The train is heading for derailment." But everything remained on the tracks with slow dance feel of Wonder and the steady, surefire Rose-Coloured Glasses which got a good response.
Rounded out by bassist Bazil Donovan, drummer Glenn Milchem, pedal steel expert Bob Egan and keyboardist Bob Packwood, the group nailed the rowdy Heart Like Mine as Keelor, looking more now like Nick Lowe's long lost brother, and Cuddy harmonized around a single microphone.
Following the nifty pedal steel-tinged number Moon & Tree from 1997's often overlooked Tremolo album, Blue Rodeo went to more favorites with Head Over Heels and Hasn't Hit Me Yet which the crowd sang the first two verses to loudly.
The encore, featuring Travis Good from The Sadies making an appearance, was highlighted by the powerful After The Rain which was dedicated to Jacksoul singer Haydain Neale who was seriously injured in a traffic accident earlier this month. Seated at the piano, Cuddy sounded as if he was channeling Neale by repeatedly hitting the sweet, soulful high notes.
And as become tradition, Blue Rodeo's knack for selecting fine openers didn't stop this year. Texas band Old 97's joined the likes of Kris Kristofferson, The Jayhawks and Kathleen Edwards with a pleasing 45-minute mix of honky tonk and roots rock. Led by Rhett Miller, the band shone on Doreen, Time Bomb and Designs On You among others.