When it comes to music, I am a fan first, musician second. Here are some bands and recording artists I've met over the years...
I happened upon Brooklyn, NY singer/songwriter Ari Hest's CD, "Someone to Tell" at a Sacramento, CA record store in 2004. He played Schubba's Tavern in Chicago in 2005. I've been buying his music ever since.
The Wailin' Jennys are a roots music trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba who sing the most beautiful three-part harmonies. I found their first CD, "One Voice" on a 2004 trip thru the Canadian prairies. They played at the Chicago Old Town School's main stage in 2008.
Jeffrey Foucault is a folk singer from Wisconsin. I stumbled upon his music thru videos of him on Youtube. He sings of lost characters and dark places. He played Schubba's Tavern in Chicago in 2006 supporting his CD, "Ghost Repeater."
The Barra Macneils are a 6-piece family band from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, who play a mix of folk, country, pop, and traditional Celtic music, some of it performed in Gaelic. I met them at the Milwaukee Irish Music Festival in 2007.
She's Johnny Cash's daughter and American music royalty, Roseanne was in town to promote her then-latest album, "Black Cadillac." Playing the main stage at Concordia University, she told stories about her famous father in between songs which gave the audience an intimate look into her unique family. I was actually a bit nervous about meeting her. This is the Man In Black's daughter, after all...
I've loved Shawn Colvin's music since hearing her debut album, "Steady On," in 1989. She's one of the few artists whose entire catalogue i own. She played an amazing show at Chicago's Park West Theatre, with a back-up band featuring guitarist, Buddy Miller, and I stayed the extra hour to meet her. She's as lovely in person as she is on her CD covers, and she was very encouraging when I told her I attempted to do "Diamonds in the Rough" at an open mic.
Mike Doughty is the former leader of the band Soul Coughing. I had only been aware of their radio hit "Circles," and I "discovered" Mike's music thru a music sampler in "Paste" magazine. This was one of those rare times I bought a CD on the strength of the one song I heard, and that CD, "Haughty Melodic," is still one of my favourites. I met him in 2005 when he came to the now-closed Borders Books and Music store in downtown Chicago to play a short set and sign autographs.
Jimmy Rankin is one of my favourite Canadian singer/songwriters. He wrote "Fare Thee Well Love" - one of my all-time favourites. His band, The Rankin Family, had been broken up since 1999, but did a reunion tour of Canada in 2006.
Rankin Family members, (L to R) Raylene, Heather, and Cookie sang sweet three-part harmonies and performed traditional Cape-Breton step dancing during their reunion tour, which I saw in London, Ontario. Meeting them was a big moment for me!
Calgary, Alberta, Canada's Jann Arden has been a favourite of mine since her 1992 CD, "Living Under June". Her songs are moody and dark, but she does a lot of stand-up comedy between songs. She came to Chicago as the opening act to fellow Canadian crooner, Michael Buble. The show sold out too quickly, but Jann did do a short, free performance and a fan meet-and-greet at a bookstore in town.
I saw Nashville-based singer songwriter, David Mead, at Chicago's Martyr's Pub in 2010. I hadn't been listening to him long at this point, but I liked what I heard. (It was Halloween and we all got dressed up at work. I went as a maitre'd - or James Bond.)
Former Barenaked Ladies founder, Steven Page, played a set of Ladies' and solo work at Chicago's Lincoln Park Music Festival in 2012. I've been a fan of the Ladies for years never had a chance to meet them the two times i saw them play-until then.
Toronto's Blue Rodeo is another of my most favourite bands. They straddle the line between rock, folk, and country. Of all the Canadian bands that have come thru Chicago, I've seen Blue Rodeo the most. They played a set at Chicago's Martyr's Pub in 2009, the same year "Broken Street" was released. I met them after the show and Jim Cuddy (pictured) wished me well on the CD, which included a cover of their hit, "Five Days In May."
One of my local favourites, I met Chicago's own Freddy Jones Band at an appearance at a Chicago Best Buy store. They played a short set and signed autographs.
Vertical Horizon's concert in Chicago was preceded by a free show at a Borders store. "Everything You Want" was all over the radio and they had the store rockin'!
I met Toronto's Cowboy Junkies at the Tower Records store in Chicago when they were promoting the "Pale Sun Crescent Moon" CD. "White Sail" is my favourite song on this album.
I recorded of Stephen's "One Flat Tire" for "Broken Street". I met him in 2010 at a concert in Peterborough, Ontario. He was very cool and thanked me for singing his song.