Outskirts came out in '87, at a time when I was struggling to keep a marriage and career together. Things weren't working out too well and of course music comes to the best and worst times of your life. "Try" became a huge part of my philosophy then, and I hoped my wife might "try" to make it work. She didn't, and that was tough, but I decided I would "try" to make that break (from both wife and career) a time I could make something new of myself. I went back to university to complete another degree - business education. It was an exciting time to be going back to a learning environment and the university was the place I needed to be. In 1989, Blue Rodeo visited Memorial University twice - the first In March (with guests "The Brats", who were awesome) and then again in November. I was front row center at both of those and the shows made me a huge fan of the performance - I didn't need any encouragement for the music.
This past weekend my second (and last) wife and I went to see the band at the the Halifax Metro Center on their Small Miracles tour. It was amazing (as always) and I realized how much their music and their shows have celebrated significant rights of passage in my life. So many great songs, and shows. My son, Mark, (another huge fan) and I were talking about our favorite BR tunes. We both play guitar and envy Jim Cuddy's voice with every fibre of our being. I decided that Head over Heels is my all-time favorite with Try and Bulletproof close behind. Mark loves Florida, 5 Days in May, and Try and says he just couldn't make a choice for one over all. Atta boy! Another convert.
"Everything is Miscellaneous"
David Weinberger