I'm home....finally. I didn't originally intend on leaving just a tease but I had started a more thorough review then somehow lost it and didn't have time to do it over again. But I'm glad you enjoyed the tease anyways!

This was definitely one of my favorite shows and the best of this tour for me. I saw 3 shows and each time heard about 5 songs that were different than the previous. And the core group of songs that are played every night are outstanding in themselves. When was the last time (if ever) that Jim has sang Try every night? Or Greg doing Dark Angel every night? These are truly exceptional set-lists and they seem to be adding new songs as they go. While I'll admit that I wasn't blown away with some of the choices in my first 2 shows (ie. Floating, Last Laugh), there wasn't a single song at the Banff show that didn't impress. I was glad to get Rain Down on Me and Black Ribbon (not played in Edmt) but the best by far was Know Where You Go/Tell Me Your Dream. It was just Melissa and Greg and his guitar and WOW, she nailed it! Sarah's version pales in comparison. And they seemed very pleased with how it went so I think it will be showing up many more times on the set-list. There was 5 songs from SM; not bad but I would have liked to hear a few more ie. Makes Me Wonder and the title track. I think the 7 that we got the first night in Edmt. is the record for the tour so far (but I haven't been keeping that close a count).

The crowd in Banff was definitely up for a party and the minute that curtain went up, the whole centre front row was on their feet. Security tried to step in but with a comment from Greg and many more rows behind also up, he gave up. It was nice for me as both Edmt shows were more sitdown affairs so I got the best of both worlds. Other little things were done differently than what I had seen before (the actual 'snow falling', Greg coming out to the front for DA) and just the general fine tuning that comes with more shows under their belts all combined to make it like a brand new show.

Ron Sexsmith and Jill Barber was also a pleasant surprise. Ron first came out to help with Bad Timing then later he did Secret Heart with Jill, Luke and Melissa helping BR on backup. Jill also solo'd on "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry" (?actual song title). They all returned for the end of the encore so it got pretty crowded up there.

I also have to say how impressed I was that Luke was able to play guitar with a broken 'hand' and a cast on. He explained that he had decided to take advantage of the mountains on their day off and go skiing which he said he doesn't do well, and led to a visit at the Banff Springs Hospital. He had lots of gratitude for the doctor that considered his worry of not being able to continue with the tour and somehow placed only a small cast that enabled him to still use his fingers on the fretboard. I guess, as they say, the show must go on!