September 18, 2008 by maureen.ulrich.

When I talk about musicians on my blog, I appear to strike a nerve here and there. Just the same, I’m going to talk about Sir Elton’s concert in Saskatoon on September 15th.Well, EJ still has it. He is nothing short of glorious.The deep tones of his voice are as rich as ever – and the variations he played on the piano were amazing. I’ve heard some criticism from people that he doesn’t seem to be able to hit the high notes anymore. Who cares? The man played nearly non-stop for over two and a half hours. Those short, pudgy fingers of his were FLYING.I don’t know if this was the best concert I have ever seen, but there were some things I have never experienced before, such as . . .. . . the lights went down at 8:00 sharp and after a brief introduction by the band, EJ came out on stage, sat down, and started to play. . . EJ played non-stop with NO intermission, pausing after each song for a sip of water and then flipping his coat tails as he slid back onto the piano bench to begin yet another song . .. . . when he came out for the encore, EJ paused to sign autographs for everyone in the front row – and I mean everyone – okay he skipped a few people who were holding up black T-shirts, but I’m not sure what he could have done with these anyway. The man was like a machine with that Sharpie.. . . hearing so many songs that defined my adolescence. All my high school and university friends LOVED his music and still do. . . hearing songs which were so achingly familiar and so spine-tingingly different, songs like Madman Across the Water and Levon and Tiny Dancer . . . I pretty much wore out that LP . . .. . . seeing so many middle-aged, paunchy, balding men go nuts at a concert. I mean – there were some excited women – but the men seated around us definitely stole the show.. . . except for Elton’s band . . . which was a show in themselves. John Mahon, EJ’s percussionist, is amazing. And drummer Nigel Olsson has been with EJ since 1969. How spectacular it must be for the two of them to watch kids in the front row go nuts during Benny and the Jetsssss . . .My only disappointment? He didn’t play Captain Fantastic and the Brown-Dirt Cowboy. But you have to give the man credit for playing 24 other pretty fine pieces of music.It was worth every penny. It was truly one of those (to quote the Saskatoon Star Phoenix) “I saw him when” moments.Yes, yes, the UK – still to come.Hopefully I will get to that before I leave for the North West Territories next week. I’m doing some reading and writing workshops in Yellowknife and Fort Simpson during the last week of September. It’s my first ever trip to NWT and I can hardly wait.And if you DIDN’T know about this and you are from Saskatchewan, it’s not too late to vote for Power Plays at www.reginalibrary.ca OR your local public library for the Reader’s Choice Award. The deadline is September 30th. Thanks to those of you who have already cast your ballot. I greatly appreciate the support. I have no idea what the odds are – considering that there are 91 entries – but we’ll see what happens at the Saskatchewan Book Awards on November 29th.I spent a glorious day today on my Sportster. Hope the weather holds just a few weeks longer . . . before the snow flies . . .

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February 15, 2008 by maureen.ulrich.

Randy and I went to see Tom Cochrane and Red Rider AND John Cougar Mellencamp on Tuesday night at Credit Union Center in Saskatoon.

Awesome show.

We were very disappointed in the sound quality for Cochrane’s performance, but it was crystal clear for Mellencamp’s.

Watching Cochrane brought back many memories of my early days as a teacher in Lampman, dating a farmboy and hanging out with a Big Six hockey team.

How closely have you listened to the lyrics of “Big League”? It’s not just a song about a father’s dreams for his son – the talented hockey player. It’s a Saskatchewan tragedy about a crushed spine – and crushed hopes. Like Cochrane says, “You never know what might come down.”

And what can I say about Mellencamp?

Mellencamp truly is the American poet of rockstars.  Just take his song “Human Wheels” for instance. What does Avril Lavigne have that could possibly compete against these lyrics?

This land today, shall draw its last breath

And take into its ancient depths

This frail reminder of its giant, dreaming self

While I, with human-hindered eyes

Unequal to the sweeping curve of life

Stand on this single print of time.

But in all fairness to Lavigne, she doesn’t have a half century of life experience. And she wasn’t a teenager in the USA during the 1960’s.

In its review of the concert, the Star Phoenix commented that – if there was to be something such as SaskAid — Mellencamp would be the perfect headliner. His leftist views find a sympathetic ear in the home province of Tommy Douglas. And what red-blooded Saskatchewan farmer isn’t moved by “Small Town” and “Rain on the Scarecrow”?

It was a great night watching two ploughboys from both sides of the border.

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