What: Colin James
Where: Orpheum Theater
When: January 13, 2009
Status: Sold Out
Rating: 4 out of 5
I’ve seen Colin enough times during my young life, at least 6 times including special appearances, showcases, and freebies, to know what to expect, just straight honest old-school organic blues rock. I was, however, surprised that he threw some curve balls into the set list, covers from Bob Dylan and Van Morrison and a small tribute to Stevie Ray. Rarely does he inject so many covers into a set list. I guess when you’re Colin you can make anything work, including Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
Currently he’s on an ambitious cross Canada tour. He made Vancouver feel welcome by making fun of the city, and reminiscing on home town memories. He kept the chatter to a bare minimum so that more tunes fit into the two hour evening. Colin threw in some b-sides and songs off the new album, Rooftops & Satellites, which although not as good as his previous works in comparison, still rocked the house.
No one goes to a Colin James concert to see a theatrical spectacle, however, it’s the music that is the marvel. Colin has always been the vehicle that drives the emotion and the feeling of the genre. He’s been one of my favorite performers/guitarists along with Slash, Zakk Wylde, and Jimmy Page since I was 10.
The back up band consisted of 2/3rd’s “The Odds” and a mini horn section, which added dimension to some of the songs, especially with the earlier commercial rocker singles. There was a point in the show when Colin strapped on an acoustic guitar and performed a mediocre song off his new album. It was odd to see him play four basic chords on an acoustic for an entire song. Colin himself looked uncomfortable like a child heading to their first day of school.
This was the first time I actually sat down at a Colin James concert. I was literally intimidated to stand up and dance ’cause everyone else in the audience looked angry and bored. Most didn’t even bob their heads to the rocking tunes. The audience was very casual and rock friendly. It surprised me that for most of the show, everyone sat down.
The opener was rock star INXS contestant Suzie McNeil. Although I missed most of her set, what I did catch was soulful and decent.
Written by: Sheila Bhimji
Colin James is on tour in Canada throughout the month of January. For tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com or ShowTimeTickets.com.