Concert Review - By Bob Silvestri
bobsilvestri@bestofwny.com

Out on the road in support of their latest release The Things We Left Behind, Blue Rodeo paid a visit to the intimate and beautiful Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY on November 19, 2009. The double vinyl or two CD release is currently only available in Canada but will be released stateside in January 2010. The two hour show featured a generous selection from the new disc and a few Blue Rodeo chestnuts to round out the set. The band started the show with "Never Look Back", "One More Night" and "Don't Let the Darkness in Your Head" all from the new disc. Other selections from the current release included "Candice", "One Light Left in Heaven" and "Million Miles". Crowd favorites "Head Over Heels" and "Cynthia" sandwiched "Arizona Dust" another selection from the new disc. More new tracks followed among them "Gossip", "Sheba" and a stunning duet with show opener Kathleen Edwards on "Waiting for the World". They closed the evening with the classic Blue Rodeo songs "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" and "Til I Am Myself". They returned for a two song encore of "What Am I Doing Here" and "Lost Together" and dedicated both songs to local music impresario Bruce Moser who is recuperated from a major health scare and was in attendance. Moser was the promoter who booked the band's gig at the Erie County Fair many years ago that resulted in the band writing the song "What Am I Doing Here". While the band turned in a great performance the rudeness of the crowd was one of the worst I have ever seen. Very loud talking ruined many of the quieter songs to the point of distraction. Many in the crowd were shushing and telling people to be quiet all to no avail. Perhaps the Riviera could move the bar to the lobby area instead of in the theater to combat the rude talking. Opener Kathleen Edwards who is no stranger to these parts having opened for Blue Rodeo and others here as well as solo shows fared much worse with the crowd almost drowning her out at times. She even mentioned the talking three or more times during her set also to no avail. I won't start here on the rudeness that now permeates concerts but will say that many people who attend shows theses days have no idea of concert etiquette. For more on Blue Rodeo visit www.bluerodeo.com