Colin Cripps is one of those musicians/artists who may never receive the full spotlight the lead singers get but if you ask that artist in the spotlight, they’ll tell you they wouldn’t be in the studio or out on stage if Colin wasn’t there with them step for step.
In other words, invaluable.
Currently, he’s a member of Blue Rodeo and The Jim Cuddy Band.
He’s played with and produced Crash Vegas and Junkhouse.
Produced and written with ex-wife Kathleen Edwards, Tom Wilson, Colin James, Headstones, Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams.
Many many more credits can be found online.
Speaking of online, Colin is a Guitar Geek and he lives in a World where other guitar geeks compare notes on guitars and gear.
They all speak another language ..about tone and bridges and strings and colors. They go crazy for colors.
Colin has some 40-50 guitars.
Each brings something different to music.
Colin takes us through the differences and who played what on which records.
Jeff Beck. Eric Clapton. Keith Richards. The Beatles. Elvis Costello. Metallica. Jimmy Page. Hank Marvin. Mark Knopfler. Cliff Gallop.
It’s time to Geek OUT !!
Colin talks about and shows/plays these guitars
1955 Fender Telecaster in Sunburst (Keith Richards. Jimmy Page)
1963 Fender Stratocaster in Fiesta Red (Hank Marvin. Jimi. Mark Knopfler)
1964 Gibson SG Standard in Cherry Red (Colin’s Fave)
1962 Epiphone Casino in Royal Tan (The Beatles made them famous)
1958 Fender Jazzmaster in Roman Red (Elvis Costello. Only 4 in this color)
1958 Gibson Explorer. The Holy Grail of originals. James Hatfield’s is worth 1M.
From a family in the deep south that grew cotton. Sam would work in the fields with African American pickers. They brought their songs with them and Sam grew to love the music.
He worked his way through radio and played a mix of black and white music that he loved.
When he started Sun Records in Memphis..it made perfect sense that he would record Jr Parker, Howling Wolf, and Charlie Rich side-by-side.
Then he went looking for a white singer who shared his love of black music and found him in ELVIS.
When I had the opportunity to visit Sun Records Studio…I just sat there and tried to imagine the history bouncing off the walls
So years later, I find myself at the opening of the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1995. Sam Phillips is being inducted and comes into the press room to speak with journalists and reporters as a group.
I waited until the very last question and asked him this question…
“Sam. They have recreated your studio here in the Hall. But how do they recreate the magic, the creative juice that connected in your original rooms? The incredible spark that happened between you and Elvis. How does that get captured here?”
His answer just blew me away… The other voice you hear is Mary Wilson from The Supremes.
The other guest visit is with Colin James and Jeff Healey…many years ago at MuchMusic in Toronto.
Just jamming in the studio. A Jimmy Reed song. I told the guys I’d give them 5 bucks each if they worked my name into the lyrics.
A Great jam, both guys solo on their acoustic guitars – Five bucks later it’s followed by a giggle.
This was pure magic..still is!
Here’s the long weekend music list – goes well with burgers.
OH…the Podcast is Cheech and Chong. Years ago, back in Vancouver where it all started for them.
I have never been to the Wild Mountain Music Festival in Hinton, Alberta. But it feels like I have now!
It’s mid-July. Whole families show up. With two main stages side by side, all the audience has to do is turn 2 feet either way and the next artist kicks off.
The host for the past 6 years is CKUA’s Mid-Morning Mojo Baba.
We’re going to talk to Baba, Jason Williams and Meagan Loves from Swear by the Moon, who’s played and volunteered since the beginning.
I put together a wish list of artists from the many who’ve played Wild Mountain.
CKUA Senior Producer Elliott Garnier kindly gathered live tracks from various festivals we’ve recorded. (Thank you Scott Franchuk)
Looking back on highlights from years past.
The on-stage performance list says it all.
Blue Rodeo – ‘Til I am myself again (Calgary 2017)
Terra Lightfoot – Never Will (Wild Mtn 2019)
Harp and Axe – Pretty Please (Edmonton 2019)
Harry Manx – Make Way (Edmonton2015)
Steve Mariner – Trouble no more (Edmonton Blues Fest )
Matt Anderson – People get Ready (Bear Creek 2017)
Whitehorse – Boys like you (Canmore 2017)
Mariel Buckley – Driving in the Dark (Edmonton 2017)
Diggin Roots – Highway 17 (Edmonton 2016)
Serena Ryder – Sing Sing (her Live album)
Special guests include BABA (who’s MC’d many years)
Also, Meagan Loves – Swear by the Moon
Jason Williams – Festival Artistic Director
Hour one starts with
The great Brian Wilson and his song Love and Mercy
Led Zeppelin back to back with new Robert Plant
Paul Simon Live in Central Park.
Dave Mason and his famous pals,.
John Mayer and Ben Harper
Anna Jayne Burton and Joey Landreth
Michael Kaeshammer and Colin James
Gord Downie and The Sadie’s
And a famous moment in Amsterdam when The Who ran onto the stage at the Concertgebouw to play Tommy for the first time.
That moment when drummer Keith Moon kept running and fell off the stage and took the sound system with him.
I was there..remember it well and now I can hear the audience go “ooooh” as he fell.
“With a script by Eric Johnson and Paul Tamasy, based on The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper, the film emerges as an action thriller which never loses sight of the futility of the war being fought.
You could also watch this intensely powerful movie, which Lurie directs with a keen understanding of the mechanics of battle and an overriding humanism that puts flesh-and-blood on the bones of the tragic story being told about Bravo Troop 3-61 CAV, one of the most decorated units of the 19-year conflict”
Peter Travers Rolling Stone
Rod Lurie attended West Point and served four years as a combat arms officer. Started the Broadcast Film Critics Assn with Joey Berlin.
Then turned his attention to writing and directing in TV and film.
It all came together when he wrote and directed the Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated The Contender.
This conversation about his latest film The Outpost is a reflection of my admiration for Rod and all he’s done. The Outpost plays to all of his strengths., the characters of the real soldiers involved and honoring the men who battled that day. His toughest critics were the families of those who died. It was vital that they saw their loved ones portrayed as the warriors they were.
Colin Cripps is one of those musicians/artists who may never receive the full spotlight the lead singers get but if you ask that artist in the spotlight, they’ll tell you they wouldn’t be in the studio or out on stage if Colin wasn’t there with them step for step.
In other words, invaluable.
Currently, he’s a member of Blue Rodeo and The Jim Cuddy Band.
He’s played with and produced Crash Vegas and Junkhouse.
Produced and written with ex-wife Kathleen Edwards, Tom Wilson, Colin James, Headstones, Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams.
Many many more credits can be found online.
Speaking of online, Colin is a Guitar Geek and he lives in a World where other guitar geeks compare notes on guitars and gear.
They all speak another language ..about tone and bridges and strings and colors. They go crazy for colors.
Colin has some 40-50 guitars.
Each brings something different to music.
Colin takes us through the differences and who played what on which records.
Jeff Beck. Eric Clapton. Keith Richards. The Beatles. Elvis Costello. Metallica. Jimmy Page. Hank Marvin. Mark Knopfler. Cliff Gallop.
It’s time to Geek OUT !!
Colin talks about and shows/plays these guitars
1955 Fender Telecaster in Sunburst (Keith Richards. Jimmy Page)
1963 Fender Stratocaster in Fiesta Red (Hank Marvin. Jimi. Mark Knopfler)
1964 Gibson SG Standard in Cherry Red (Colin’s Fave)
1962 Epiphone Casino in Royal Tan (The Beatles made them famous)
1958 Fender Jazzmaster in Roman Red (Elvis Costello. Only 4 in this color)
1958 Gibson Explorer. The Holy Grail of originals. James Hatfield’s is worth 1M.
For those music fans who discovered the seductive narrative of Andy Shauf through his last album The Party, just know that he’s hooked up with three of the party-goers and headed for The Skyline Bar in Parkdale, Toronto.
There’s his buddy Charlie, Rose the bartender and Judy.
Oh! His ex is in the bar as well.
You just don’t hear concept albums and certainly not concept songwriting and production at this level.
PhotoCreditColinMedley
Amy van Keeken, who knows a thing or two about songwriting wrote me a note ..
“The Neon Skyline is so good. Listening to the whole album start to finish
in one go (like people used to do) adds a deeper level of meaning to the songs and the narrative. It’s brilliant”
Andy’s buddies Foxwarren are up for a Juno Award March 15 but Andy will be in Bourdeaux on tour.
I’ve asked Andy to leave his acceptance speech with us in our chat.
The rest of our two-hour show features handpicked Saturday night music.
JJ Cale
Linda Ronstadt
Steve Miller band
a double shot of Led Zeppelin.
Ry Cooder
Frazey Ford
Bruce Springsteen..
J Geils Band
Muddy Waters – Live in Chicago
Leon Russell
Next WEEK – Gord Sinclair – Formerly of the Tragically Hip
Keb’ Mo’ is a charismatic singer/guitarist/ songwriter and four-time GRAMMY Award winner who has consistently made music that reflects his own passions and interests. In the process, he’s earned a reputation for his ability to make deeply expressive, highly personal music. Don’t believe me? Check out the title track (Oklahoma), Put A Woman In Charge (Featuring Rosanne Cash), and Don’t throw it away, a song about plastics with Grammy buddy Taj Mahal.
But my fave is the first track, I remember you and its first line which he says to the lady in the Red Dress
“My name is Junior and come from Memphis Tennessee”
Colin Linden produced the album and infused his love of blues and passion into each and every song.
This is a very special album. Oklahoma from Keb Mo
And the complete interview on Mulligan Stew Podcast. Subscribe to Apple Podcasts. Spotify. Google Play.
As for the music ..
We remember Mac Rebennack – Dr John
Leeroy Stagger/Black Keyes/Elton John Soundtrack/Brandi Carlile, Little Steven, Vaughn Brothers, Pearl Jam, Rob Plant, Matt Anderson, Beastie Boys and Lots More .
