Journal: News & Comment

Colin James at the Commodore Ballroom

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One advantage of being a musician is that you have contacts to get into concerts for free. Tonight, my bass player Doug, who also plays with Colin James, put me on the guest list for their show at Vancouver's legendary Commodore Ballroom, no charge.

One disadvantage to being a musician is that attending a concert too often becomes an overly intellectual exercise. While I had a great time tonight, I found myself checking out what kinds of guitars and amplifiers and drums and keyboards the musicians were playing. (Doug played the same old solid bass rig he uses when he does much smaller shows with my band.) I watched the crowd, and what the players onstage were doing—but I can no longer just let the music wash over me as I used to.

Colin James certainly enjoys his job. Unlike so many sullen long-time musicians, James, who's been at this for 25 years now, had a smile on his face the whole night. Like Buddy Guy's, whom I saw twice in the same room in the '90s, James's smile was infectious. He has genuine stage presence, and he can surely play that guitar.

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