Dear Friend of my Friend,

It’s been a week since the City and Colour concert in Edmonton and I’m still sitting here with mixed emotions.

On the one hand, I’m so sorry you were unable to attend this concert. On the other, I am so grateful I got to go in your place!

Thank you so much for letting me use your ticket, and thank you to our mutual friend for thinking of me.

I must admit I wasn’t overly familiar with any of the bands. I mean, I’ve heard City and Colour on the radio, and liked them enough that my sister and I contemplated going to this very concert. We didn’t buy the tickets for various reasons, so it seems almost fateful that I got to go in the end.

And it was my sister who reminded me Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats sing SOB – a song I am familiar with because Jensen Ackles sometimes sings it at Supernatural Conventions. Love that song!

And I didn’t even realize Ruby Waters was also opening. I’ve heard her song Open Arms on the radio as well.

What a line up!

Ruby Waters was really good. Beautiful, unique voice, good connection with the crowd.

A little bit folksy, a little bit rock n roll.

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats were a force to reckon with. They didn’t play SOB until deep into their set and the whole time I was thinking my sister must have mixed them up with another band because this did not sound anything like SOB.

This was Motown-ish, soul, RnB. So good. So very very good. The horn section, the piano, the voice. The crowd was lovin them, by the way. So were we.

But then ‘Mmm, mmmm, mmm….’

But then those claps…. Ah yes, here we go!  SOB.

Rogers Place exploded. The roof came off. All of us scream-singing in that raspy growly yell, stomping, clapping. Wow, this song is epic live!

What a way to warm up the crowd for City and Colour.

City and Colour.

Speaking of voices. What a lovely, pure voice. This is such a melodic band. Melancholic. This music is so soft, sweet, sonic. I’m so glad I got to experience them live.

All of them. It was such a great night.

So thank you again, for letting me take your place. I needed this night. I got to hang out with our beautiful friend and watch some beautiful music.  Both healed me in ways I deeply needed at the time. 

Music does that.