Since it’s just me, I will have a couple of Coronas and make up for my lack of an interesting person. I get a lot of questions about how I got into the music business. It actually is a pretty cool story. And let’s face it. My editor, Jessi, loves a good story, but she does prefer it earlier than later. Oh well, this is how I roll. Sorry Jessi.
It was the winter of 2006 and the Canadian Finals Rodeo was in town. My daughter wanted to go see the soon to be iconic Canadian country band, Emerson Drive, give a free concert at West Edmonton Mall. When we arrived, we quickly realized she had her days mixed up and some Scottish chap named Johnny Reid was there instead. My wife instantly feel in love with Johnny and his music. I’s sure it was part the music and part the man. After the free show, we grabbed a CD to get signed, but my wife wasn’t going to meet Johnny. She had no make up on!! To John’s credit, I would later tell him I had a hard time calling him Johnny, he knew just how to sign that CD. “Tannis, why so shy? Johnny Reid”. That was all it took for her to want to meet The Man. Later that evening, we paid a five dollar cover charge to see him and his band at a local club. This time, Tannis said hello and a new friendship was born. Before the night was out, Johnny Reid was the voice on her answering machine.
We had made plans to go to Vancouver for New Years, but that was now out the window. Johnny was playing in Calgary for New Years Eve and we were packing up the car, the kids and the sitter and heading south. I admit to indulging Tannis’ obsession as it grew and I didn’t mind being one of the few guys that would be back stage. For Christmas, I had gone all out. I called Johnny’s university, Bishops and got a jersey from the football team. Johnny was a kicker. I still clearly remember Tannis trying to get his attention that night. Finally she resorted to climbing on the satge rail and taking of the jersey, now in just a bra and throwing it on the stage at Johnny’s feet. When he turned around, Johnny picked it up and the ever present marker appeared and the jersey was now signed.
In the morning, we ran into members of Johnny’s band, Yvan Petit and Ben Rutz in the lobby of the hotel. When Johnny came down, there was a lot of chatting and some great pics, before we got on the road and followed them north to the next show. Tannis’ obsession was growing. She wanted to know why we couldn’t bring Johnny to her hometown. Now knowing Reid’s manager, we made a call and lickity split, we were selling tickets to see Johnny Reid at the Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove. The show sold out. We had delivered every ticket, all 318. We did all the marketing. Tannis did all the hospitality. It was a wild success and for a week, we felt like rock stars in our own town. We had put on our first show.
Over A Beer With with …. with …. with …. ME!!
-Jazz Matthews-