On October 2, 2015 I went to the Paul Brandt and Dean Brody concert at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Kids Up Front was very generous to provide Youth Central with an amazing ticket, which was offered to the Youth are Awesome bloggers. Now, country music isn’t really my go-to genre of music. You’re reading blog posts from a girl who spends her free time watching Les Mis, and studies to Bach’s cello suites. But I like these singers, enjoy playing guitar, and love live music, so I happily took the ticket.
I came into the Saddledome when opening act Jess Moskaluke, CCMA female artist of the year 2014 and 2015 was performing. Although she was only on for 20 minutes, she definitely impressed the crowd with her great voice and pop-country songs.
Five minutes into the concert, and I was reminded of why I fell in love with live music. It’s the feeling of the music enveloping you, breathing energy into you. It’s the drums pumping through your bones. The bass line running through your veins.
The ‘dome was filled with a contagious energy that you just couldn’t resist. Sure, I barely knew the songs. Sure, I couldn’t sing along like everyone else. But that energy, that excitement in the ‘dome surrounded me, and made me feel like I was a part of the music.
Dean Brody was first of the two to perform. Performing with his five piece band, his set included songs like Bounty, Gypsy Road, People Know You By Your First Name, It’s Friday (featuring a great little fiddle solo), Crop Circles, and many more.
During Mountain Man, he even brought a chainsaw out to prove that he was a true country man. There aren’t many people who can make a chainsaw work as an instrument, but I think I’ve now witnessed one.
He closed it off with his current hit Bring Down the House, which, although wasn’t the most country type song, was definitely a crowd favourite.
Then came headliner Paul Brandt, an Alberta native raised in Calgary. His show also had surprises, including giant balloons being bounced around the floor seats, a large Canadian flag, and my personal favourite, a giant blowup rubber duck bouncing around the stadium. He performed songs including I’m an Open Road, Forever Summer, Canadian Man (a literal flag waver) and Convoy, then he moved down to the center of the arena floor, performing songs like That’s What I Love About Jesus, Amazing Grace, and I Do.
He ended the concert with a cover of Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down (wearing of course, the Flames jersey) and brought Dean Brody out again for a cover of Guitar, Cadillac, by Dwight Yoakam.
All in all, it was a great concert. Thanks to Kids Up Front for the awesome ticket, and Paul Brandt and Dean Brody for such a great show, and making me fall in love with live music once again.