Blackie and The Rodeo Kings 'Let's Frolic' album

Let’s Frolic, the keenly-anticipated fourth album from Canadian roots rock heroes Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, is the sound of a band in this for all the right reasons. Tom Wilson, Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing have been together as BARK for a full decade now, but their sense of mutual respect, camaraderie, and love of each other’s musical company has deepened, not weakened. As Fearing explains, “We can all get very worried and freaked out about our own solo careers, so why get into another career situation where you have to do that again? We take the music we make very seriously, but the process of making it has to be enjoyable.” That approach is clearly audible on Let’s Frolic, a typically freewheeling collection of compelling songs that defy easy genre pigeonholing. Here’s an album that contains hardcore country ballads (“The Fool Who Can’t Forget,” Stephen’s heart-strings tugging duet with U.S. country star Pam Tillis), Southern soul (“I Give It Up Everyday”), raucous rockers (“Buried In Your Heart,” “That’s What I Like”), infectious life-affirming anthems (“Let’s Frolic,” “Life Is Golden”), atmospheric epics (“Under The Rain”), and gentle blues, soul and folk-inflected tunes (“Crown Of Thorns,” “Lovin’ Cup,” and “Heaven For A Lonely Man,” respectively).

Enhancing the disc’s diversity are the different songwriting teams involved. All three principals brought in solo compositions, and jointly wrote the powerful opening cut, “Silver Dreams,” Tom and Stephen co-wrote together, and collaborated with Tawgs Salter, Russell Wilson and Andy White on other tunes. Janice Powers wrote “Crown Of Thorns,” and long-time Blackie friend (and fan) Daniel Lanois donated “House Of Soul” on the condition the BARK version make him cry. Mission accomplished.

Giving Let’s Frolic creative coherence is its consistently stellar musicianship, superb songwriting, and emotionally eloquent vocal performances. Add in the unforced, organic production of Colin Linden, himself an award-winning captain of the recording console (Bruce Cockburn, Colin James, Sue Foley), and you have an irresistible package.

Prior to setting up camp last January at the famed Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, N.Y. (birthplace of albums by Muddy Waters, The Band, and Jeff Buckley), BARK workshopped the new tunes in front of eager crowds at The Black Sheep in Wakefield and their favourite Toronto honkytonk, The Horseshoe. “We have a lot in common with our fans, and they love the idea of us working it out each night,” Colin explains.

Fired up by the response, Blackie lassooed 29 songs in the studio, enough for two full albums. In a creative marketing strategy, this musical treasure trove is being unearthed in two stages, with Let’s Frolic to be followed by Let’s Frolic Again in early 2007.

Lending impeccable support on the sessions were longtime BARK accompanists John Dymond (bass), Gary Craig (drums), and keyboardist Richard Bell, a veteran sideman to the likes of Janis Joplin, Bruce Cockburn and The Band. They were joined by multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Burn (Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris), keyboardist/engineer John Whynot (Blue Rodeo, Bruce Cockburn), Wayne Jackson (Memphis Horns), and the legendary Garth Hudson (The Band), whose work will surface on Let’s Frolic Again.

Recording for Blackie and the Rodeo Kings always means total, 24/7, immersion in the project. Tom Wilson jokingly refers to the process as “a middle-aged Lord Of The Flies,” in which the trio will retreat to an isolated place, cook, eat and drink together with gusto, then totally focus on the music. “I believe that in making a record it is really important to get away from home, step away from your daily life, and allow yourself to live inside the music. Let it be your life for that period,” Tom notes. This method was used with great results on the previous two Blackie records, 1999’s Juno-winning Kings Of Love and 2003’s BARK, an album that earned them major Americana radio play in the U.S..

Finding the time for that studio experience is a tricky logistic exercise. All three Rodeo Kings have thriving individual solo careers, with each putting out their own records (Tom’s Dog Years, Stephen’s Yellowjacket, and Colin’s easin’ back to tennessee), in the past 12 months.
Not that BARK should be seen as some kind of side project. It did start out spontaneously, with the trio forming for what they thought would be a one-off homage to Canadian folk music hero (and still Blackie’s guiding spirit), Willie P. Bennett. Their musical chemistry and the reaction to that tribute, BARK’s 1996 debut, High Or Hurtin’, were so positive, they decided to run with it. Now each member is completely committed to the band, and the result is a band that is even greater than the sum of its parts. Given that the individual parts are pretty damned impressive, that’s saying something.

The sheer pleasure they derive from playing in Blackie and the Rodeo Kings shines through onstage, and that’s another key to their success. They’re simply one of the very best Canadian live bands around, as anyone who has seen them play will testify. Just ask country great Merle Haggard, who invited them to open a national tour in 2004.

The presence of three different lead vocalists allows them to explore wide musical terrain, while they harmonize together in original and thrilling fashion. Factor in Tom’s larger than life charisma and wise-cracking asides, Colin’s fluent yet fiery guitar work, Stephen’s spot-on vocal and guitar stylings, and the vibrantly-hued stage costumes, and you have a combination built to thrill.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s Frolic!

Biography

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings - the band - is a labour of love for Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson.
In 1996 their debut album was released to critical acclaim.The first album, High or Hurtin', brought 14+ Willie originals to an appreciative audience. The musicianship is superb, the vocals right on, and the lyrics are sublime.

All three continued their successful solo careers garnering numerous individual awards and nominations. The chemistry, which first brought the trio together, drew them back in 1999 for Kings of Love, a double album of originals and covers, folk,rock, ballads, even surf instrumental: an amazing achievement from Colin, Tom and Stephen which won the JUNO in the Best Roots & Traditonal Album, Group category.
BARK marks the highly anticipated return of the Juno Award-winning group Blackie & the Rodeo Kings.

This newest effort finds the trio maturing musically, featuring some of the best material that these three talented songwriters have ever put to disc.
Recorded in the winter of 2003, B&RK captures the raw energy of the band, offering the listener a deep well of great songs and sounds that they can go back to again and again. From the rambling Honky Tonk twang of "Swinging From the Chains of Love", to the world weariness of the gritty first single "Stoned", to the unabashed and infectious rock n' roll of "Had Enough of You Today".
BARK features 12 original songs, as well as covers of Willie P. Bennett's "Willie’s Diamond Joe" and Bruce Cockburn's "Tie Me at the Crossroads". The album highlights the band's expert ability to meld and switch between musical styles and influences, like the bluesy swagger of "Water or Gasoline", to the bittersweet "If I Catch You Crying", a heartfelt affirmation of friendship and healing during life's heartaches.

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Blackie and The Rodeo Kings - Let's Frolic