Canadian Randy Bachman is best known for his turns in esteemed bands like the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, but his latest venture is a sharp departure from the stadiums he’s accustomed to playing.
His show, Every Song Tells A Story, allows Bachman to personally relate the stories behind his biggest hits from the Guess Who and B.T.O. in an informal, comfortable environment.
"I’ve never had this before in a big show where everything is so ‘Elvis’ in coming in, performing, and leaving the building," he explains.
Despite the unfamiliarity of such a personal show, he was inspired to undertake such a project to bring him closer to his fans.
"Every Song Tells A Story is a special intimate evening where I get to connect with the audience," says Bachman. "Everyone says how much more each of the songs mean to them after hearing the story on what made me write it."
His playlist typically includes a wide variety of his songs spanning the years, a list Bachman professes is the soundtrack to everyone’s life for the past 30 years. In his show, he unearths how "American Woman" was intended to be an anti-war song and how "You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet" began as a practical joke to his stuttering brother. In his opinion, his performance is particularly rewarding.
"It’s like a family or high school reunion where I happen to have written the songs," he says. "I’ve had 12-year-olds and 75-year-olds all have the same reaction. They thank me for coming and they thank me for the music."
After touring for over a quarter-century, Bachman’s passion for music still hasn’t waned. He acknowledges this project has no shelf life and cites other legends like Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney as his influences.
"This is what I was born to do and I love it."
Every Song Tells A Story comes to Calgary on Sun., Oct. 19 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall (ECPA). Tickets are $30.39 and are available through Ticketmaster by calling 777-0000 or at http://www.ticketmaster.ca.