Revisiting Lost Musical Influences

I’m extremely excited. I just purchased two tickets to Bryan Adams’s “Bare Bones” tour. He is visiting the Edmonton Winspear on August 13, 2010.

I’m excited for several reasons.

Firstly, I LOVE the Edmonton Winspear. If you’ve never seen a concert in this venue, you have to go. It is truly world class. The sound is so amazing, so pure, you feel like you are in the middle of the music. I love it.

Secondly, I love concerts. I had heard about this one and due to the amount of concerts I’ve been to this year, I figured this was one that I’d have to pass on. Keep in mind, I never said to anyone that I wanted to go. A couple of days ago, my husband was reading an article in The Metro and had emailed me saying that this sounded like an amazing concert and maybe we should go. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity.

Lastly, one of my favorite teenage memories involved Bryan Adams. It was 1985 and I was 14 years old. Bryan Adam’s “Reckless” tour was coming to Edmonton. At 14, I had never been to a concert ever and I didn’t have enough money to purchase tickets. I stayed up late every night for a week trying to win tickets to go. It was one of those radio contests where you had to be the 98th caller to win.

Every night until midnight, I sat there at the phone dialing over and over again. And guess what…


I didn’t win.

But the day of the concert, my dad walked through our front door after work. To my surprise, he had in his hands two tickets to the concert. I don’t know what made him get me those tickets but I still remember frantically finding a friend to come with me, sitting in those seats and enjoying my first concert ever.

Now, being last minute, the seats were located at the side of the stage and not the best view.

But to me, they were the best seats in the house because they were from my dad.

Bryan worked every part of the stage and it was an amazing concert. I became a huge fan that day. I still have my ticket stub and my scrapbook. My love affair with music and concerts and performing was truly born.

Wonder if my concert t-shirt still fits… :)

Musical Inspiration Spotlight: Suzie McNeil

Suzie McNeil will be a judge in the upcoming season of “The Next Star” and will be in town during auditions in Edmonton this week. It seemed like a good time to highlight one of my favorite and biggest musical influences.

I first discovered the talent Suzie McNeil while watching the reality show “Rock Star: INXS.” “Sweet Suzie” McNeil quickly became a favorite of mine. Here was a talented girl who really had some pipes for rock n’ roll, which is still a challenge to find in the music industry. And she was a Canadian and I really believe it is important to support good, Canadian talent. This made a great combination and I was quickly sold on this talented girl from Ontario.

Unfortunately, Suzie didn’t win the show but she made such an impression on me that once the show was over, I started to look for and follow her career. I was pleased to discover that she got a record deal in Canada and her first album “Broken and Beautiful” was released.

Songs really touch my heart and her first single, “Believe” happened to do just that at a time when my family was going through a really hard time. We had just lost my mom to lung cancer 18 short months after losing my sister to a different form of the same disease. The song speaks about making it through anything if you just believe. It was an anthem I held onto with everything that I had.


A chance to sing “Believe” with Suzie!

Shortly after mom passed, Suzie had a contest for the chance to sing with her at one of her shows during her cross Canada tour. Suzie provided contestants with a karaoke of “Believe” and challenged them to video tape themselves singing the song. The video was then uploaded to YouTube and posted on Suzie’s website for voting. The top entry in each city won. I quickly jumped at the chance, working hard with Kate from Very Vocal Music Studios (insert link to website) to learn the song and submitted my entry.

To my joy, I won!




Meeting Suzie


Since meeting Suzie, I’ve had the opportunity to meet another musical idol and was really disappointed. This was not the case with Suzie. She is by far the sweetest, nicest, crazy fun person I’ve ever met. What you see, is what you get and she is truly a genuine person.

The concert was held in a small bar on the south side of Edmonton. My husband Dennis decided to make it a night and we invited our close friends and family out to enjoy the evening. I think half of the bar was our crew! I was so touched by how many people came out.

Her team treated me like gold. Both my husband and I got to go back stage with Suzie and hang out. We talked a little bit about the upcoming performance and then relaxed just getting to know her. I had brought my guitar, the same one that Colin James signed and she autographed it for me.


Performance Time!

Singing with Suzie and her band was a blast! I have a huge respect of anyone who can sing in the bar scene. It was so much fun being onstage and singing with her and she made me feel really comfortable. I’m a little disappointed in how I sounded – it was extremely hard to hear up there – and that makes me respect working singers all the more!




Belief in Believe!

Dennis and I have been to several concerts since that performance. Suzie opened for Gavin Rossdale in a club in West Edmonton Mall. We helped out her street team by handing out flyers after her performance, and we got to chat with her and to attend the show for free. She recently opened for Colin James at the Winspear. We were greeted with hugs. I continue to be impressed with how down to earth and cool Suzie is. If you ever get to see her in concert, make it a point to go.


Believe at Very Vocal Showcase 2009!

I’ve been inspired to work on songs that stretch me vocally and at last year’s showcase, I decided to take another shot at “Believe”. It was another rewarding and fun experience. I am happier with how this performance turned out!



For more information about Suzie McNeil, check out her website at:
http://www.suziemcneil.ca/

New Album from MercyMe! New Inspirations!

Today we have been blasted by winter. It looks like it should be December or January instead of May. I guess we were all expecting one more visit by Old Man Winter. Everyone seems a little grumpy today and I’ll have to admit, I was one of them. But then a friend of mine sent me a link to preview a new album by one of my favorite Christian bands and my spirit was lifted.

MercyMe is an amazing contemporary Christian group. Whenever I listen to them, I always feel a little better, even if my circumstances are not the best. They seem to capture in words how I’m feeling in the moment.

Here are some of my favorite songs:

• Word of God Speak – whenever I feel a little bit overwhelmed and weary and can’t seem to handle things one my own, this song really captures how much I need help from God. I love singing it too.


• Spoken For - another really great song that reminds how no matter what, I have been spoken for by God. I love it!


• I Can Only Imagine – even thinking about this song brings tears to my eyes. I can actually feel what it would be like when I finally meet Jesus. Let the tears flow! And the dancing! These are good tears of joy!





• Shine On – this song reminds me that we are here to shine the light of Jesus on the world by helping people. I confess that I do feel a bit guilty sometimes that I’m not doing enough. It’s a good reminder to show God’s love.


• Homesick – This song talks about what it’s like to lose someone you love. It did inspire one line in Gypsy Soul. It is the line about even if I understood why my sister passed away, it wouldn’t help. Again, they captured my pain and grief completely. It’s amazing how comforting that is.





• Keep Singing –Along with Homesick, this song is what prodded me to keep going, keep singing and that God was the only way I was going to make it through this very difficult time. And again, more tears.

And now, a new album is released today! I can’t wait to pick it up! In the meantime, you too can preview the album at:



Or checkout MercyMe's Channel on YouTube!