It’s been too long a wait for Colin James and the band to debut at Massey Hall, but they are impressive. Backing him up are Colin Linden (guitar), Chris Northey (guitar), Reggie McBride (bass), Jim Kelter (drums), Steve Hillman (Sax), Terry Townson (horn), John Whynot (B3 organ) and a special guest appearance by Toronto legend Richard Bell on organ and keyboard. A great crew.

My favourite song of the night was a rousing rendition of “If You Need Me” that Colin dedicated to the memory of Wilson Pickett.

Colin told us about a woman in Winnipeg he heard when he was an impressionable 16. She was a 60 year old blues singer who wore a cowboy hat, fancy boots and sang the same phrase over and over but with different phrasing each time. That kind of attention to detail is reflected in his own style, especially in his lyrics where he is at home — comfortable in his own shoes.