My good friend Wayne and I had talked about getting out to hear some live music. That's as far as it went. Then the day before yesterday he called me, just before lunch, and said, "Y'wanna go see Blackie 'n' the Rodeo Kings t'marra night?"

"You think we can get tickets?" I asked.

"I'll letcha know!"

Later that evening I received an e-mail...it read "We're GO...see you at Tim Horton's!"

We met at one of the Tim Horton's Coffee & Do-nut shops in Caledonia, and then drove together to Port Dover. That way we can chat and listen to music together on the 40 minute drive to the Lighthouse Theatre. This is a great old theatre, still in the process of renovation. Next month they're getting new seats. It's used in the summer for a series of plays, but in the winter Northshore Concerts runs a series of musical shows featuring some of the best folk and roots music around. David Francey, Tom Russell, and James Keelaghan are all upcoming but last night it was Blackie & the Rodeo Kings. And the near sell out crowd was electric with anticipation.

I had seen them on the last night of their previous tour with a crackerjack band that included Richard Bell, John Dymond and Gary Craig; but tonight (the second night of a new tour) it was just the three of them. Colin Linden (guitarist extraordinaire, producer, participant in the O Brother Where Art Thou juggernaut), Stephen Fearing (fine singer-songwriter and guitarist) and the effervescent compere Tom Wilson (rock'n'roll animal, ex-Junkhouse, basso profundo). Together with a truckload of guitars and effects pedals, they brought their own unique brand of Americana to the sleepy town of Port Dover, and they rocked the joint.

Did I say sleepy? Every Friday the thirteenth, this resort town on the north shore of Lake Erie plays host to bikers from all over. The "welcome" signs were up. The town was ready. And Blackie & the Rodeo Kings set the musical tone. Nobody was sleepin' while they were playin' I assure you.

The lobby was filled with BARK fans. That's Blackie And the Rodeo Kings, get it! The band had set up a supermarket of souvenirs. Tom Wilson's daughter was overseeing the sales. Three different CDs, a wide variety of t-shirts, barbecue aprons, barbecue sauce(!), snazzy posters, and sew-on patches. There was an electric buzz, as people tried to decide how to spend their money. I bought a couple of chances on the 50-50 draw. We shuffled up the stairs to our seats in the balcony.

There's not a bad seat in this intimate theatre. We could see two guitars on the right, where Tom stands. His red Gibson, with the duct tape on it, plus a newer 12-string, resided in their cases on the floor. Centre-stage, Fearing's arsenal included his Manzer custom-made acoustic, a Gibson SG and a snazzy green Harmony Rebel. To the left, Colin Linden had a few guitars lined up, a resophonic, a Telecaster, a Godin, and about thirty different foot pedals for the effects he would use. The trio took their places, Tom Wilson uttered a few obscenities, and they launched into "Water or Gasoline" from the BARK album. Although it's been out in Canada for at least six months, it's being released in the USA in April. Watch for it, you will love this collection of songs.

They did quite a few numbers from BARK, the "Everly Brothers meet the Trailer Park Boys" classic "Swinging From the Chains of Love," the haunting ballad "If I Catch You Cryin'," Linden's Rick Danko tribute "Lock All the Doors," the spooky, raw, "Stoned," and a song "not dedicated to [Wilson's] ex-wife" "Had Enough of You Today." Each performer played with vigour and emotion, the guitars blending, Wilson strumming a strong rhythm, Fearing finger-picking melodies, and Linden attacking, riffing, sliding, ripping the joint apart. "That guy really gets into it!" someone behind me commented. That's understatement!

Colin Linden, who is well over five feet tall, wears an ever-present black fedora. He is dressed in the Rodeo Kings' uniform: a black suit, white stripe down the pants leg, with odd little appliques of musical notes, aliens, and doggies embroidered on the jacket. He clearly relishes playing with the other Kings. Every time I've seen them, he has declared, "I don't think I've ever had so much fun as tonight." And I don't doubt his sincerity. He bounces on his toes, grinning from ear to ear, squeezing ever bit of sound he can from those guitars. Anyone who misses the days when Ry Cooder made rock records should pick up on Colin Linden. He is a slide master!

Stephen Fearing was trying out earplugs. At his solo concerts the sound is more subdued, but he's been learning to play the electric guitar (mentored by Linden) and after a few songs...he pulled the earplugs out, "I can't hear!" Wilson laughed at this turn of events. Fearing's stage persona is more laid back. He stands at the centre, feet planted firmly, guitar in hand, and sings with all he's got. He seems to be having as much fun as anybody. He obviously enjoys Wilson's raunchy humour. His voice is the purest of the three, his songs the most melodic.

And then there's Tom Wilson. Tom is from my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. It's a steel town, and it takes some work to grow up there. The bands from Hamilton have been loud, raw, bluesy, and..did I mention, LOUD? Wilson comes from that scene. He brings the rock'n'roll sensibility he learned in the Florida Razors and Junkhouse to this trio. He is a pure rocker. Almost lost in the quieter tunes, he comes to life in the upbeat numbers and owns the stage. He's the front man, the comic, the pitchman. "My daughter is in the lobby, selling CDs and shirts and other s%^t! Lemme tell you, that my daughter uses the money she makes from sellin' this s%^t to buy herself..well..FOOD! If you want to help my daughter..well..EAT..go buy some SCHWAG! Not that I'm puttin' any pressure on ya!"

KERRANG!!!

After an hour of this, we get a break. "They got some nice..well..BOOZE out there in the lobby! An' then there's my daughter..an' her FOOD project!" Business is booming at both the bar and the souvenir stand. I didn't win the 50/50 draw. The prize was $90! Ten minutes of cooler air, and it's back for the second half.

The Kings play some Willie P. Bennett tunes. Willie's an Ontario songwriter, a local treasure, and he just left town to tour with Fred Eaglesmith. The reason that Blackie & the Rodeo Kings formed in the first place was to record an album of Willie's tunes. High Or Hurtin': the songs of Willie P. Bennett (True North, 1996) is the source for the their band name, and they paid tribute to Willie by singing "Blackie and the Rodeo King" and also "White Line," the tune that closed the show. They came back to do an encore, finishing off with Wilson's solo hit "Shine." Then they repaired to the lobby to sign those souvenirs. By the looks of it, Wilson's daughter will be able to put groceries on the table this week. I bought a poster, and spent a few minutes talking with the Kings about Garth Hudson, Jackie Washington, and the difference between shows with a rhythm section and without.

It was a marvelous night. Great guitar playing, raggedy harmonies, in a roomful of music lovers. You can check their Web site for future dates, but my recommendation is...go where they're playing. It's worth the drive to hear these dogs BARK.