The new album from the singer-guitarist Colin James is Rooftops and Satellites, which might be the two places from which you'll hear its songs, unless you purchase it. The disc, co-written with former Junkhouse man Tom Wilson, features the Vancouver-based Juno winner's catchiest material in years. But, more and more, terrestrial radio resists new rock (unless from Nickelback), preferring "classic" instead.
Actually, even satellite radio, with its myriad of stations and specialized formats, might have trouble finding a slot for an album that isn't old or alternative, and more "bluesy" than straight-up blues. So, James, the 45-year-old former prodigy from the Prairies, takes to shouting from rooftops, as it were - hitting the road for a national tour that kicks off Friday in Cranbrook, B.C.
You've worked in a variety of styles over the years, from brash blues rock to soul to stripped-down rural acoustic to the jump-and-jive Little Big Band records. How does the musical dexterity work within your live shows?
Every album is different. Fuse, from 2000, for example, gave me some rock songs for my show that otherwise I wouldn't have. I'm finding the same thing with this new record.
How has coming up with a nightly set list changed over the years?
I remember the early days. We had five songs and the rest was filler.
And we were doing huge shows, opening up for Keith Richards. I remember thinking, "I need some songs." I have them now. I mean, the Little Big Band book alone now is at 75 or 80 songs.
You describe Man's Gotta be a Stone, off the new album, as a "Buddhist boogie." What do you mean by that?
With boogies, you have typical lyrics, about black magic women or whatever - macho stuff. We tried to approach it like Spirit in the Sky, with lyrics that are a little more ambiguous, and about life.
What about John Lee Hooker moaning "boom boom boom boom" or ZZ Top yelling "haw haw haw haw." Not philosophical enough for you?
That's just it, right? Ha! Actually, there was a little talk that I ripped off ZZ Top on that song. But you can't help but play a boogie that touches on ZZ and, mostly, John Lee Hooker. There's really no way around it.
Elsewhere you sing "There's something on your radio, comin' in like last call." But with today's radio, it's not the same as when you first started in the eighties. Is the romance with the dial over?
It's hard. Vancouver's Classic Rock 101 went down - no more new material on that station. Q107 in Toronto will not play new material either. For me it's harsh, because they're the one place I could look forward to getting some play on.
What about a new song like Lost Again? To my ears, it's made for country radio.
When I first wrote it, I thought it was a hit. But I could never be country enough to make that fly.
Oh, I don't know. Bon Jovi made the crossover.
Yeah, I guess they did. And I could see Lost Again in that way. But when I recorded it, I tried to do everything I could to take the country out of it. But it's just kind of inherent in the delivery of the lines.
How about selling it to Blue Rodeo, then?
Well, for the sake of the paycheque, I think Rascal Flatts.
Colin James's Canadian tour hits 23 cities, including stops in Vancouver (Jan. 13), Toronto (Jan. 26) and Halifax (Feb. 5 and 6).