There’s never a dull moment when Johnny Reid and his band The Soul Providers hit the stage. And Thursday night’s fourth Essar Centre appearance by the Scottish-Canadian singer was no different. He leaves it all on stage for the love of his devoted fans.
When he tours Canada, he does his best to bring the show to as many locations as possible, reaching as many fans as possible, Reid told SooToday during a recent phone interview. Growing up in Canada, he understands how vast this country can be.
But one might think after four appearances, the experience of seeing the same city, venue, and people may start to wear a bit thin. This is simply not true in his case, he explained.
“I’ve always appreciated Sault Ste. Marie, all the little things,” he said. “The French aspect I’ve always enjoyed. They’re very passionate people, not unlike the Scots. And Sault Ste. Marie has always been a wonderful audience. At the end of the day, I’m in it for the same reason people come and see the show – for the experience. That’s why I keep coming back.”
Reid is currently on an extensive Canadian tour in support of his November 2017 release, Revival, his most soulful record to date. So much so that the album’s opening track is not only titled Soul Train, but also borrows the infamous horn line from Wilson Picket’s Land of a Thousand Dances.
While he continues to be celebrated as a country artist in Canada, Europe applauds his work as a soul and R&B artist, and he gets compared to the likes of Joe Cocker in the United States. He enjoys drawing inspiration from many different wells.
“I make the song what the song needs to be and let someone else figure out what it is,” Reid said.
This latest record is his most personal endeavour, he said. It not only pays homage to the music he grew up with (Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Charlie Rich), but also speaks from the heart with deeper, more meaningful lyrical content.
“Revival was a great opportunity for me to take a look behind myself. I felt that I had a little bit of room to stretch my legs and I wanted to tip my hat to the music that turned me on to music.”
Revival was certified gold in Canada just two weeks after its release.
“The people just continue to humble me and I feel fortunate to have an audience that wants to hear what I have to say,” Reid said.
Joining Johnny Reid and The Soul Providers at the Essar Centre Thursday night was Toronto-based country songstress Jessica Mitchell. She told the audience that performing in the Sault was on her bucket list after hearing time and time again how wonderful our audiences are.
The night also included special appearance by Canada’s Glass Tiger who, after more than three decades of performing together, recently released their first record since 1991’s Simple Mission. Titled 31, the album is produced by Johnny Reid and features a number of special guests, including Julian Lennon (Thin Red Line), Alan Doyle (My Song), and Susan Aglukark and David R. Maracle (Diamond Sun).
Johnny Reid’s Revival tour continues Saturday with a stop at the Community Arena in Sudbury before traveling to southern Ontario for a number of performances, including those in Toronto, Kitchener, Windsor, St. Catharines, London, Hamilton, and many others.
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