Reviews
A Complete Unknow Revisited - Rodney sings Dylan Listener Reviews
Bob Dylan concert Friday night was excellent in itself. But it was particularly nostalgic for me, in a good way. It took me back to the mid 60s, singing protest songs around a campfire. But it also spoke eloquently to today. – Reg Jones
Last night Rodney Brown and his band rocked The Itai with an amazing Bob Dylan cover show, all songs from the first four Dylan albums.
It was so good. First half was acoustic and folksy, second half was electric and rocking. I loved seeing the dance floor full and hearing everybody singing along with ‘Like a Rolling Stone.’ Rodney’s voice is more polished, but he definitely channeled the unique vocal stylings of Dylan.
The next show (same set list, same location) is on June 7 if you missed this one.
Big Thanks to Rodney and his team for doing this show and big thanks to my awesome dates for just hanging out and having fun, Janna, Tracy, and Shelby - Leah Morningstar
t's been a difficult year.
On a night when I needed to feel something...anything that took me outside of myself and my thoughts, Rodney Brown and "friends" delivered.
I spoke with a woman at my table who was gushing at how much Rodney embodied Bob Dylan and was totally up to buying more tickets to the next show.
The band was tight. It was pure perfection, and clearly fed off an enthusiastic audience.
Thank you Rodney and friends for a wonderful night.
See you all in May...and Peter please bring the tambourine. Richar Archibald
Rodney you played fantastic and you reminded us of all the inspirational music Bob Dylan wrote and played, as well as others played too. Thank you and all that helped you perform Friday night.Was a blast. Reminded me of our younger years when you entertained us. Great lasting memories – Linda M Tasa
“Rodney Brown is THE BEST. He does Dylan better than Dylan and Lightfoot better than Lightfoot.” – Evelina Pan
April 11, 2025
Gales of November Rodney Sings Lightfoot Concert by Gord Ellis I’d not seen the first performances of Rodney doing Lightfoot, but had heard a few of the solo rehearsals on Facebook. I was excited to hear the songs in a small band setting. Rodney Brown knows how to pick musicians, and he had two of the best with him for this show. Dan Zadkovich is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Thunder Bay who was on lead guitar, mandolin and vocals. Dave Isherwood is a long-time bassist for a number of bands in Thunder Bay and also does fine harmony singing. More on what these two chaps added later.
The large crowd, made up of both long-time Rodney Brown fans and newbies, kicked off the evening by singing an impromptu Happy Birthday. After some smiles of acknowledgement, Brown kicked the band into a jaunty “Early Morning Rain”. This Lightfoot classic is also one of his most enduring songs and has been covered by everyone from Elvis Presley to Judy Collins to Bob Dylan. And now Rodney Brown. But this song was also one of many times during the course of the night that I thought “This sounds like a Rodney Brown song.” No easy feat, when it’s a well worn classic. The playing was true, the sound was good and Rodney was in excellent voice. It was a good way to start.
From there, Rodney and the band picked through some of Gordon Lightfoot’s greatest compositions. In order, we heard, “Summer Side of Life”, ”Bitter Green” and then a mash up of “That’s What you Get for Lovin’ Me” and “Did She Mention My Name”. The arrangement of those two songs together was first heard on the best of album Gord’s Gold in 1975. Lightfoot liked to re-record his songs and release them again, an idea that pre dates Taylor Swift by about five decades.
An early highlight came when Brown and the band covered “Black Day in July.” Rodney mentioned how the politically charged song was banned in the U.S in 1968, but “got a lot of play in Fort William.” This was yet another time that Rodney Brown made a super familiar Lightfoot song his own. This was more than a tribute. This was a seasoned performer biting into a great song and making it their own.
On “Beautiful”, one of Lightfoot’s greatest love songs, the band really shone. The delicate arrangement, with its glistening maj7th chords and subtle guitar, was impeccable. Dave Isherwood has put in his time learning long time Lightfoot bass player Rick Haynes counter melodies and Dan Zadkovich used swells, harmonics and arpeggios perfectly.
When it came time to tackle “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” it was clear that this was one of the trickier songs for the band. And with its tempo changes and length, it is tricky for any band. When I last saw Lightfoot play live, he apologized in advance for his potential issues with singing the song and said it “requires a lot of air.” If Rodney Brown had any trouble with air on this song, it wasn’t obvious. In fact, it struck me during this song how tackling Gordon Lightfoot’s songbook shows off his voice in ways I’d never heard before. Gordon Lightfoot wrote complicated melodies and often pushed his range. Rodney Brown, who has a slightly higher baritone than Lightfoot, can negotiate the upper range of these songs effectively. Rodney Brown brings a vitality and energy to the Lightfoot canon that is all his own. He and the band nailed Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” and the crowd showed its appreciation with long applause. Once again, Rodney made it his own.
Speaking of Rodney songs, he did play a couple, both relative deep cuts in his catalogue. Before he played “What would Susan Say?” from his album Fort William, he talked about how it was a song that imagined what Susan, William McGillivray’s Cree “country wife” would be thinking about her life. The second Rodney original was “Happy Birthday Thunder Bay” a song written for the city’s 50th anniversary. The song name checks most of the well known places in Thunder Bay. It was great to hear both songs and they stood up well alongside the Lightfoot songs.
The only real wobbler in the show came with “Carefree Highway” when Rodney messed up the “sweet, shattered dreams” line off the top and stopped the band. With both audio and video cameras rolling, Rodney admitted he wanted to get it right. After a few chuckles, the band kicked back into gear, with Danny Zadkovich picking up a storm. Both he and Isherwood also provided great backing vocals here, sounding like tough guy angels.
After an intermission, the all-time Lightfoot classic “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” was played in its epic grandeur (and on the anniversary of the disaster). It still amazes me that this was a radio hit. A classic nautical ballad, focused on the sinking of a ship in Lake Superior. Try to imagine this song on top 40 radio in 2024 (although, like most modern pop songs, there is no bridge!)! This performance was perfect, with Rodney capturing the deadpan dread of the lyrics, and that wailing guitar lead nailed by Zadkovich. More classics followed, including “Daylight Katy”, “Cold on the Shoulder”, “Don Quixote” and “Pussy Willows Cattails.” Before playing “If You Could Read my Mind,” Rodney talked about how he had a dream before the TBSO concerts that he broke down sobbing during this songs performance and had to leave the stage. Thankfully, that didn’t happen during this performance, although this is one of the most heartbreaking lyrics you will ever hear.
After a Persian birthday cake - delivered to the stage by Leah Morningstar - the crowd once again sang Happy birthday. Then, in the encore, Rodney led an impromptu crowd sing along of the gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away”. The final tune was “Song for a Winter’s Night.” It was the perfect benediction, and Rodney Brown and the band received a much deserved second standing ovation. It was a perfectly satisfying night of music, with one great Canadian performer honouring another.
November 9, 2024
Music of Gordon Lightfoot
THE MISSIVE
AFM LOCAL 591
By Wayne Faulconer
The lyrics of Gordon Lightfoot with Rodney Brown’s uniquely timbered
voice was an absolute treat for my ears.
This was not your usual look alike/sound alike tribute. This was from the
heart and soul of a truly fine singer songwriter combined with the musical
arrangements of Pops Conductor Jeff Christmas and the performance of
the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
When performing Gordon’s song “beautiful”, the lush Symphonic sounds
wrapped Rodney’s expressive voice like a warm blanket. Lightfoot’s
Railroad Trilogy came alive with the symphony Brass painting the Majesty
and adventure of the Canadian Rockies.
Danial Zadkovitch (ZAK) on Guitar and Background vocals added the tone
and touch only a seasoned professional could do in capturing the nuance
of its originator, Guitarist Red Shea.
To all our amazing AFM 591 Brothers and Sisters in the show.
I LOVED IT
May 15, 2024
AFM LOCAL 591
By Wayne Faulconer
The lyrics of Gordon Lightfoot with Rodney Brown’s uniquely timbered
voice was an absolute treat for my ears.
This was not your usual look alike/sound alike tribute. This was from the
heart and soul of a truly fine singer songwriter combined with the musical
arrangements of Pops Conductor Jeff Christmas and the performance of
the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
When performing Gordon’s song “beautiful”, the lush Symphonic sounds
wrapped Rodney’s expressive voice like a warm blanket. Lightfoot’s
Railroad Trilogy came alive with the symphony Brass painting the Majesty
and adventure of the Canadian Rockies.
Danial Zadkovitch (ZAK) on Guitar and Background vocals added the tone
and touch only a seasoned professional could do in capturing the nuance
of its originator, Guitarist Red Shea.
To all our amazing AFM 591 Brothers and Sisters in the show.
I LOVED IT
May 15, 2024
Rodney Brown at the Free Times Cafe
“The Lightfoot songs are amazing. I wasn’t prepared for that - Rodney’s voice is perfect for Gordon’s songs.”
Northwestern-Ontario singer & songwriter Rodney Brown brought his distinctive talents to the Free Times Cafe in Toronto last night. Besides his reliable original compositions, Rodney delivered some outstanding renditions of Gordon Lightfoot classics such as Sundown, Early Morning Rain, Black Day In July, and the Canadian Railroad Trilogy. He knows the songs well and performed them with style and a relaxed confidence. Clearly he loves this material, and so did the audience. It helps that Rodney's own North Ontario singing style fits perfectly with Lightfoot's words and music. Rodney doesn't 'interpret' Lightfoot's material so much as channel it, making his own voice transparent as he journeys to the heart of the song, just like Gord did.
~ Michael Cavanaugh
April 28, 2024
Northwestern-Ontario singer & songwriter Rodney Brown brought his distinctive talents to the Free Times Cafe in Toronto last night. Besides his reliable original compositions, Rodney delivered some outstanding renditions of Gordon Lightfoot classics such as Sundown, Early Morning Rain, Black Day In July, and the Canadian Railroad Trilogy. He knows the songs well and performed them with style and a relaxed confidence. Clearly he loves this material, and so did the audience. It helps that Rodney's own North Ontario singing style fits perfectly with Lightfoot's words and music. Rodney doesn't 'interpret' Lightfoot's material so much as channel it, making his own voice transparent as he journeys to the heart of the song, just like Gord did.
~ Michael Cavanaugh
April 28, 2024
Songs of Gene McLellan - TBSO