‘Full authority and ownership’: Blue Blue Rodeo gets Toronto singing ‘Lake Ontario’

We thought this would happen. Every summer, Blue Rodeo’s annual headlining show at Toronto’s RBC Amphitheatre ends with the beloved Canadian Music Hall of Famers bringing the opening acts back onstage — this year William Prince and newcomer Billianne — for “Lost Together,” inviting the audience to sing along. It’s arguably the highlight of the night. But on Saturday (Aug. 29), another song was eagerly anticipated because of one particular lyric in the roots-rock band’s 1993 hit “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet.”

“I’m going to ask you to sing a song with us,” said Greg Keelor, who has fronted the Toronto band with Jim Cuddy for 42 years — playing the waterfront venue a record 27 times. “And at the end of this song, there’s a mention of a lake.”

He paused for just a second as 16,000 people cheered, a collective F.U. to the leader to our south.  “And it’s right behind us, right there. I guess it’s becoming a little controversial — the name of this lake — so I would just like you to sing tonight with full authority and ownership.”

Last Thursday (Aug. 27), U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” Google Maps has already made the change for U.S. users, which has largely been met with backlash.

Prime Minister Mark Carney responded with a social media post tracing the history of the name Lake Ontario to the Wendat word Ontari’io, stating that its origin is “more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America,” adding, “Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.”

So when Keelor neared the end of “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet” and sang, “Watching the snowfall on this cold December night and out in the middle of Lake Ontario,” 16,000 voices joined him — loudly, proudly and, as he requested, with authority and ownership.

It was one of the night’s most memorable moments, but there were plenty of others, just hearing the stellar songs that mean so much to so many Canadians. Ten songs from the setlist Blue Rodeo played at their previous two amphitheatre shows; people would be mad if they didn’t:  “5 Days in May,” “Rose-Coloured Glasses,” “Head Over Heels,” “What Am I Doing Here,” “Trust Yourself,” “Diamond Mine,” “Til I Am Myself Again,” “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” “Try” and “Lost Together.”

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While they’ve played those songs literally hundreds of times, there were three they haven’t even played 50 times live.

“Here’s one we haven’t done for a long time,” Keelor said early in the set of “The Ballad of the Dime Store Greaser and the Blonde Mona Lisa,” reiterating afterwards that “We’re going to do a few tonight that you haven’t heard too much. So, I hope you enjoy,” namely the dig-deep ballad “It Makes Me Wonder” and more optimistic “Always Getting Better.”

As the night went on Cuddy, fed up with much of the audience staying seated, waved his arms to encourage everyone to stand for “Trust Yourself,” which led into the anticipated “Diamond Mine,” an eerie-sounding song about an unbreakable connection, complete with a cacophonous jam. When Keelor sang “our love shines,” the lights brightened dramatically over the crowd.

And while the songs themselves were the draw, the concert was also a showcase for the exceptional musicianship within the band, with each member getting opportunities to step forward for solos and stretch out in extended jams. The arrangements gave the songs room to breathe, turning familiar material into moments of discovery and reminding the audience just how accomplished Blue Rodeo is as a live band.

For the closer, Cuddy declared, “Okay, it’s now officially time for everybody to get up. Let’s see some energy in this place. Come on! Everybody!” That set up “Til I Am Myself Again,” followed by “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet,” as the backdrop showed a map of Ontario and clearly marked Lake Ontario — a quick production addition to the backdrop, considering Trump only just made the ridiculous pronouncement.  

The concert also happened to fall on Keelor’s birthday. His wife brought out a cake, prompting the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday,” before Cuddy launched into the gorgeous ballad “Try.” Then came the traditional finale.

Cuddy said, “We were very lucky” to have Billianne and William Prince open for them, inviting them and their bands back out for “Lost Together.” 

As the musicians played and the entire audience sang along, the annual tradition reached its joyous conclusion. “This is the highlight of our summer,” Cuddy said, echoing the feelings of many in the audience too.

Now it’s back to school, back to work, back to cooler weather, but Blue Rodeo will likely be playing throughout the year in smaller venues, returning, we know, for number 28 in 2027.