I Saw Hootie Last Night

01/07/09 6:40pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

I don't know how you folks spent your Tuesday evening, but I'm sure it wasn't as eventful as mine. The headline at the top of this story is no lie: I saw Hootie.

The former frontman for The Blowfish, whose 1994 Cracked Rear View debut album sold 16 million copies in the U.S. alone, was at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern playing an early evening private showcase.

I could tell it wasn't going to be my average night at the 'Shoe as soon as I walked into the back room, which was filled with contest winners from local radio station Country 95.3 FM.

Apart from the contingent of EMI Music Canada staffers and a few other music industry members, I didn't recognize anyone. But there were lots of suburban-looking people, some wearing cowboy hats, milling about. Many of them were seeking autographs and photos with the gracious and congenial Hootie, who accomodated everyone while standing at the bar before taking the stage.

A number of patrons asked bemused bartender Jason Shirley if he served food or Coors Light. He had neither, so many of them ordered a Coke for themselves and a Diet Coke for their significant other — or vice versa. Hootie, who (judging by some of his lyrics and stories I've heard from people who've spent time with him) doesn't mind the odd drink, seemed amused enough by this to give the barkeep a $40 tip.

Hootie & The Blowfish played their first Canadian show at the 'Shoe in front of 40 people back in their early days. Within months, they were attracting audiences in the thousands.

That was then. This is now. But 42-year-old Hootie wanted to return to the 61-year-old venue to promote his debut country album, Learn To Live, which was released in September under his real name: Darius Rucker.

But before Hootie (I know that's not his real name, but I like Hootie and I'm sticking to it) took his turn, EMI Canada signings One More Girl came on stage around 7 p.m. to perform a three-song set that included their debut single, "I Can Love Anyone."

Seventeen-year-old Britt McKillip and her 19-year-old sister Carly are the daughters of Tom McKillip, who has produced albums for Canadian country stars Lisa Brokop and Aaron Pritchett, among others. They already have extensive film and television acting credits, so being in the spotlight on stage singing and playing acoustic guitars shouldn't pose a problem for them.

I can't say that their set did much for me, but if Taylor Swift can be the top-selling artist in the U.S. in 2008, there must be a market for cute, blonde teenage girls who sing country songs.

CMT's Casey Clarke asked "Are you ready to get your mind blown?" before introducing Hootie, who came on stage and sat on a stool with another guy who did likewise. They both had acoustic guitars. Hootie sang, the other gent provided a few harmonies. My mind was so ready to be blown, but, as one song turned into the next, it wasn't.

A white-haired retired guy — who said he was dragged to the showcase by his much younger sister and that he didn't know or care about any music made after 1973 — stood beside me at the bar. He hadn't been to the 'Shoe in 25 years.

"It was a shithole then and it's a shithole now," he said.

The retired dude peppered me with questions as the Charleston, S.C.-born Hootie showed off his impressive voice on the Cracked Rear View hit "Let Her Cry," a cover of Hank Williams Jr.'s "Family Tradition" and new solo songs including "Forever Road," "It Won't Be Like This For Long," "All I Want," "Drinkin' And Dialin'," the a capella "While I Still Got The Time" and the U.S. country chart-topping "Don't Think I Don't Think About It."

The old guy next to me was anxious to leave as soon as the set was over, but not before he bought me a Labatt 50 because he said I both put up with and entertained him. He commanded his brother-in-law to give me a beer, too, and there was compliance.

It was a Tuesday, but "Nu Music Night" host Dave Bookman took the evening off and was nowhere to be found. Still, I stuck around for another ale and to check out the tie-and-jacket-clad Cunninghams. The Toronto rockers were decent, but unexceptional. But they'll always have bragging rights that Hootie opened for them.