I’m in Mesa, Arizona to back up singer Michelle Wright at a couple of concerts for the Canadian Snowbird Association. Apparently, some Canadians don’t enjoy ice and snow as much as they once did, and so they migrate each winter to warmer climates, such as the Phoenix area. This two-day show at the Marriott Convention Center features lots of booths offering merchandise and services of interest to the, shall we say, “mature” demographic of retired Canadians, along with an assortment of Canadian entertainers.

At a fun and raucous dinner party Monday night, I met some of the other performers, including juggler-comedian Sean Emery, multiple Grammy winner and Canadian Polka King Walter Ostanek, Nova Scotia tenor Tom Leadbeater, and comedy duo Bowser and Blue. The jokes were flying fast and furious as the wine flowed, and it was apparent how much they enjoy each other’s company, having traveled for three weeks together doing other Snowbird concerts in retiree hotspots such as Lakeland, Florida and South Padre Island, Texas, as well as performing in the show in previous years.

Walter Ostanek performs

When I flew out of Nashville on Monday it was 16 degrees, but it is a pleasant 65 here, and our hotel is surrounded by palms and large orange trees covered with fruit. Not a bad place to be in the middle of February. I guess that’s what attracts all these Canadians…

Michelle and I went over the songs she wants to do after I arrived Monday afternoon. Since we are performing this time as a duo, I have to adjust my acoustic guitar parts to try and cover as much of each song’s signature licks and feel as I can, and I’m also having to sing some different vocal parts than when we have the full band.

I walked over to the convention center on Tuesday shortly before our performance time at 2 o’clock, and I was amazed to see that the place was packed wall to wall with grey-haired Canadian retirees, with Walter Ostanek on stage playing some great accordian polka music. When it was our turn to play, we did a half an hour of Michelle’s biggest hits such as “Take it like a man” and “He would be sixteen.” The crowd seemed to like it, although being Canadians they are always a bit reserved.

At 5:30 I joined the entertainers and promoters jammed into a hotel room for some cocktails before dinner. There was a lot of loud laughter, but also some sadness. Two very expensive acoustic guitars belonging to a couple of the acts were stolen sometime last night, and the police are investigating, but it’s obvious that it is a long shot to recover them. I’m reminded why I always take my guitar with me instead of leaving it overnight at a venue.

At 6:30 it was time for dinner in the hotel restaurant, and we spent another couple of boisterous hours eating, conversing, and trading jokes. This is so different than most gigs, where we have to leave immediately after a show to catch a plane or drive to another town.

I kind of like it…