Seasoned bluesman Doc MacLean has a penchant for the open road.
So it suits his logic to be embarking on his 10th annual National Steel Big X Blues Tour to play more than 200 shows across Canada and the US.
“If you’re going to have a national tour, you need to play the whole nation,” he said.
With 43 years of professional experience—much of it spent on the road—MacLean has journeyed to the far corners of North America, plus everywhere in between, and he knows a lot of familiar faces.
“I’ve been on so many of the roads and I have so many friends in so many places that I can almost always stop somewhere and call somebody and go have a coffee.”
Social media has helped MacLean stay in touch with friends, near and far; his Facebook fan page is rife with feedback. And, he responds to almost every post.
Self-described as an “old-school” blues artist, MacLean befriended numerous blues musicians, including Son House, Tampa Red, and ‘Sippi Wallace during his earlier career travels.
His coarse, lively voice rolls like gentle thunder and is accompanied by his steel guitar licks that make feet tap and heads nod.
Aside from playing music and meeting people during his travels, MacLean keeps an eye out for the best breakfast joints.
“I collect breakfast joints the way other people collect ball cards or something,” he said. “Those mom n’ pop joints where you can go in, the waitress calls you darlin’, and you don’t even have to ask for coffee.”
MacLean’s trusted Lincoln Continental takes him to every “nook and cranny from coast to coast”, and has been on two previous national tours.
“They’re a beautiful car to drive. It’s more like a small house than a big car.”
Performing at those nooks and crannies guarantees MacLean every venue imaginable—from award shows to music festivals to soup kitchens, picket lines, and prisons. Performing at the latter three is “part of my overall background,” he said, referring to his dad, who was a civil rights lawyer.
He recalled playing at the Vancouver Native Health Society’s breakfast centre, and finding that experience more fulfilling than playing at local clubs and bars. He likes the idea of leaving a positive impression on a person and, in turn, that person leaving a positive impression on someone else.
“It’s like dominoes.”
After his latest tour is complete, MacLean will focus on releasing an album with his long-time friend and producer Colin Linden. MacLean last released an album about five years ago and looks forward to collaborating with friends. “I like to get my friends in on the project. I can’t say who’s going to be on it yet, but it’s a pretty interesting line up.”
Of course, his songs are inspired by stories from his travels, but MacLean also wants to release a book specifically about his Canadian adventures.
He has thoroughly documented every national tour, and keeps a blog of his latest tour adventures at bigxblues.blogspot.com. He said his book is a travel log, a music book, and biography—and, of course, will include information on some of Canada’s best breakfast joints.
Sarah Makowsky
Special to the Fitzhugh
