BEAUTIFUL LIFE IS COMING HOME!

This article was originally published in May 2008. Doc Walker, named 2009 Group of the Year, plays Friday night in Maple Ridge to launch their Speed of Life Tour and new album Go, which includes the great hit Coming Home. See their website at www.docwalker.ca.

When – or if – you think of famous Manitobans who don’t farm, hunt, curl or invent mosquito repellents, names
such as Tommy Douglas, Terry Sawchuk, Monty Hall, Doug Henning, Anna Paquin, Neil Young, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman spring to mind.
Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw and Murray Pulver have some serious work ahead of them to join that Prairie province’s privileged few, but the friendly faces and awesome sound of award-winning country group Doc Walker are at least heading in the right direction – and having bushels of fun doing it.
On a cross-country tour to promote their album Beautiful Life, and the mega-hit by
the same name, the musicians from Portage La Prairie filled the Commodore Ballroom Thursday night and didn’t disappoint the standing room-only crowd that, for the most part, opted to leave the cowboy hats and rodeo attire at home.
Minus the gimmicks, smoke machines, dancers and flashy lights that often overshadow the performers and music at way too many overproduced concerts these days, Doc Walker relies solely on their music, their distinct voices and an uncanny ability to instantly connect with young and old, city folk or cowpoke.
They also skipped the “We love you (insert city name)” platitudes and, instead, shared the fact that, as excitable Prairie boys they are always amazed with driving through the mountains and seeing the Pacific Ocean. In fact, they decided to shoot a video in Vancouver this week to promote their next single.
The new album provided those moments too, via Phil Collins’ hit ditty That’s All and Doc Walker’s new romantic song One Last Sundown, a guaranteed hit waiting for air play, and a catchy tune Echo Road.
Doc Walker also made people scream, sing and cry when they performed Rocket Girl, their huge hit off the debut 2001 album Curve that helped them eventually capture the Group of the Year at the CCMAs in 2004 and 2005.
But it was their fresh hit Beautiful Life that really ignited the entertaining evening as cellphones with cameras began clicking and the diverse crowd, that included 20- and 60-somethings, drowned out the band by singing along word for word.
They say in country music that if you can get people to line dance to your music you’ve got it made – singing to a new single is pure gold and, no doubt, music to Doc Walker’s ears and dreams.
A beautiful life, indeed.
FINAL LICKS – Doc Walker plays in Kamloops tonight, Kelowna tomorrow, Terrace on Friday and Kitimat Saturday.