Employee of the Myth

A continuation of Episode 18 with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, this is a special live-off-the-floor recording session of Jim's song "Anywhere Else But Home" from his new solo album All The World Fades Away.Recorded by Tim Vesely at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio.The band:Jim Cuddy: acoustic guitar, vocalsAndy Maize: vocalsAnne Lindsay: fiddleJane Gowan: accordionTim Vesely: bassmore info:jimcuddy.combluerodeo.comanne-lindsay.comskydiggers.comthevioletarchers.comA co-production by Music Buddy and Employee of the MythStream, download, and follow SkydiggersEmployee of the Myth is brought to you by Skydiggers ProductionsFeaturing: Andy Maize and Josh FinlaysonProducer & co-host: Joel StewartHost and Editor: Jane Gowan (Music Buddy)Audio Engineer: Tim Vesely

"Blue Rodeo...were at the vanguard of creating a national movement of roots music...that really captured peoples' imaginations in the late 80s early 90s, and continues to this day" — Andy Maize"The thing about community is that there are a lot of opportunities to give...[The] Christmas show from Skydiggers always feels like a gift... like [they're] doing this as an offering...Their band has never really let me down. I listen to every record and I think 'good on ya boys, you did again'. That show is like that too - one thing after another that's given to the audience, and it's not about their career, it's about this offering at a very important time of year"— Jim CuddyLoyalty, gratitude, and a belief in living fully: These are some of the things that motivate and inspire musician, singer, and songwriter Jim Cuddy. His new album All The World Fades Away (June, 2024) is—in his words—a "fictionalized memoir". It's a collection of personal and poignant songs infused with appreciation of life, love, family, and friendship. Please enjoy this special conversation with guest Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo. Featuring Andy Maize, Jane Gowan, Joel Stewart, and Tim Vesely.This episode is a co-production between Music Buddy and Employee of the Myth.Music samples in this episode:"Learn to Live Alone" - Jim Cuddy (All The World Fades Away, 2024)"Second Son" - Jim Cuddy (All In Time, 1998)"Everyday Angels" - Jim Cuddy (All The World Fades Away, 2024)"Will I Be Waiting" - Jim Cuddy (The Light That Guides You Home, 2006)"Arizona Dust" - Jim Cuddy (The Things We Left Behind, 2009)"Bad Timing" - Blue Rodeo (Five Days in July, 1993)"Torn" - Jim Cuddy (All The World Fades Away, 2024)More about Jim Cuddy at jimcuddy.comMore about Blue Rodeo at bluerodeo.comStream, download, and follow SkydiggersEmployee of the Myth is brought to you by Skydiggers ProductionsFeaturing: Andy Maize and Josh FinlaysonProducer & co-host: Joel StewartHost and Editor: Jane Gowan (Music Buddy)Audio Engineer: Tim Vesely

"At the end of the day, that's all there is. It's friends and community, or else you're on a desert island all by yourself" — Ron Macey"Ronny came down [to The Spadina Hotel] to check us out. We did our set, and after, I said to Josh, "I don't give a sh•t how he plays, he looks so fantastic, he's in the band". — Andy MaizeIn the days of classified ads and land lines, a young and dashing Ron Macey put a callout in the back of NOW magazine, looking for a band that might need an "average bass player" (his words, not ours). Andy saw the ad, and Josh dialled the number. Before long, Ron became Skydiggers' first bassist. In doing so, he found good friends, a musical family, and a path he'd follow for many years—and several albums—to come.Recorded on location, mid-tour, in Vancouver, B.C. Please enjoy a special conversation with Ron Macey a.k.a. "Ronny von Johnny" a.k.a. "The West Coast Millionaire". It's sweet, it's salty, it's Skydiggers.  Songs used in this episode:"Je t'aime toujours, mon amour" - Skydiggers (Bide Your Time, 2023)"My City is Gone" - Skydiggers (Hide Your Light, 2023)"I Am A Pilgrim" - Skydiggers (Live at The Spadina Hotel, 1988)"Maybe It's Just Not Good Enough - Skydiggers (Skydiggers, 1990)"Desmond's Hip City" - Skydiggers (Desmond's Hip City, 1997)"Dear Henry" - Skydiggers (Desmond's Hip City, 1997)"All of Our Dreaming" - Skydiggers (Bittersweet Harmony, 2003)"Debris" - Skydiggers (Hide Your Light, 2023)"Hello Beautiful Life" - Skydiggers (City of Sirens, 2008)Stream, download, and follow SkydiggersEmployee of the Myth is brought to you by Skydiggers ProductionsFeaturing: Andy Maize and Josh FinlaysonProducer & co-host: Joel StewartHost and Editor: Jane Gowan (Music Buddy)Audio Engineer: Tim Vesely

Whether it's creating Skydiggers classics with his long-time musical compadre Andy Maize, co-writing songs with heavy-hitters in Nashville, or composing music for television, Josh Finlayson places a high value on being a  collaborator. In Josh's words, "...no one has the best ideas always. Anyone can have the best idea at any given moment, and to recognize [that] is what being a good collaborator is all about..."Aside from his 30+ years creating with Andy and Skydiggers, one of Josh’s most significant collaborations to date was with his good friend, the late Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip. Josh co-produced and performed on Gord’s first solo album, Coke Machine Glow, and remained a bandmate, creative sounding board, and trusted ally—witnessing Gord's fearless strength and boundless creative energy—until the singer's death in 2017 from brain cancer. In this episode, Josh opens up about that relationship, and what he calls "an incredible journey". Songs used in this episode:"The Talk of the Town" - Tom Wilson (Dog Years, 2006)"Chancellor" - Gord Downie (Coke Machine Glow, 2001)"Every Irrelevance" - Gord Downie (Coke Machine Glow, 2001)"River Don't Care" - Gord Downie (Away is Mine, 2020)"Hotel Worth" - Gord Downie (Away is Mine, 2020)"The Stranger" - Gord Downie (Secret Path, 2016)Stream, download, and follow SkydiggersEmployee of the Myth is brought to you by Skydiggers ProductionsFeaturing: Andy Maize and Josh FinlaysonProducer & co-host: Joel StewartHost and Editor: Jane Gowan (Music Buddy)Audio Engineer: Tim Vesely