Vancouver country artist Aaron Pritchett is no stranger to ARGRA and the Canadian International Gay Rodeo. As the headlining performer for the Saturday night cabaret, when the event was held at Symons Valley Ranch, he has fond memories of his appearances in 2003 and 2008, including agreeing to dress up for the event.
"The first time I played it, I didn’t even know it existed," he told GayCalgary. "I thought it was a pretty cool thing that it was out there – no pun intended – and happening. I have worked in theatre when I was younger with a lot of gay men and women. For them, especially back in the early 1990s, it was a tough thing to be out and open about it. To now have a full-on legitimate rodeo is an amazing thing and I think it is one of the coolest events around – to be honest. I wasn’t uncomfortable at all. People were singing along to the songs, so I obviously have fans of all walks of life. Whether they are gay, straight, black, white, purple, tall or short makes no difference to me. I have heard of that in the past – of other people bothered by it – but I wasn’t at all. If anything I embraced it and thought, it wasn’t your typical crowd, but it’s no different. In 2003 I got asked to put on a fireman’s outfit, and go shirtless, and I went for it. Of course I am going to do something like that – it’s fun. It’s a different atmosphere; it’s great. They had me put on the fireman’s pants and helmet, and suspenders, and I did it without my shirt on. Everybody seemed to really eat it up, which is how you want it to go."
The CRIR has taken a huge leap this year with a full music festival component that features Pritchett along with artists like The Village People, Emerson Drive, Tebey and Leann Rimes.
"I am shocked at how much it has grown. It went from a one-night event of music to this three-day festival, which is awesome to see it grow like that."
It is a great opportunity to connect with fellow artists. Pritchett is also appearing on Canada Day with Emerson Drive in Abbotsford, and always enjoys seeing his fellow Canadians.
"I don’t know what it’s like down in the States but, in Canada, it is quite tight. The keyboard player in Emerson Drive, Dale Wallace, was my keyboard player for four years. The rest of the guys in the band – guys like George Canyon, Paul Brandt – we are quite a tight knit community. It is like a family, and when we get the chance to play together like this, it is like a reunion. We don’t get to see each other that often during the year. We have a laugh and a beer, and tell stupid jokes, then go on our way to somewhere else. It is always awesome to see the other guys and girls."
Pritchett has been a staple of the Calgary music scene, whether headlining his own tours or appearing at Nashville North during the Stampede.
"One of my favourite memories of all time was my first Calgary Stampede. I was playing five shows a day; every day. It was amazing to be in the city for the first time and actually working like that, and taking in the summer. The weather was incredible. I got to spend my nights checking out really awesome bands. That was probably around 2000 or 2001 where I got to do that, and really take in all of the culture that was behind the Stampede itself. Going to see all these events that I had never seen before. Being from British Columbia, you don’t see a lot of rodeos at all. So it was great that first year. I just love coming back to the city all the time. I am on my way right there from Red Deer, where I was for a golf tournament the last couple of days. I always love coming into the city and seeing it from far away; it is a very distinctive city with the tower and skyline. It just brings back memories of my first Stampede. I am excited to be back and taking Calgary for a day off, which I am really looking forward too."
Playing a venue like the rodeo or Nashville North is a great opportunity to get new fans, and Pritchett always brings it.
"It doesn’t matter to me if there are 5,000 people, or 500 people, or 5 people; I put on the same show no matter what, always. That is something I have always done. I don’t lessen my show for people that are just there to have fun and don’t know me, and are just there to drink and party. It doesn’t matter to me; I just want to put on the best damn show. I feel like I achieve that every time, and have a blast. That is what you are in for whether you are at the rodeo show or at Nashville North, or a little pub and I happen just to be playing there. It is all the same."
Western Canadian music fans are very loyal, and even with Pritchett being from B.C., he is considered by many to be one of our own.
"It’s pretty amazing. I am this guy that got a bit of a late start in my music career; I was 31 by the time my first single hit radio. I didn’t expect anything to happen at that point and then boom: it hit and I got really lucky. The thing is, when I come back to Western Canada where I have played in clubs years ago like Ranchmans, to come back and have the crowds come out like they do, singing along to all these songs and just watching them do that, and the support, it is kind of like I pinch myself and think ‘this is kind of a crazy moment that I always wanted to happen’. Every day is kind of a shock – to be honest with you – that it is still going."
Most of the singles can be found on the recently released greatest hits album Body of Work.
"I didn’t know what time would be the right time to release a hits package. I’ve got 20-some odd hits that have been on the radio and videos on CMT; let’s put them all in a collection just for people to have on one CD. The one thing I was really looking forward too with that project was to be able to tell the stories of those songs: where they came from, and the little tiny things behind the scenes that you wouldn’t have heard of until you read them in that CD sleeve. I was really excited about it. The tough thing was trying to nail down 16 songs from 23. I had to leave a few out like "The Wait" and quite a few others. The thing that I try and think of now is, they will just be on the next greatest hits album if I get a chance to do it."
He is also keeping a close eye on his son Jordan’s career. Having had success as the lead guitarist of pop band, Faber Drive, Jordan recently kicked off a country music direction with Dan Arnold in the group King & Cash. The duo has been touring with Pritchett and will also appear at the rodeo as well as the Cowboy’s Tent July 12th. Their first single "Beer for That" has been getting radio play and it looks like Jordan will be following in dad’s footsteps. It’s clear that Aaron is proud of his son.
"He’s off to a really great start with King & Cash. They got their first single out last month and it is doing really well. He has a lot of experience being on the big stage and touring, because he played lead guitar for Faber Drive. So he’s got the touring experience and the large shows as being kind of a front guy, and having to put on the show. Now he’s got his own thing going into the country scene, adding his little inflections of rock and pop that he knows so much about already. I don’t really have to give him too much guidance. He has got everything pretty much down; he hops on a stage and owns it, and takes control, and has the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. I don’t really have to teach him much. I’d like to think, if anything, he is watching me on stage and taking a few pointers, because I love to work the crowd and try and look at everybody and get them feeling like they are on stage with me, or that I am in the crowd with them. I hope he’s taking those notes."
Jordan getting into music wasn’t something Aaron pushed for, but has been supportive of.
"I was really happy about it. He was 11 years old when I bought him his first guitar and he was playing it non-stop. He wasn’t doing it because I wanted him too, or because it was what his dad does. I was like ‘play guitar; you need to have something to take up your time other than video games’. He sat and played his guitar for three to four hours a day. He is also a phenomenal golfer. When it came time, and he turned 16, I bought him another guitar that he really wanted. He got that and was encouraged to play it even more, and had lessons. It has all built from there – and he is a natural singer too. When he put his band together I was encouraging him 100 per cent to go for it. Get your schooling done no matter what, try not to focus too much on having a relationship, because you are just a kid, and have fun and play music. That is exactly what he did. He did extremely well in school and became a phenomenal guitar player. Now he is a full-on musician working and making some money and it’s great."
Pritchett is also busy supporting multiple charitable endeavours and playing in charity golf tournaments and hockey games.
"Just having a name and not being able to use it towards good, I like to be able to help draw people somewhere they wouldn’t go to necessarily and bring awareness to different causes. One of my big causes is the Langley Animal Protection Society. It is all about the animals in that regard. I do stuff with the Vancouver Canucks alumni; I am an official member and on the hockey team. It is mostly fundraising so we do a lot of fundraising for a number of societies and Make-A-Wish. I love doing that because I have been fortunate to have three healthy kids, but some people aren’t, and I want to try and help put my name towards raising money for them. It is something that I hold very dear to me."
Country music has changed a lot over Aaron’s career with the genre of ‘Bro-country’ being a staple of radio and pop crossovers like Carrie Underwood being successful in both country and pop markets.
"The industry is a lot different from its roots. When we spoke last Johnny and June were a bit of a distant memory. But there are two things happening right now I think. There is a split, and one way is going the way of the bro country and pop country thing, and a lot of really slick production. People love it and it is great that younger people are really loving that. There is also this shift that I saw when I went to Nashville a couple of weeks ago. The industry is really trying to pull back towards that traditional country sound, a bit better production without trying to super produce a song. I am really liking what is happening with that. There are those inflections of Johnny and June coming back. I see a shift where there are two separate sides of country, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there is going to be a new country with a traditional sound. You can have two radio stations playing country music with completely different playlists. They predicted this happening in 1996 when the Dixie Chicks came out. I was like ‘No, they are still traditional country; they play banjo and mandolin and fiddle’. Now it is happening where the pop side of country music is taking off one way, and the traditional side is taking off the other way. I think it’s a good thing."
At 44, Aaron Pritchett still leaves everything on stage, something you can expect June 28th at the rodeo.
"To be honest, performing at 44 compared to 31, there is nothing different. If anything it is more energy, which is sort of strange. I find myself on stage going ‘How come I am still running around and my knees and hips aren’t hurting and I am not out of breath as much as I thought I would be at this stage?’ What keeps me going is the crowds. They sing along from the first song I play, "Let’s Get Rowdy", and by the end they are chanting "Hold My Beer". That’s an adrenaline rush. Ten per cent of my day is the glamourous part being on stage, and that is the most energetic by far – pouring sweat and putting everything I have into these songs on stage. That keeps me motivated and I feel more energetic every time I get on stage. Who knows – maybe I will be 80 and need an oxygen tank, but I’ll still be trying to run around like I do now. It is a loud, in your face, high energy show; start to finish. We start with a bang and end with a bigger bang. We try and have an awesome time. I try and make people feel like they are on stage with me and having as much fun as I am having. I like to feel like I am in the crowd at a really killer show. Hopefully I leave them wanting more; that’s my goal."
