I can't hide behind a group, or the safety of an institution like Blue Rodeo. I was sort of prepared for that, to be the one person defining everything, and it was great to get out and play with a brand new band. As opposed to writing a song about my daughter which I'm not sure I would finish for Blue Rodeo, it would be too personal. So not only is Cuddy laying bare his soul more than ever, he's also getting direct feedback from those who see him play and buy his records. So far, it's been an educational experience.
Music is a very emotional issue, what people like and how it's being changed.
I thought I would come out and be judged either by people who only wanted to hear Blue Rodeo songs or be judged on the basis of my new record. Now I think there's a lot more shades of gray than that, a lot more personal responses to it. In Montreal, people asked me about performing on my own, like I was cheating on my wife or something. Check out the Cdn. Artist Archive Cdn.