Lisa Brokop

Lisa Brokop

Thursday February 1, 2001

Lisa Brokop’s long awaited Ontario tour was winding down when we attended the last show, at the Oakville Centre For The Performing Arts. We had managed to see her last September at another event but we weren’t able to stay to see if she performed, since it was a late running benefit event, so we were looking forward to the show. With the latest CD getting very good reviews and liking the single “Something Undeniable” as much as we did we knew we would be in for a great show (and we weren’t wrong). Lisa is an artist that is very deserving of the adoration she gets from her fans and a very approachable lady, and her show is set out the same way by drawing the audience into it and making them such a big part of everything.

The opening spot at this show was taken by Keith Thompson, who evidently had lots of fans present if the screams and proclamations of love were any indication. It never hurts to know the crowd loves you, even before you’ve finished your set. Keith performed many songs from his debut CD (that will be out soon), “If Love Could”. He also took some time out to speak to the audience (and reply to the love calls), which is a nice change for most artists just dipping into the ‘big spotlight’. Most of the time they seem terrified to acknowledge the audience and just try to get as much material into their allotted time as they can, so this was a refreshing change. Telling the crowd that the next song had something to do with a friend of his who’d played with him for a few years, Mike Destun, Keith then updated them about the upcoming Have-A-Heart Benefit being held for Mike’s infant son, Zachary, who’d had a heart transplant. This was another very nice touch. “Field Of Broken Dreams” is a beautiful acoustic number (as were all of Keith’s numbers, being up there alone the way he was). A very composed fellow, he decided to do a song called “Cheshire Grin”, inspired as it was by the ‘cat fight’ of sorts by rival admirers in different sections of the audience. It must be rough to be this admired! The opening set was very informal, very well performed and we enjoyed it quite a bit, as did the reams of fans of this promising performer. Good job!

Lisa was announced by Dick Reeves from 820 CHAM, and it seems we see Dick wherever we go these days. I don’t know how he finds time to do his show since he’s always somewhere announcing folks at their concerts. Lisa strode out, looking very lovely in a red jacket and dark pants and top, and took her seat at the front of her four-piece ensemble. All I can say is, this lady is really something else. Her first song was a beautiful version of “Born In Bethlehem”, a song she felt she could get away with since Christmas wasn’t that far behind us. When you get such a radiant smile with the reasoning you don’t argue, you just sit back and enjoy. “What’s Not To Love?” was her second song and she really powered up for that one. You won’t find a richer, more full bodied voice anywhere. Lisa took a minute to remark on the tour, which she called her ‘acoustic version’, opting for a scaled down show instead of the big multi-member production number some always go with. I find this type of show is the best, just them, some great music and us.

“Cool Summer Night” from her last album was a very nice choice, as was “Ain’t Enough Roses”. Lisa had to relate a funny story about the creation of that song to us. She’d started out with two songwriting pals to write a song that wasn’t (in her words) a ‘male bashing song’, since there seemed to be too many of them out there. By the time they changed what they worked on and said things in ways they were happy with, what did they end writing? Yup – a male bashing song. So be it.

“I’d Like To See You Try” from her new CD is a very rockin’ saucy tune that I really liked. For those who like their ballads the tune recorded as a duet with Hal Ketchum, “Keep Mom and Dad In Love” is a heart tugging story song. It’s also one of three new videos she just made in Calgary that will be on CMT starting Monday February 5. For an explosive song with excellent harmony work Lisa asked “Who You Gonna Be When You Get To Be You?” and it went by way to fast. I don’t know how long that song was but it didn’t seem long enough.

Lisa had been dreaming about singing on the Grand Ole Opry when she was only six or seven, and the day came when she did get that chance and she was introduced by Porter Wagoner. Since that dream had come true she decided to add some traditional country songs to her show, and she announced she’d do a tribute of sorts to Tammy Wynette. “I Don’t Want To Play House” let the rich, powerful vocals loose on the world of Oakville. “Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” and Lisa’s favourite song, the Hank Williams Sr. tune “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” were up next.

Introducing us to the spot on musicians she’d brought with her, we had some applause especially for Wayne (dobro & acoustic), Tom (acoustic), Mike (drums) and Linda (bass). They had some excellent vocal abilities too and sounded amazing with Lisa’s voice. “Say” and “Timeless” from the new CD were up next and based on the fact that I’ve liked all of them so far I will definitely recommend picking it up. “Whisky and Wine” is a real tribute to talent and the song itself says quite a bit. “If I Cross My Heart” is a tune written with a relatively new writing partner (Kim Patton Johnston), who has proven to be a great conductor for good material when she and Lisa write together.

In light of the rather intimate setting and with everyone listening rather than competing with their own noise the crowd was rather quiet now (with Keith Thompson safely backstage, anyway), so Lisa decided some audience participation was called for the next song. “Hand It Over” had the crowd clapping along with the band. “Thousand Rooms” is a very new song, that Lisa had written only a couple of weeks ago with her previously mentioned favourite co-writer. She sheepishly admitted that she’d been reading the book “Hannibal” and a remark in the book prompted an idea that turned into the song. But she was quick to point out that no other part of the book inspired any further creativity, getting a good laugh from the crowd. As sometimes happens, the unexpected silence of her vocals due to a defective microphone had her look around (startled for a split second maybe), then the large grin as she continued to strum (being alone up there with her guitar now – the songs were so new the band didn’t know them yet). She leaned around the microphone to call out to the crowd “If he didn’t like it, he could have waited until it was finished”, getting a real belly laugh from the expectant crowd. A sprinting soundman hurtled up the stairs and quickly switched mics, before disappearing just as fast. On with the show. “Do You Know Me” is a beautiful song that was inspired by all of the people you’d meet in the course of a day, who work at what they do out of the limelight but making a difference in the world all the same. Lisa wasn’t sure if she’d record any of her new songs and wanted to see how they’d be received first before deciding and I have to say, that one is a real winner. If the song doesn’t get recorded the world will be missing a great message.

The band came back out for “On The Backroads”, followed by “How Do I Let Go”, another of Lisa’s powerful signature songs. “Something Undeniable” took the show to a close, until the crowd insisted that they come back out. A request from the crowd resulted in the encore being “Take That”, one she’d been thinking of doing herself. Lisa had decided to finish off with her favourite song from the new CD, “Dark Side Of The Moon”, and it’s another winner. As if there would be any doubt.

“There are angels all around, in the sky and on the ground…” (from “Do You Know Me”) Yes, for a couple of hours, we had one sitting in front of us on a stool, sharing her thoughts and incredible voice and keeping the world out for just a little while. Thanks Lisa, for taking us away with you.

We would like to thank Lisa Brokop for being so wonderful, welcoming and for being such an inspiration. You won’t find anybody else who so perfectly fits the definition of ‘Lady’. We’d also like to thank Dean Brokop of Brokop Entertainment for his help with this coverage. Thanks to the staff of the Oakville Centre For The Performing Arts for being so helpful and welcoming, the staff is a direct reflection of a quality venue and it was a pleasure to visit you. Thanks also to Keith Thompson for the great show and for the excellent conversations we’ve had, we know we’ll see lots more of you (you may regret that eventually). If you get a chance to see either Keith Thompson or Lisa Brokop when they visit near you I highly recommend it, you’ll have the time of your life.

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Written by Kim Jamieson

Photos by Wayne Tozzi