May 29, 2026
The Guess Who headline
So, this was a bit of a different trip to Laval where The Guess Who were gearing up to play. By now, I’m quite used to seeing a lot of legends and their farewell tours come to town. But this was a little bigger than that. The Guess Who were here for one night only, on their Takin ‘It Back tour.
Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings were celebrating getting the rights back to their namesake. Along for this ride was Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles, with equal amounts of legal battles in his belt.
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Making a point to arrive at Place Bell early enough, yet still managed to get lost in the sea of intersecting lines of impatient concertgoers. I think we all had the same idea, and it created a bigger rush in, but we were determined not to miss Don Felder. It was both the faults of modern technology and a shortage of staff that forced some delays and confusion. I ended up sadly skipping a good portion of songs by the time I could settle into my seat. Easily echoing memories of a simpler time when we could just get in with a ticket and not have to pay extra to have one printed.
Don Felder
I was impressed by Felder’s presence onstage, as I could hear it as I had rushed in. No one wanted to move, I get it.
He was hitting all the notes at seventy-eight years young, while being solidly supported by a three-piece band. Hopefully, there wasn’t going to be too much Heartache Tonight because we were all up dancing without a care in the world for just a couple of hours. The extra room on the floor granted the old and young a little more space to show off their dancing moves.
I had a few avid concert goers like myself in my row, who helped make the most out of the experience, which definitely added to my night. Also, I was equally mindful of those less mobile who would have loved to be up and moving, too. Speeding it up a notch, for the eighties metal fans, he played Heavy Metal (Takin’ A Ride) off the soundtrack of the animated movie, having all the graphics syncing onscreen.
They finished that part of the set with a couple more The Eagles tunes. Flying through Life In The Fast Lane, as the last few stragglers did the same to grab seats, hoping to catch the full gem, Hotel California. Strutting into the solo with his fancy finger work on his double-necked Gibson mixed with the sound of all three playing it in unison gave me goosebumps. Hard not to enjoy this song a little extra from beginning to end; it was a whole other experience live.
With only one song left, Felder ended with I Like The Things You Do from The Vault’s: Fifty Years of Music. Twenty-seven years playing with The Eagles, most people who got in super early were lucky enough to get almost a full set of just their hits.
The Guess Who
It wasn’t a long changeover before it was time for The Guess Who to come out and play for a packed Place Bell.
Taking the stage, looking like winners, with a little extra pride tonight. Beginning with 969 (The Oldest Man) and Proper Stranger. Tunes from the nineteen-seventy album American Woman that brought them worldwide recognition at the time of release. Hand Me Down World was most relevant today, as our great Canadian economy was back in a recession and endless war.
Every song had some connected memory to those who grew up with it, and there was a lot in just a few short years. Bachman brought out the bilingual talents for C’est-yeux – or – These Eyes. Starting in French for the first chorus had Laval in a frenzy.
Albert Flasher was actually played for the first time live in nineteen-seventy at Place Des Nations in Montreal. Coming full circle to play it for us all these years later for us, here, tonight. We always get a little extra. And rightfully so!
Real fans knew they’d be getting some Bachman Turner Overdrive tonight, mixed in with all the other Canadian-made music of The Guess Who. Straight from the Bachman Turner Overdrive catalogue, we got Let It Ride, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, and a perfect show closer, Takin’ Care Of Business. We all Clapped For The Wolfman with Cummings funky piano playing. Slowing it down with Laughing, No Time and Undun off the nineteen-sixty-nine album Canned Wheat. Breaking things down in between it with a mostly instrumental Guns, Guns, Guns.
Coming back with some more French singing, covering Allez Venez Milord from the legendary Edith Pilaf. Almost as if there were an implied French ruling as they tried for the Habs. But not tonight, it was only to show off a little and have fun for Quebec. Along with the Ocean’s song Put Your Hand In The Hand. Cummings followed that up with his song My Own Way To Rock.
American Woman was extended with the Roadhouse Blues snippet. With a perfect transition into an epic montage of No Sugar Tonight, New Mother Nature and No Time. Before heading backstage to return and deliver their final encore, Share The Land and grand finale, Takin’ Care Of Business.
Upon only recently learning the full story behind Taking Care Of Business and the influence Elvis had on Bachman and Cummings. The reason for them venturing into rock and roll to its fullest with talents they already possessed, potentially becoming almost as big as their influence.
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>> Angine de Poitrine at Minotaure, Gatineau
>> Journey at Bell Center, Montreal
>> Live at Place Bell, Laval
The rundown is Elvis heard Takin’ Care Of Business on the radio and named his band, his crew, after them. When the chance finally came along to meet Elvis. Bachman was no longer in the band, so he never got to meet his idol.
Imagine that, never meeting but being just as influential in each other’s lives in some way. That’s the real rocking spirit still going, that I was privileged to get to experience tonight. My parents certainly raised me on some great music.
