Story and Photos by Glenda S. Paradee
American country music singer-songwriter Suzy Bogguss performed at the MIM on April 2-3, 2024 in Phoenix, AZ.
Bogguss started off her show singing her big hit "Just Like the Weather" from her album 'Something Up My Sleeve', which was released in 1993. Bogguss then went right into her big hit "Outbound Plane" from her 'Aces' album that was released in 1991. Bogguss said, "That album put me on the map". She then performed the beautiful song "Aces". Bogguss really sang this song with such emotion.
Bogguss mentioned that Merle Haggard influenced her, and he had a long impact on her career. She said that Haggard wrote all of his songs for everybody. She felt really lucky to release her album titled 'Lucky' in 2014, a collection of Merle Haggard songs that Haggard gave her his blessing on. Bogguss proceeded to sing two of Haggard's songs, "Today I Started Loving You Again" and "Let's Chase Each Other Around the Room". The audience loved both of them.
Bogguss then introduced her amazing talented band, Craig Smith on guitar and vocals, and Rob Price on stand-up bass and vocals. Suzy asked if they would each tell a little bit about themselves. Craig said he is from the Orkney Islands of Northern Scotland and that he started playing firstly fiddle at 7 years old then started playing guitar at 11 years old. Rob said he is from Wales. He then sang a song in Welsh and asked us to sing along. Ha! Craig and Rob both have great accents. It's fun to listen to them talk. They are both amazing players and backup singers. Suzy played great acoustic guitar too throughout her concert.
Suzy has a new album out now called 'Prayin' For Sunshine'. It marks the first time Bogguss has penned an entire album. Bogguss mentioned that it is now #17 on the Americana charts. Bogguss and her husband, Doug Crider, wrote the album during the lockdown. Suzy also did a weekly show from her home called, "Wine Down Wednesday" to stay connected with her fans. She will still continue "Wine Down Wednesday" but not every week.
Bogguss then sang two more songs off her new album, "It's Too Late" and "It All Falls Down to the River". Both songs are remarkable.
Bogguss said that after she finished college and got a degree in jewelry working with gold and silver, she decided to jump in her camper truck with her cat and dog and travel and play music. She ended up at a little town outside Laramie called Centennial, Wyoming. She said back then there was only 50 people in Centennial... 49 men. So you could imagine it would be pretty easy to become popular there. While on the road she learned from some ranchers the cowboy western style song, "Night Rider's Lament". She sang that song and did some mighty fine yodeling in it too. Such a fun song. She then went into another cowboy western style song, "Other Side of the Hill". Suzy really has alot of fun up on stage with these songs. Throughout the whole concert she has fun. You can really feel that from her.
Bogguss then sang another fun song off her new album, "GPS" which she and her husband wrote while driving down the road.
Bogguss said that during the lockdown she also wrote a cookbook called "Suzy's Soup Night. She said she always loved making homemade soups. Her and her husband host an annual party for her birthday. The party falls between Christmas and New Year's so they are able to invite all their friends for a soup night party. When she decided to create a cookbook, she included recipes from many friends, including Terri Clark, Kathy Mattea and many more, in her book.
Suzy's cookbooks are available on her website, www.suzybogguss.com.
Bogguss then sang another cute song off her new album called "A Woman Who Cooks". Great song!
Bogguss then sang one of her fan favorite mega hits "Drive South" from her 1992 'Voices in the Wind' album. Then she treated the audience to another fan favorite, the Ian Tyson song, "Someday Soon" from her 'Aces' album. She sang this song so beautifully with so much heart.
Bogguss said she was so fortunate in the 90's to be a part of many tribute albums. She then went into a medley of songs she performed on tribute albums including the Crosby Stills & Nash song "Teach Your Children" from the Red Hot & Country album, the Beatles song, "All My Loving", the Bob Wills song, "Old Fashioned Love", the Eagles hit, "Take It To The Limit", and then the Buddy Holly song, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". The whole audience really enjoyed hearing Suzy sing all these amazing hits.
Bogguss then sang a very moving and beautiful song written by her husband, Doug Crider, called "Letting Go" which is off her 'Aces' album. This is a wonderful song. It was a big hit for Suzy. I loved it so much.
Bogguss then sang another one of her mega hits, "Hey Cinderella" written by herself and friend Matraca Berg that is off her 'Something Up My Sleeve' album. Bogguss and band members received a well-deserved rousing standing ovation from the audience. Suzy and band left the stage. They all returned to the stage for an encore.
Bogguss informed the audience that the Arizona Film Festival is screening a movie that is narrated by her. The movie is called "Everything Fun You Could Possibly Do in Aledo, Illinois". Suzy is a native of Aledo, Illinois, so it is more than fitting that she is the narrator of this movie. She and her husband wrote 12 or 13 songs for the movie. It is a heartfelt comedy. It is playing Friday, April 5th at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. Suzy will be doing a Q&A after the screening of the movie that night. Go see the movie when it comes to your area. For more information about the movie, go to https://www.aledomovie.com
Bogguss and band came up to the front of the stage off their mics and unplugged. She invited the audience to sing a song with her off her 2011 'American Folk Songbook' album titled "Red River Valley". It was so wonderful to hear the whole audience singing along with her. I sang too. It was a great ending to a great concert.
Bogguss took us all on a fantastic tour of music from the tapestry of her life, and we were all along for the ride with her. She is an amazing performer and a beautiful singer and a wonderful human being too. She is a true treasure.
Suzy Bogguss is a living legend of country music. I am a fan for life!
"To learn more about Suzy Bogguss and to see her upcoming tour dates, please visit her website HERE.
The MIM is a wonderful sounding venue. For upcoming shows, please visit their website HERE.
THANKS FOR THE MUSIC SUZY!
