Faithful flock to hear Tom Cochrane CALGARY - To his fans, Tom Cochrane never left the big league.

He strutted along the Coca-Cola Stage last night, guitar dangling, as though he he were still on the massive arena tours which emerged circa Mad Mad World.
The over-capacity crowd sang along and responded accordingly as though they, too, were in the Saddledome. Many of these Stampeders, it can be assumed, planned their trip to the grounds especially on account of the show.
Cochrane made the iffy weather, parking hassles and sore feet worth their while.
OK, so maybe it had been a while since they bought their Mad Mad World tour shirts. Calgarians did have trouble keeping up the audience participation segment of Good Times.
Then again, Cochrane himself nearly let the words escape him. But he laughed it off and continued with his itinerary of well-used (though hardly worn) hits.
Sinking Like a Sunset, Life is a Highway... Cochrane didn't dare miss one as he showed the recent unplugged theatre tour was possibly just a phase.
Whereas Cochrane's last visit may have featured a laconic variation of White Hot, he resumed the original's cruising altitude. It was simmering if anything.
He continues to take some extra time to give narration to the songs about to be presented, hearkening back to the intimate performances. (Including some sly Alberta pride massaging before Big League.)
However, the delivery is much the same.
Cochrane still arches his back, pops his mouth open like a denim-clad Pez dispenser and lets loose raspy wail with CD-quality.
And, commendably, few of his past accomplishments seemed too dated. True, they don't sound like
cutting-edge '90s pop music -- but nor do they sound like anything you'd find on Time Life's Sounds of 1989 Vol. 2.
And yes, Cochrane can still rock when called upon, as his signature song, Life is a Highway, confirmed.
Rather, we think Tom, life is a midway and a few thousand faithful rode it all night long.