Alternative country singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger has been a staple of the Canadian music scene for the better part of two decades. Stagger, a tried and true touring musician, has time and time again redefined himself over his career with an impressive 11-album discography. His lauded 2019 album, Strange Path, was also accompanied by a book of the same name about his path through trauma, music, and healing.
Roughly a week before his four-night run of intimate concerts at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, BC, Leeroy shot the breeze with Tyson Elder about moving home from Alberta, performing during a pandemic, and his latest single, Black Teenagers.
Tyson Elder: I can’t start the interview without welcoming you back to Victoria. We’re happy to have you back (Yes, I speak for all of Victoria). How does it feel to be back in your old stomping grounds?
Leeroy Stagger: That’s so sweet of you, thank you Tyson! Well yes, it really is great to be back. I’m so in love with this city right now. It’s been a while, and a lot has changed, but it’s still got a lot of soul. My life looks a lot different now so I can see it through a new lens.
TE: What brought you, the family, and the Airstream to back to Vancouver Island from Alberta?
Leeroy: I think things had just run their course for us in Alberta. The lifestyle was great for someone who wants a slower pace culturally but we decided we needed a bit more going on. But the real catalyst was the political situation that is happening there now. Some of the best people I’ve ever met are still there holding down the fort so I have a bit of faith still. I do love that province and look forward to returning to visit and hopefully play.
TE: This week you have four shows in Sidney, BC at the Mary Winspear Centre (September 17th-20th, 2020). It must be exciting to get back on the stage and performing in front of people. Are these your first shows since the start of the pandemic?
Leeroy: Yes, it’s exciting, but also kind of strange. I’m like everyone else and trying to figure out how to navigate this new world. I’m just incredibly grateful that I was offered these shows. There’s not a lot of live music happening right now and I’m kind of in that sweet spot where I’m not too big that I can’t play the smaller capacity places and not so small that I’m not getting offers. I love the folks at the Winspear so it feels like home. I’ve played a couple of little things in the last couple of months, but nothing like this.
TE: Last October you played a spectacular concert at the Capital Ballroom in support of your album, Strange Paths. I have to say it was fantastic to watch you play your new music. What should we expect this weekend? Will you be playing solo or will there be some guest appearances?
Leeroy: Yes, that was a great night. Thank you for that. These shows will be pretty different, I’ll be performing as a duo with my guitar player Ryland Moranz, who will also be opening the shows. We’ve got lots of funny stories and a whole catalog of songs to play for you guys. I might debut some brand new songs as well.
TE: You’ve played the Mary Winspear Centre many times to a packed house with Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express. Do you feel the more intimate evenings of 50 person audiences gives you a better chance to connect with your fans and concertgoers?
Leeroy: Oh yeah, as I mentioned earlier, I do love the place and the people that work there. Salt of the earth and really great at what they do. I’ve always felt most comfortable with intimate crowds. I like to connect as much as possible with the listener so I’ll feel right at home.
TE: The Mary Winspear Centre has been getting critical acclaim both provincially and nationally for how they are presenting concerts and live events during the pandemic. Did their safety procedures factor into your decision to doing this series of concerts?
Leeroy: Absolutely, I can’t in good conscience and would never want to put my fans at risk. It sounds like they have the best case scenario going on out there.
TE: One of the things I’m very interested in with the upcoming concerts is how you are preparing yourself. Are you treating it differently than you would have before COVID?
Leeroy: Well artistically nothing has changed, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I want to play and working on the material that I need to brush up on. Personally it’s very hard for me to not be able to go out and greet fans. Connection with humans is what gives me life and it’s been hard not to be able to do that like normal. Maybe I can spend a bit of socially distanced time in the parking lot with folks if that happens but it’s a strange a beautiful new world we are in right now.
TE: Do you think that artists are going to have a new anxieties when it comes to performing live?
Leeroy: For sure. I really have to push myself to let go and be in the moment. It’s easy to get distracted with masks and if someone coughs or something. But if we’re all safe and smart, it’s easier to let go. I’ve found that alcohol changes things for people so I’m staying away from playing bars for a while. I’m grateful I have that luxury I suppose.
TE: Earlier this summer you released the song, Black Teenagers, in support of Black Lives Matter. The song is powerful and evocative of what has been happening in America and Canada. Could you speak on the importance of creating songs like this and how it came to writing it?
Leeroy: Sure, and thanks for bringing up that song. It’s a powerful one for me too. It just fell out of the sky for me. I wrote it and had it recorded in about 30 minutes. I’ve always written about what I see and feel, and it’s impossible not to bear witness to the injustices around the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless more but it was the killing of Elijah McClain that really opened my eyes. As a father I can’t help but care for a child like that. I’m angry and sad but most importantly I’m waking up to the systemic racism that exists. I write songs about people and the world, that’s my job. I try to do it with some truth and try to make a spark of action in the everyday person that wants to listen. I can’t help but care about everyone, especially the ones that need it most.
TE: Thanks for taking the time for chatting with me, Leeroy. I’m really looking forward to making your concert the first show I’ve been to since March.
Leeroy: Thank you Tyson, I’m looking forward to playing for you.
Tickets are still available for Leeroy Stagger’s intimate four evening residency at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, BC. Tickets are $33.08 + fees.
Listen to his latest single Black Teenagers, as well as his full discography, on Spotify.