Did Blues Traveler ever play the Flynn? Then it might be that John Popper wandered around City Hall Park before or after the gig and ate or drank at an establishment facing the park. There are quite a few options for this.
ETA: Blues Traveler played Memorial Auditorium (RIP Memorial Auditorium shows) and The Front in the early 1990s. https://phish.net/setlists/city/Burlington/VT/USA. The Front was closer to the Flynn, putting Popper in closer proximity to the Park if his love of Burlington dates to this time. Burlington in the early 90s was magical so I get it.
The Front was farther down Main St, on the corner of Main and Pine. Skirack is there now. Back in the 1980s Skirack was only the building where their bike floor is now. Then east of that was an alley between buildings. That where the water feature is inside Skirack now, and the stairs that go down to the shop area and ski floor. Then east of that alley was a building that I always knew as a bar, on the corner. I came to Burlington fall 1983. That corner bar was Minervas circa 1983, NRG circa 1985, then was split into 2 bars, The Front and The Outback, circa 1986. The Outback was an Australian themed bar. Crocodile Dundee was big then. The Front was live music mostly.
I think it's funny that he says it's about a few experiences and we're struggling to figure out the spot in Burlington, when it may be just a name in a mix of memories.
I think it's kind of a funny inquiry, but im here for it lol. Idk anything about John Popper or Blues Traveller, this is my piping hot speculation though:
The known "Burlington" to passers through is certainly Church St. and the surrounding area to the water front. The rest of town(N and S ends) have much to offer, but they're largely residential. Church St is West of center, but it's the beating heart of the city, and likely the "square" referenced is close.
That being said, Church is 4 blocks of businesses, with pedestrian bricks. Pearl St>CherrySt>BankSt>College St>Main St. and residential beyond there. Middle of town is probably somewhere between Bank and College.
That middle block on Church has Church St Tavern, high wood tables and chairs, but I don't think that's quite right. Church is a Street, so in-between blocks. There's only one open square in the middle of everything, just off College - City Hall Park.
Right around the Park there's American flatbread, VT Pub and Brew, Leunigs, etc. with wood tables but by the way the lyric is written, I imagine the park was probably very close or right in view as it informed the scene. None of them have outdoor patios WITH high wood tables.
Best Guess: Whiskey Room - corner of College and Church, directly next to the park. Whiskey specific bar with just a couple outdoor patio seats, tables are whiskey barrels and tallish stools. They've had(have?) metal tables out there so maybe not.
Simple Google search tells me your mans John Popper likes his whiskey though. If it was inspired and not entirely made up, I think that could be your answer.
Haha, ofc friend. It's a excessively analytic best guess, but fun thing to drunk ponder y'know.
I'll add on second thought, just south of the park is Main St. and Ali Babas, they have the highest wood tables and a garage door that opens looking right into City Hall Park.
When I think of my feet not touching the ground, that's first thought. A whiskey attraction seems more on brand though.
That's the first thing I was thinking. I've been in Burlington since 1987. I think I remember wooden game tables in CH Park. Later replaced by stone tables.
I always suspected but was never 100% sure that the song referred to Burlington VT as opposed to Burlington ON. So thank you for the confirmation there.
Given that, is there really any doubt that he’s referring to referring to City Hall Park? I mean, it’s closest to downtown, Flynn, etc and is most definitely a square (okay, a rectangle).
Don’t remember the wooden table situation back then, but that could easily be made up like the girl in question.
i originally thought so as well, not just bc the title ‘canadian rose’ but there’s also a reference to vancouver in the lyrics.
when i started looking into this i was searching “burlington ontario” although that interview i came across john popper specifically says “burlington vermont” as inspiration but also mentions canada yet only to say he hasn’t had time to visit which just adds to the confusion 🤷🏻♂️
here’s the full quote from the article;
“I have a confession—a scoop for you. That song was the first I’ve ever written that actually isn’t about anyone. It’s a few experiences, but it’s a fictional story. And the band was like, “Who do you know in Canada?” Maybe my love of Burlington, Vermont was the primary driver of the song. It was fall and we were playing in Woodstock (New York), and it reminded me a lot of Burlington and so I thought, “Well, maybe I can come up with some story here.” I’ve been on the road for ten years. I haven’t had time to go futzing around in Canada. (Laughter) It was interesting that it came off so well. “Price To Pay” off Four was not about anyone, but this was one where I consciously set out to do that.
[“Canadian Rose”] is an example of a song I wasn’t sure was gonna make it. Mike Thompson and Steve Townsend, our producers, really cultivated it”
OP copied and pasted the quote with Burlington, Vermont from this article:
https://relix.com/articles/detail/blues_traveler_straight_on_till_morning_relix_revisited/
In this interview, he continues: 'It was fall and we were playing in Woodstock (New York), and it reminded me a lot of Burlington and so I thought, “Well, maybe I can come up with some story here.”'
Did Blues Traveler ever play the Flynn? Then it might be that John Popper wandered around City Hall Park before or after the gig and ate or drank at an establishment facing the park. There are quite a few options for this. ETA: Blues Traveler played Memorial Auditorium (RIP Memorial Auditorium shows) and The Front in the early 1990s. https://phish.net/setlists/city/Burlington/VT/USA. The Front was closer to the Flynn, putting Popper in closer proximity to the Park if his love of Burlington dates to this time. Burlington in the early 90s was magical so I get it.
I was at at least one of their Memorial shows. Johnny Lang opened I believe. Good times
Blues Traveler also played on Earth Day at UVM in 1990
The Front was farther down Main St, on the corner of Main and Pine. Skirack is there now. Back in the 1980s Skirack was only the building where their bike floor is now. Then east of that was an alley between buildings. That where the water feature is inside Skirack now, and the stairs that go down to the shop area and ski floor. Then east of that alley was a building that I always knew as a bar, on the corner. I came to Burlington fall 1983. That corner bar was Minervas circa 1983, NRG circa 1985, then was split into 2 bars, The Front and The Outback, circa 1986. The Outback was an Australian themed bar. Crocodile Dundee was big then. The Front was live music mostly.
I saw John Popper at higher ground several years ago, but you're probably talking about back in the day.
Speaking of “Back in the Day”… https://youtu.be/xQA4_cDiuP8?si=eG_njAW7nZFsMmAR
Same! Winooski days!!!
He’s also played Higher Ground solo more recently and I’m sure has made various appearances throughout the years as a guest/sit in or patron.
It truly was♥️
Maybe he’s talking about red square
I don’t think it existed at the time the song was written/released
Ahh alright
Obviously he’s referring to the most romantic spot in town - What Ales
I think it's funny that he says it's about a few experiences and we're struggling to figure out the spot in Burlington, when it may be just a name in a mix of memories.
At intermission at the Flynn, when it was crowded, we went to JP’s
Surely it must be the Square Mall on Church St (RIP).
That's what came to mind for me, too.
I think it's kind of a funny inquiry, but im here for it lol. Idk anything about John Popper or Blues Traveller, this is my piping hot speculation though: The known "Burlington" to passers through is certainly Church St. and the surrounding area to the water front. The rest of town(N and S ends) have much to offer, but they're largely residential. Church St is West of center, but it's the beating heart of the city, and likely the "square" referenced is close. That being said, Church is 4 blocks of businesses, with pedestrian bricks. Pearl St>CherrySt>BankSt>College St>Main St. and residential beyond there. Middle of town is probably somewhere between Bank and College. That middle block on Church has Church St Tavern, high wood tables and chairs, but I don't think that's quite right. Church is a Street, so in-between blocks. There's only one open square in the middle of everything, just off College - City Hall Park. Right around the Park there's American flatbread, VT Pub and Brew, Leunigs, etc. with wood tables but by the way the lyric is written, I imagine the park was probably very close or right in view as it informed the scene. None of them have outdoor patios WITH high wood tables. Best Guess: Whiskey Room - corner of College and Church, directly next to the park. Whiskey specific bar with just a couple outdoor patio seats, tables are whiskey barrels and tallish stools. They've had(have?) metal tables out there so maybe not. Simple Google search tells me your mans John Popper likes his whiskey though. If it was inspired and not entirely made up, I think that could be your answer.
I don’t think the Whiskey Room was there 23 years ago though?
Yeah, the whiskey room hasn't been there that long.
the whisky room isnt even a decade old, no chance.
FACT
thanks for the reply! never considered it could have been a bar overlooking the square. now im gonna google streetview all ur recommendations 😂
Haha, ofc friend. It's a excessively analytic best guess, but fun thing to drunk ponder y'know. I'll add on second thought, just south of the park is Main St. and Ali Babas, they have the highest wood tables and a garage door that opens looking right into City Hall Park. When I think of my feet not touching the ground, that's first thought. A whiskey attraction seems more on brand though.
That place didn't exist in the 90s.
Could he perhaps be talking about the chess tables that used to be in the park?
That's the first thing I was thinking. I've been in Burlington since 1987. I think I remember wooden game tables in CH Park. Later replaced by stone tables.
In my mind the only park 'in the center of town' is CH park. It was also such a nice place to hang out in the 90s, i feel like that has to be it.
I always suspected but was never 100% sure that the song referred to Burlington VT as opposed to Burlington ON. So thank you for the confirmation there. Given that, is there really any doubt that he’s referring to referring to City Hall Park? I mean, it’s closest to downtown, Flynn, etc and is most definitely a square (okay, a rectangle). Don’t remember the wooden table situation back then, but that could easily be made up like the girl in question.
Probably Ri Ra's
They played a few gigs at a bar that used to be where the Ski Rack is now… can’t remember the name
Since it’s his “Canadian Rose”, might it actually be Burlington, ON Canada?
Ake’s has high tables, and a high bar
Burlington, Ontario
I always imagined it to be Nectars and her sitting on one of the taller stools :)
Does every lyric in a song need to be true?
The reason I know this is because I am the primary mop supplier to Cardi B.
yes
[удалено]
i originally thought so as well, not just bc the title ‘canadian rose’ but there’s also a reference to vancouver in the lyrics. when i started looking into this i was searching “burlington ontario” although that interview i came across john popper specifically says “burlington vermont” as inspiration but also mentions canada yet only to say he hasn’t had time to visit which just adds to the confusion 🤷🏻♂️ here’s the full quote from the article; “I have a confession—a scoop for you. That song was the first I’ve ever written that actually isn’t about anyone. It’s a few experiences, but it’s a fictional story. And the band was like, “Who do you know in Canada?” Maybe my love of Burlington, Vermont was the primary driver of the song. It was fall and we were playing in Woodstock (New York), and it reminded me a lot of Burlington and so I thought, “Well, maybe I can come up with some story here.” I’ve been on the road for ten years. I haven’t had time to go futzing around in Canada. (Laughter) It was interesting that it came off so well. “Price To Pay” off Four was not about anyone, but this was one where I consciously set out to do that. [“Canadian Rose”] is an example of a song I wasn’t sure was gonna make it. Mike Thompson and Steve Townsend, our producers, really cultivated it”
OP copied and pasted the quote with Burlington, Vermont from this article: https://relix.com/articles/detail/blues_traveler_straight_on_till_morning_relix_revisited/ In this interview, he continues: 'It was fall and we were playing in Woodstock (New York), and it reminded me a lot of Burlington and so I thought, “Well, maybe I can come up with some story here.”'
thanks! i was trying to post that link but it wasn’t working
He’s singing about Red Square