Two pillars of Canadian country music, The Road Hammers and Doc Walker, are joining forces for a unique collaborative tour, bringing a night of shared hits and mutual admiration to Calgary. The Til The Wheels Fall Off tour, named after The Road Hammers' latest single, made a memorable stop at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino on Saturday, January 17, 2024.
A Full-Circle Moment for a Classic Hit
For Road Hammers frontman Jason McCoy, the tour represents a special homecoming for one of his songs. More than 25 years ago, McCoy wrote "Rocket Girl" and gave it to Doc Walker, watching it become a major hit for the band. Despite touring together in other configurations, McCoy had never performed his own composition with them—until now.
"It's one of their bigger hits, and after all these years, I've never gotten to play it with them," McCoy said in an interview from his home in Barrie, Ontario. "Now that I'm getting to tour with them, I do. So I'm excited about that."
Alberta's Deep Musical Roots
The Calgary show held particular significance for the bands, especially The Road Hammers, for whom Alberta is a second home. While McCoy was born in Barrie, he spent formative years in Camrose. Bandmate Chris Byrne lives in Calgary. Furthermore, a deeply personal piece of McCoy's history resides in the city: his first guitar, a three-string acoustic he learned on as a child, is now part of the collection at Calgary's National Music Centre.
This venue also houses the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, which inducted McCoy as a solo artist in 2023. This honor cements his status as a respected veteran in the industry, a journey that began with a solo record deal in the mid-1990s, a CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year win in 2001, and numerous Top 10 singles.
Collaborative Spirit on Stage
The format of the Til The Wheels Fall Off tour is a true collaboration. The Road Hammers—comprising McCoy, bassist Chris Byrne, and guitarist-vocalist Clayton Bellamy—not only performed their own catalogue but also served as the backing band for Doc Walker's Chris Thorsteinson and Dave Wasyliw. This song-swapping dynamic highlights the deep bond and mutual respect between the groups, forged over decades in the Canadian music scene.
The tour underscores a lasting camaraderie in the country music community, proving that even after achieving individual success, there's room for shared stages, swapped songs, and a little on-the-road fun between peers.
