Keith Urban Meets Canadian Band Jo Hikk

Calgary band finds a fan in country star Keith Urban

The word "fan" just doesn't sit well with Kelly Sitter of Calgary's Jo Hikk.

"It's just something about it," explains the singer and bassist for the country-rock group. "Clumping people together like that -- I don't like it."

"The thing is," he laughs, "we don't have fans, we have people we know."

After signing autographs at the end of their afternoon set at Big Valley Jamboree nearly two weeks ago, Jo Hikk might have to get used to the idea that people other than their families and friends might like them.

They've managed to pick up at least one new high-profile supporter, and it wasn't anyone they knew. Keith Urban, the Sunday night headliner at the Jamboree, was so impressed with the sounds emanating from the stage that afternoon that he felt compelled to leave his luxury trailer and watch them backstage. At the end of the set, there he was, grinning and complimenting them on their performance.

"He was just overjoyed," says drummer Al Doell. "After we played, we got this 10-minute inquiry into who we were, what we were about, that kind of thing.

He wanted to know about our families, and came over to have photos taken with us. It was pretty amazing. He said that he wasn't going to forget Jo Hikk after this show."

Hopefully, the band won't forget to send along a copy of their album, The Game, to their new friend when it's released this week. While they've picked up accolades for sporadic releases since forming more than a decade ago, Jo Hikk hasn't been the kind of band to go for the throat of the industry.

In fact, according to Sitter, they're almost the exact opposite, which makes them unique among peers jockeying for position in a particularly ugly real-life version of musical chairs.

"My brother Ken (guitars and vocals) and I have been doing this a long time," Sitter wryly notes. "In a way, I wish I'd known exactly what it takes to get ahead in this business back 15 years ago when we started. I would've fought tooth and nail."

Sounds like regret in Sitter's words, but truthfully, he seems pretty content with how things have turned out for Jo Hikk.

While others have set time limits on their careers, or worried excessively about the current country music fixation on age and beauty, Jo Hikk has continued to write songs and perform wherever they can. Keith Urban's tip of the hat may be an indication of good things to come, but the band would be soldiering on regardless.

"It's a good life, you know? None of us are young anymore, and we have families, so it's not as though any of us want to continuously be on the road. We're no longer touring around in a van, and we only have to play one set these days." He laughs. "Now we're flying to gigs. And if we get a song on the radio (as they did last year with My Kind of Radio, and hope to do with their new single The Big Spoon), we're high-fiving each other."

"We have high expectations for this band, but at the same time we're not aching to push it that hard."

********************************

From their record label's Facebook page






******************************

Jo Hikk's current single

Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Updates 08/12/10

*****************************

It should be noted that while most other sites have indicated that both Keith and Nicole purchased their new New York City penthouse and that they got a 20% discount off the listing price, the last paragraph of this particular piece is most relevant to STS and its readers!

http://thestir.cafemom.com/home_garden/107929/nicole_kidman_buys_a_nyc


I have the biggest school girl crush on Keith Urban, and now I'll know where I can stalk probably find him -- he and his wife Nicole Kidman are moving into NYC's prominent Chelsea neighborhood.

The penthouse, which was listed for $10 million, is located at 200 Eleventh Avenue (in case you're in NY and want to stalk see for yourself), and it's huge! Well, huge comparable to most New York apartments.

It has approximately 3,248 square feet, views of the Hudson River, a private elevator, Loggia-style terraces, and New York's first sky garage.

Chelsea is actually one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Unfortunately, the uber expensive real estate prices makes it impossible for me to ever hope to live there. Tons of art galleries dot along the west Manhattan neighborhood and they have a killer flea market on Saturdays. The location of Nicole and Keith's new home is about ten blocks away from a super chic and urban shopping center called Chelsea Market. It's filled with high-end retail and eateries (the Food Network actually films a few of their shows here). They're also close to Chelsea Piers, which consists of an awesome sports complex and beer brewing company.

Color me jealous.

I wonder if they plan on keeping their Nashville home? My Tennessee friends spot Keith and Nicole out and about all the time -- they'll definitely be sad if the beautiful couple moves to NYC permanently. Heck, I'm sure they will, along with their Sydney and Los Angeles digs. Geez, can you imagine owning that many houses?

**************************

The skeptics can squawk all they want but the truth always comes out!