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robintrowerlive.co.uk homepage News archive Meet the band |
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The Mean Fiddler, London, Friday 5 May 2006 |
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My last concert of the current tour and it was great meeting up with the Trower Class of ’76 during and after the concert. For the uninitiated, seven of us had attended the Robin Trower Band concert at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London on 3 May 1976 and were, with a few exceptions, meeting for the first time. Memories of that concert, and tonight’s, were excavated, and stories and tales of Robin, his contemporaries, James Dewar, Bill Lordan, et al flourished and brought back fond memories. All agreed Robin has accumulated an extensive backlog of classic songs any artist would be proud of, which in itself creates a difficulty when he performs live. Robin and individual fans like different songs and how do you construct a set list that goes someway to fulfilling his and their wishes and expectations? This tour is primarily promoting the release of 'Another Days Blues' going by flyers, in addition to the 'Living Out Of Time - Live' DVD and CD. Although this isn’t apparent by tonight’s set list. |
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While a prophet is seldom recognised in his own country successful tours during 2005 and 2006 in Europe and Great Britain have confirmed Robin Trower still attracts a level of respect and a devoted fan base here comparable to America; albeit smaller in number, but no less vocal or passionate. ‘So it was, and so it is, since time began’. It beggars the question, why has it taken so long for this fact to filter through to Robin, his management and the purported music media? At one stage in the ‘70s the collective ‘we’ were referred to, in professional terms, as a ‘dot on the map’. The cliché that Robin’s music is ‘more accessible to the American market’ has always been contentious and reeks of marketing speak. I strongly feel fans in the UK have been treated second best to the American market since the late 70s much to Robin’s detriment and fans alike. |
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Robin has been fortunate to assemble for the 2005 and 2006 tours, CDs and DVD, musicians of the calibre of Dave Bronze and Pete Thompson, who both possess profound intuitive skills which combine to provide a great rhythm section that compliments Robin’s playing and, on occasion, his ‘long’ improvisations. Davey Pattison is . . . Davey Pattison. He is not a clone impersonating James Dewar, Paul Rodgers or whoever you wish to name . . . Davey has his own soulful sound, feel, phrasing and timbre. Just as Robin is not replicating Hendrix, (a perennial dilemma that should permanently be lead to rest), and has his own distinctive ‘tone’. Who’s to blame? Mainly the music media and individuals who believe everything they read without actually experiencing it first hand, or taking the time to listen objectively to an artist’s body of work. |
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Forgive the preamble but, in my humble opinion, it had to be said. The band hit the stage at 20.30 to a tremendously warm welcome, with the Trower Class of ’76 at the front, or relatively near, shouting noisy encouragement to Robin, Davey, Dave and Pete. The atmosphere was electric. From the opening chords of ‘Twice removed from Yesterday’ the sound seemed pretty good; it is rumoured Robin likes to play loud to enhance sustain, feedback, and obtain his unique sound! When he uses the wah pedal it cuts right through to your soul. At the front of the stage the vocals tend to be submerged at times except during the softer songs. My friend Bobby from Oxford moved to the back after he got a guitar pick of Robin after ‘Roads to Freedom’ and said the vocals were more audible and the sound evenly balanced. I didn’t, however, stand at the front of the queue to stand at the back of the venue – if you can’t see Robin’s pedal board, his facial contortions as he twists and bends those guitar strings it just doesn’t have the same impact for me . . . J |
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While ‘Twice Removed From Yesterday’, ‘Hannah’ and ‘Roads to Freedom’ are classic Trower songs I believe the set would benefit from a more up tempo opening with a song that enables Robin to improvise more during the soloing i.e. ‘Too Much Joy’ which was excellent tonight, or the song ‘Living Out Of Time’ - slightly disappointed only one track was included from this CD tonight ‘Another Time Another Place’. Why the classic ‘I Want To Take You With Me’ is not included in the set remains a mystery. The problem with the older songs just mentioned is that Davey will always be inevitably compared to James Dewar when he is singing them and tonight the set list is, with a few exceptions, mostly engrained in the extreme past. |
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Highlights of the show included scorching renditions of ‘Victims of the Fury’, ‘20/21 Century Blues’, ‘Little Bit of Sympathy’, ‘Go My Way’ and ‘Too Much Joy’ with Robin and the band blowing up a storm. The concert reached dizzy heights during ‘Too Rolling Stoned’, Robin playing melodic emotionally charged alternate soft and aggressive runs and individually sustained notes that made you shiver, and ‘Daydream’ if you were there you know what I mean - soulful, bluesy, moving . . . After hearing a blistering version of ‘Sweet Little Angel’ in Nottingham I must admit it was sadly missing from the set tonight. |
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My final judgment for what its worth – tonight’s performance was on a par with the Manchester gig from an audience point of view - great band, best living eclectic guitar player on the planet, classic songs, great rhythm section, great singer, and more importantly great human beings. Good luck with the gigs in North and South America; on the evidence of the show tonight you don’t need it. Also, regards to Steve (Ronnie, you look like a rock star tonight with the shades on!) and Lawrie, two genial guys who ensure the equipment and sound are always top notch. Given the volume it can’t be easy! |
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Set List: Twice Removed From Yesterday; Hannah ; Roads to Freedom; Too Much Joy; Islands; Day Of The Eagle; Bridge Of Sighs; 20th Century Blues; Victims Of The Fury; Too Rolling Stoned; Go My Way; Another Time Another Place; Little Bit Of Sympathy Encores: Lady Love; Daydream. |
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As a postscript it was great meeting the Trower Class of ’76 and having a drink after the gig. You know who you are: Martin, John, Tony and Chris Cuomo, Bobby and Alan. It was also a pleasure to meet John’s daughter Fiona who kept us in check in the small hours. Sincere thanks. Hope to see you up the road sometime. |
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Now click here and read Marcus Taverner’s review of this gig. |
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Reviews from Trower’s 2005 UK Tours |
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robintrowerlive.co.uk homepage News archive Meet the band |
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This site is a howardtowers.com production realised in the
UK, March 2005. |
