Having begun my time as a concert-goer at a young age, I have come to appreciate the educational qualities of being one of the youngest ones at the show. While this has become a rarer occurrence as time has passed, Tuesday night's Blues Traveler show at the Paradise proved that those concerts may never die. As many longtime fans flocked to the Paradise, a venue that frontman John Popper admitted to having played several times, it was easy to stumble upon fans like Bobby and Joanne who "used to see them play Red Rocks every 4th of July," or Danny who "started seeing these guys like 15 years ago." Despite Blues Traveler taking a step back from the spotlight of popular music in recent years, I was anticipating high energy.
Kicking off the night was New York power trio the Jamie McLean Band. Showing great force right off the bat, McLean proved himself a heavy hitter on guitar, stepping out for numerous solos and turning the heads of many who showed up early. Tunes like "Can You Hear Me Now" and "Check Mate" were well received by the crowd who seemed more than satisfied with the impressive opening act. By the time the house was packed tight with the diverse crowd, Blues Traveler was ready to hit the stage. As John Popper reminisced of the band's history at the Paradise Rock Club, the band, fittingly enough, began to play the nostalgic "Back in the Day." Just as he would continue to do all night, Popper began to wail his signature sound on his harmonica, giving the crowd exactly what they came for. While Popper was on as always, the one who really caught my attention was bassist Tad Kinchla, who made his way up and down the neck of his Modulus six-string like a spider. The first high point of the show came early in the set as Jamie McLean made his way up to the stage to jam with the band on "Mulling it Over." McLean and Popper had a good old fashioned duel in the solo section, trading licks and topping eachother's riffs all in good fun. Energy levels were blaring as the band segued into one of their biggest hits, "But Anyway." For some, this was the first recognizable tune on the setlist, and for others, this was just another in a long list of tunes that brought them back to yesteryear, but regardless, this particular song put a smile on everyone's face.
While the energy levels were consistently high throughout the entire set, the band once again ramped it up for a series of tunes initiated by the bass-driven "Felicia." Nimble as cheetah's, the band continued on to a cover of Sublime's "What I Got," including an impressive buildup with the crowd chanting the memorable 90's chorus. Continuing to please the crowd, the band eased into their steeple hit, "Run-Around." With the crowd shouting the lyrics back at the band, Popper and his bandmates smiled as if they hadn't been playing this tune every show for the past 15 years. As the show progressed, Popper took a number of explosive solos but left space for guitarist Chad Kinchla and drummer Brendan Hill to work their magic. Popper tossed out harmonicas like guitar picks and constantly extended his appreciation to the fans who had turned the average Tuesday night into a very early weekend. The set came to a close with a blistering series of Cheap Trick's "I Want You To Want Me" followed by "Just For Me">"NY Prophesie">"Hook." "Hook" seemed like the proper choice to cap off the night as the crowd once again belted, following the lead of the tireless John Popper. After an encore of "The Path," Blues Traveler fans went home happy, knowing that the band sounded as strong as ever.
I left the Paradise blown away by the energy that Blues Traveler brought to the stage. Despite their growing ages and a history of health issues, Popper and the boys came on stage with a bang and didn't relent throughout the whole night. In a current music scene that is ruled by young indie bands who dedicate much of their energy just to being different, it is refreshing to experience a band whose sole concern is keeping the crowd on their feet for the whole set. After years of constant gigging, it was clear to see not only how tight a band can be with that much experience, but also how they know exactly what the crowd wants to hear. If this is a sign of things to come, I may just be the one 15 years down the road telling a 20 year old fan about my experiences seeing these guys back in the day. While the 90's may never return, it is good to know that its heart still beats thanks to the tireless efforts of bands like Blues Traveler.
Take a listen to the show below. Enjoy!
www.bluestraveler.com
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