In Concert: Pat Travers

Pat Travers has been playing his own brand of hard rocking blues and classic rock for some 30+ years now and based on this performance, he and his current band will probably continue to do so for time to come!

Pat’s current band, at least for this gig, includes Kirk McKim playing some class lead guitar work, Rodney O’Quinn on bass and backup vocals, and a guy that I recall from some of Pat’s ‘80’s work, Sandy Gennaro on drums. This band was tight, boy were they tight. Downside tonight, the mix could’ve been better. A lot of Pat’s lead playing seemed down in the mix.

Tonight he’s playing late, coming on well after midnight and presenting us with a tight 80 minute set that opened with “Life in London” from the Putting it Straight album. It was amped up from that original album version. I thought he’d maybe open with something else more familiar, like “Hooked on Music.”

The next song totally throws me, as it’s the title track of 1980’s Crash and Burn album, but he does it sans keyboards. It’s different, but it works. Good to hear again, as I wouldn’t have expected that one to be on the set list tonight.

“I Don’t Care” is next from his PT=MC2 (2005) release and again surprised to hear this one in the set, as I thought he would’ve played safer with a bunch more of better known tunes. I guess with over 18 studio releases behind him, he’s a lot to choose from, as well as his well known love of covering traditional blues rock standards. This was the first track where it was really starting to hit home about PT’s guitar sound in the overall mix being so low.

Next he then gets back on track with two of his classic standards back to back, “Heat In the Street” and “Gettin’ Betta.” Now we’re cooking!

Next up is a song he wrote for his son, Elijah, another track off the PT=MC2 release. It works well with his classic material, as a punchy, hard rocking number. Love this stuff!

A new song off his forthcoming album is next, “Ask Me Baby,” which seemed like PT bringing his material up to date with a new vigor.

The fantastic “Stevie” was next, where Pat just lets go, although it’s noticeable that most of Pat’s best known licks are now handled by Kirk McKim, who’s clearly no slouch. Keep an eye out for him in future.

It’s standards time now: a little old “Red House” and some sweet slide guitar work from PT. This was continued in the next number, Robert Johnson’s “If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day,” which the band just rocked up with a passion.

“Snortin’ Whiskey” is next, which gets the place hopping! The crowd now laps this up and although numbers may have dwindled by this time, vocally the fans are right there!

Set closer is probably the track he’s best known for, “Boom, Boom, Out Go The Lights.” People are looking like they’ve enjoyed themselves for sure and then Pat says as they’re making their way offstage, “Well okay then, we’ve time for just one more!”

“Statesboro Blues” closes the show and I, for one, go home happy to have finally caught up with this class act once more. It’d been far too long! My only real disappointment was the overall sound mix. It wasn’t a big club and the earlier acts seemed to have better separation of their sound, but overall the show was a good one and this band was tight!

Hey, Pat, Detroit’s really not far from your home town of Toronto. Don’t leave it so long next time, mate, as this town can tell you, we’re hooked on your music!