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Thoughts & Photos: Blues Traveler @ State Theatre 12/29/14

Thoughts by: Lazlo
Photos by: Conni Freestone

(click on photos to see full size)





Let me open this by saying that I first saw Blues Traveler back in 1993, and have seen them some 70+ times between 1993 and 2003, traveling as far as Colorado and Florida to see them live. So yes, you can say I was a fan.



That said, the last time I saw Blues Traveler in 2005, and it was not one of their better shows. They looked tired that night. With settling into adult responsiblities, I figured my traveling days were over.



I still picked up their new albums, which had some decent songs on them, but it seemed like their was a lot of filler. So when their shows in NJ didn't work out with my schedule, I didn't feel too bad about missing them.



But that changed two years ago when they released "Suzie Cracks The Whip". The band seemed completely reinvigorated. It was a really great album from beginning to end! The time was finally right to go see them again...except it wasn't. One attempt cancelled on my part for reasons beyond my control (afore mentioned "adult responsibilities"), the other a show that was announced and then cancelled a few weeks later.



Then last month a show at the State Theatre in New Brunswick was announced. This time I was going to find out if Blues Traveler had recaptured their live magic, as they did their studio magic.

The answer...a resounding YES!



They were live and electrifying from the opening notes, to the all too soon conclusion (they were unble to do an encore due to a venue curfew...boo venue!). The band looked like they were having a blast playing. Songs that they have been playing every night for years (Runaround, Hook, But Anyway), sounded fresh again thanks to new arrangements. The arrangements weren't as far removed as "Fucked Runs" (which reimagined "Runaround" as a grungy dirge), which Blues Traveler played frequently in the late 90's, instead opting for something similar enough for casual fans to recognize the song, but still different enough to breathe new life into songs they have played thousands of times.



Sadly, they only played two songs from their most recent release, but one of those songs, "Cara Let The Moon", was the most moving moment of the show. With only Ben Wilson on keys and John Popper on vocals, this song resonated in a big way throughout the State Theatre.



Blues Traveler may be a band whose most popular days are behind them, but instead of fading away like so many 90's bands, they're proving that they are still a live force to be reckoned with.






Links
Blues Traveler

photogrpaher Conni Freestone