Pat Travers Band
Rick Derringer
Wolf Den
Uncasville, Connecticut
April 26, 2010
Tony Pijar
It’s interesting how the careers of Pat Travers and Rick Derringer have paralleled each other over the years. Back in the mid-70s, Derringer had already reached superstar status with Johnny and Edgar Winter and with his solo material as well, and Travers had just released his critically acclaimed debut record. Both had ‘guitar hero’ tagged on them and they had the chops to back it up. During the 80s, both men ventured into blues territory and recorded several blues/rock albums for Blues Bureau, but they basically ended up in the bargain bins unnoticed. While Derringer continues to release credible blues albums, including his most recent release, “Knighted by the Blues”, Travers has chosen to go back to his rock roots with “PT=MC2” back in 2005 and “Fedelis”, which will hit the streets on June 1. Anyhow, it was a pleasure see to both guitarists perform on the same stage.
Derringer opened the show in fine form with the familiar “Still Alive and Well” and then played some blues standards and new songs from the aforesaid “Knighted by the Blues.” He, of course, closed with his two most familiar hits, “Hang on Sloopy” from the McCoys, and the immortal “Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo” from his days with Jonny Winter. Wish list #1 – I wish he would’ve played some Edgar Winter stuff like “Free Ride”, “Tobacco Road”, “Some Kinda Animal”, etc.
Travers looked mean and lean as he stepped up to his mic and said, ‘I’m Pat Travers and this is my band…and we’re here to kick your ass!’ And they did! Opening with “Life in London”, the band covered Travers’ 70s material and some blues chestnuts as well. Needless to say, “Crash and Burn”, “Heat in the Street”, “Snortin’ Whiskey”, and Boom Boom – Out go the Lights” went down in a proverbial storm. Wish list #2 – I wish he would’ve played some more of the mid to late 70s material such as “Hooked on Music”, “Speakeasy”, “Gettin Betta”, etc.
Yes, they’re a bit older and a bit mellower nowadays, but Derringer and Travers are well worth checking out. It’s hard to beat two plus hours of great guitar-oriented classic rock!