Two years ago, I purchased tickets to see Robin Trower in concert. He canceled due to undisclosed health reasons. Last year, I purchased tickets again, but work travel forced me to give them to a friend. This year, I crossed my fingers after purchasing tickets to see him at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL. I breathed a sigh of relief when I sat down in the fourth row to see a show I had anticipated for years.
He did not disappoint.
At 81, Trower can still wield his guitar like the master he's always been.
The musician rose to fame in the early 1970s after parting ways with Procol Harum. His 1974 album "Bridge of Sighs" remains a classic today, and he drew heavily from that record on this night. In addition to the title track, we were treated to the high-energy "Little Bit of Sympathy," "Day of the Eagle," and "Too Rolling Stoned." The band opened the show with the latter.
Mr. Trower has assembled a trio, Chris Taggart on drums and Richard Watts on bass and lead vocals, to complement his electric guitar. The other two provide the rhythm, but most songs exist as an excuse for a Robin Trower guitar solo, and his solos were outstanding. Trower can play at lightning speed if he wishes, but he is at his best when he slows down, drawing out the emotion of each solo.
My only complaint is that the guitarist didn't stray far from his position at far stage right, where he mostly focused on the audience in his immediate vicinity. My seats were close to the stage but well to the left, so I didn't get to see him as close as I would have liked.
Robin Trower is no longer young and no longer looks young. But he still plays like a young man with energy and enthusiasm. And he proved that a trio can kick out a sound as full as a much larger band. Especially if that trio includes Robin Trower.