On Sunday evening, when I thought I had just one last review to do before I was able to catch the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and most likely cast my vote for them or, 30 Seconds to Mars, as my favorite show over the weekend, Blues Traveler stole away my blinded feelings that they suck, because they haven't had a certifiable radio hit in over 10 years. God how I was wrong.
Meeting my new MySpace friend during the wait for them start, I aired my dread that I was wasting the precious moments I have on this planet watching a band that wouldn't make the cut as an opening act for, Milli Vanilli (Vh1's “Where Are They Now?”, if you don't know who they are).. She stretched her hand defiantly in front of my face, fingers up, and scoffed at me with the most confident and direct remark she could, “If you don't like Blues Traveler, you suck balls.” Not the most diplomatic approach, but man, 2 minutes in, I could see the reason for her stance.
I am now officially in agreement that, William Shakespeare, is definitely right. It is better to have loved and lost, than to never have had it at all. Blues Traveler, I think we can all agree, fell off. I mean fell off. They didn't take a two-minute break, or a five-minute breather, not even a 10-minute power nap. They went for a walk around the block and got lost in the park.
But how they want it back. I have never seen such showmanship and conviction in what someone does. John Popper sings like the holy spirits got him. The dude is on his game to the point where he defines it. They stole the stage and basically spit on everyone else that was there who wasn't up to par. Not with crazy antics, no stage diving, structure climbing, death defying feats, he grabbed his harmonica, they
band grabbed their stuff, and made you feel what they had to say. Nothing is more pure in this world, than hard work, and reaping the rewards of it.
After 20-plus years of steady grinding, boy they have the precision, the drive, and certainly the talent to take another stab at commercial greatness. This was bar none, the best show at Lollapalooza. See them next time they come in, invite them to our house, your wedding, hell your funeral, if you want to see what real is all about.
