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Blues Traveler Lets Loose at Lolla |
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Written by JORDAN BRANDES / * Photos by BARRY BRECHEISEN
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Monday, 09 August 2010 |
Music festivals truly come alive when you least expect it. When I heard that Blues Traveler was playing Lollapalooza I knew I had to go see them. They were huge when I was growing up and for the most part have stayed off the mainstream radar since the 1990s. I had a general idea of what to expect from the band: good, quality music. What I got blew me away.
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Blues Traveler |
Lollapalooza - Parkways Foundation Stage
Chicago, IL
August 7, 2010
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Their choice of openers was surprising. Going right into “Run Around”, their most well known song and a best seller a decade ago could be seen as a subtle reminder to fans letting them know who they are and why they are famous in the first place. But going from “Run Around” into an extended cover of Sublime’s “What I Got” was one of the reasons I go to Lollapalooza in the first place. They obviously felt they could let loose and play anything they wanted.
Hearing “What I Got” through the filter of Blues Traveler was interesting to say the least. Adding in harmonica and drum solos they nearly doubled the length of the song taking it in an entirely new direction.
Barely stopping to take a breath the band went through song after song during their hour-long set on Saturday. Mixing in classics like “But Anyways” with lesser-known tunes proved to Lollapalooza why they have the lasting power that they do. Once again I find their choice of closing numbers interesting. The usually upbeat electric rock and country band played a rather Johnny Cash like version of Radiohead’s “Creep.” It came completely out of nowhere and with no introduction whatsoever from Popper. I’m not only fascinated by his choice of music but also very impressed.
In the end Blues Traveler proved to be all I knew they could be and more. It’s my hope that with such obvious talent that they continue to produce more albums tha find their way into the mainstream once again.
* Photos from the 2010 New Orleans Jazz Fest Powered by AkoComment 2.0! |
