Robin Trower

[Mark Ray]

I've listened to Mr. Trower for a LONG time, but had never seen him live. I rectified that last night, as he played here in Knoxville at the Bijou Theatre-a perfect venue for a show like this. He played all the songs I wanted to hear, including Twice Removed From Yesterday, my personal favorite.

The one thing that impressed me the most? He had control of his rig to a degree that was just crazy. The dynamics were very noticable, and he still seems to really enjoy playing. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT PEOPLE!

Mark

[BlackStrat_Fan]

I've seen him twice. Both times walked right down and stood right in front of him (HOB Los Angeles.) That way I cold hear him before the house mix. You are absolutely correct - Robin has complete control over every sound he creates. It really is something to see/hear - effortless perfection he makes it seem.

I'm bummed he's not coming to HOB again this year. I really enjoyed those shows. May have to venture to Redondo to see him this year.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/ScottPickens/photo-2.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/ScottPickens/photo-1-1.jpg

[stratovarius]

I've seen him twice. Both times walked right down and stood right in front of him...

Are your ears still ringing? :D

[BlackStrat_Fan]

No kidding. Those Marshalls put out some thump.

[doctorx]

Tone of the Gods, right? I've lost count of how many times I've seen him, he will be here this Saturday night and dammit I can't go because I have to go to a birthday party.

[Animule]

So I should go see him on Saturday night, huh? I've been thinking about it, but I've never been a huge fan. I don't think the wife would be interested, but perhaps I could persuade her.

[MichaelSaulnier]

I've had the pleasure of seeing Robin a number of times in small club settings, and he's always been able to get his "big sound" without causing volume pain for the audience.

He's got his pedals dialed in perfectly for what he wants... and I think he plays a whole step down... in "D" if I remember an interview I saw with him correctly.

He's still got his chops... and plays with lots of passion and fire!

I just wish James Dewar were still with us... I'm sure no one misses him more than Trower himself.

M

[GCDEF]

So I should go see him on Saturday night, huh? I've been thinking about it, but I've never been a huge fan. I don't think the wife would be interested, but perhaps I could persuade her.

I love Trower. He's one of my favorite players and was a huge influence on me when I was learning to play, but I'm not a big fan of his concerts. He's way too loud. Loud is good but sometimes it's just a big painful wall of distorted noise. It's ridiculous. You never know what kind of singer he's going to have. He's had a few really bad ones. I'll get crap for this, but I think some of his songs are too long and to the point of being really boring.

If you haven't seen him, it's probably worth it to see one of the greats. I doubt your wife will be impressed though. I've seen him a dozen or more times and don't really have any desire to see him again, mostly because of the insane volume.

[Animule]

If you haven't seen him, it's probably worth it to see one of the greats. I doubt your wife will be impressed though. I've seen him a dozen or more times and don't really have any desire to see him again, mostly because of the insane volume.

Thanks for the honest advice. Yeah, my wife already declined. LOL. I'll see if I can find someone to join me.

And I tend to wear earplugs at gigs like this, but thanks for the warning!

[stratovarius]

Last time I saw him I was disappointed that I could only get a balcony seat. During the encore I decided to go down front. Two minutes later I was back in the balcony!

[Mark Ray]

I was in the balcony last night, and there the volume was perfect. Maybe down front it was another story?

Mark

[Balok]

I love Trower. He's one of my favorite players and was a huge influence on me when I was learning to play, but I'm not a big fan of his concerts. He's way too loud. Loud is good but sometimes it's just a big painful wall of distorted noise. It's ridiculous. You never know what kind of singer he's going to have. He's had a few really bad ones. I'll get crap for this, but I think some of his songs are too long and to the point of being really boring.

If you haven't seen him, it's probably worth it to see one of the greats. I doubt your wife will be impressed though. I've seen him a dozen or more times and don't really have any desire to see him again, mostly because of the insane volume.

I must concur with GCDEF. I love Trower, but when I saw him he had two 100 watt half stacks singing like crazy without master volumes. It was so loud that people were just laughing, like "he's not serious, is he?" and covering their ears and walking out.
Bridge of Sighs is some of the most brilliant let loose in the zone blues rock playing ever captured on tape, and it's still the best he's ever played, which is more than enough.

[Hal71]

I've never listened to Robin Trower before. After watching a few vids I'm intrigued. Where do I start?

[guitfiddle]

I've never listened to Robin Trower before. After watching a few vids I'm intrigued. Where do I start?

Twice Removed From Yesterday, Long Misty Days and Bridge Of Sighs

[theatomicjeff]

Twice Removed From Yesterday, Long Misty Days and Bridge Of Sighs

Add Caravan to Midnight to that list.

[guitfiddle]

Add Caravan to Midnight to that list.

Heck yeah. Toss in In City Dreams and Victims Of The Fury, and we have his pre 80s catalogue, which is his best work.

[Hal71]

Thanks!

[GCDEF]

I've never listened to Robin Trower before. After watching a few vids I'm intrigued. Where do I start?

Live or BBC Radio

[skhan007]

I've never listened to Robin Trower before. After watching a few vids I'm intrigued. Where do I start?

Twice Removed From Yesterday, Long Misty Days and Bridge Of Sighs

Add Caravan to Midnight to that list.

Heck yeah. Toss in In City Dreams and Victims Of The Fury, and we have his pre 80s catalogue, which is his best work.

Day of the Eagle!!

[Cymbaline]

Are your ears still ringing? :D
The loudest thing I have ever experienced was Robin Trower in a small club in the late 80s. 4 JCM800s, all on 10, from about 10 feet away. My ears rang for 3 days straight, and I loved every minute of it!

The only thing that ever came close to that volume level was at the Riverside air show, where they had a Hawker Harrier doing a hovering demonstration. That was louder than God, but I think Trower beat it due to how close I was to his amps.

[73171]

Robin's still great...and he's 65 years old!

[7/4]

the secret to Trowers sound: knobs on the amp = treble = 0, bass = 10.

[imastratoholic]

My son and I are going to see Robin in a couple weeks here in Tempe. I was "warned" here and by others that have seen him live in the past to absolutely take ear protection if we wanted to be able to enjoy the show. Really looking forward to seeing Robin do his thing up close.
For those of you that have seen his live show, how long does he usually play?

[Blueswede]

My fiancee and I are seeing him in a couple of weeks at the Galaxy....we saw him a few years ago over at Wild West Guitars.....man, what a great show that was. Looking forward to seeing him again..

[guitfiddle]

Day of the Eagle!!

umthat'stheopeningtuneonBridgeofSighs;)

[Bassomatic]

What a ridiculously musical player. He works a limited patch of music, but he does it so *deeply*....

[Bassomatic]

the secret to Trowers sound: knobs on the amp = treble = 0, bass = 10.

Ha!

Clips?

[CharlieK]

My son and I are going to see Robin in a couple weeks here in Tempe. I was "warned" here and by others that have seen him live in the past to absolutely take ear protection if we wanted to be able to enjoy the show. Really looking forward to seeing Robin do his thing up close.
For those of you that have seen his live show, how long does he usually play?

I saw him 2 or 3 years ago and he wasn't loud. Ear protection is always a good idea though.

[Bassomatic]

The 2 BLT records from the '80s feature some amazing playing as well, and some nice tunes from Jack Bruce, to boot.

Here's a sort of rewrite of a familiar Hendrix tune...

lZcrrklK_gk

...and some mid-tempo funkiness:

DXj-bshEMsU

I caught Bruce in Woodstock in '85 or '86, and he covered a good number of the BLT tunes (w/Clem Clemson).

[Gham]

Are your ears still ringing? :D

I saw him in 1975 in a small club setting (Travis Street Electric,Dallas,Texas) I was 18 and it was sometime in the early 80's when my ears quit ringing!!! Wow,great show though!!

[freedom's door]

I saw him 2 or 3 years ago and he wasn't loud. Ear protection is always a good idea though.

Same here- saw him 3 times over the last 10 years, and none of the times did i think he was overly loud. No one else in the crowd seemed to think so either, that i could see.

[Sid]

Gonna see him live day after:D:D cant wait...what was the setlist like?

[VCuomo]

I've seen him twice. Both times walked right down and stood right in front of him (HOB Los Angeles.) That way I cold hear him before the house mix. You are absolutely correct - Robin has complete control over every sound he creates. It really is something to see/hear - effortless perfection he makes it seem.

I'm bummed he's not coming to HOB again this year. I really enjoyed those shows. May have to venture to Redondo to see him this year.

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/ScottPickens/photo-2.jpg

http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy318/ScottPickens/photo-1-1.jpgFYI, he's playing at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana on Saturday Februay 19.

[noley]

R.T.'s Rig:

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy98/noley7/100_1346.jpg

http://i781.photobucket.com/albums/yy98/noley7/100_1344.jpg

Bring your earplugs, and hold on to your seat...

n.

[skillet]

Got a ticket earlier to see him at the House of Blues in Dallas next week, looking forward to it as it will be my first time to see him live.

[Cymbaline]

He's coming out with a 2-disc set from the BBC Archives:
http://www.amazon.com/At-BBC-1973-1975-Robin-Trower/dp/B004GAY2KO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296811919&sr=8-1

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VjDLFhanL._SS400_.jpg

Gonna have to get that!

[rebuilder]

Last 2 times I saw him in 06 and 08 we sat up close. We brought ear protection but it wasn't needed. The Vintage Moderns aren't particularly loud amps anyway.
To the guy claiming people walked out he was so loud....nice fantasy story.

LOUD was hearing his amps right off the stage in '77 in an arena show.

[GCDEF]

Last 2 times I saw him in 06 and 08 we sat up close. We brought ear protection but it wasn't needed. The Vintage Moderns aren't particularly loud amps anyway.
To the guy claiming people walked out he was so loud....nice fantasy story.

LOUD was hearing his amps right off the stage in '77 in an arena show.

Last time I saw him, the stage volume was tolerable, but the PA was crazy. It was a huge PA and the sound man was pushing it way beyond what it could comfortably do. Incredibly loud and just horrible, overdriven sound - from the PA, not the stage. It really did ruin the concert for me, and as I said, I like loud.

[7/4]

the secret to Trowers sound: knobs on the amp = treble = 0, bass = 10.

Ha!

Clips?

I'm just repeating what he said in a VG interview. try it on a Bassman.

[7/4]

The 2 BLT records from the '80s feature some amazing playing as well, and some nice tunes from Jack Bruce, to boot.

love those two albums. the recent BT albums...not so much, they sound more like Jack Bruce albums!