Robin Trower: Fort Lauderdale Gig Review

There’s something divinely unique about the sound Robin Trower is able to manifest from his guitars. For over 50 years he’s consistently packed venues ranging from one to five thousand seats with die hard fans who can’t get enough of that sound. If you get it, man you really get it.

After some health issues forced cancellation of his last tour, Trower is back on the road in America and we’re happy to report his shows are as thrilling as ever.

On Friday, February 21st at the Lillian S. Wells Theater in Fort Lauderdale, Trower and his power trio filled the mid-sized venue with an enormous sound reminiscent of iconic rock/blues stadium shows of bygone days. Richard Watts on bass and vocals and Chris Taggart on drums form a tight and thrilling trio equal to the standards created by the master.

Trower is smart enough to know what his fans want to hear and the set was filled with classics crafted into a well thought-out setlist to satisfy even the most die hard followers.

“Too Rolling Stoned,” a fan favorite was, for years, the opener but Trower teased a bit and moved it to the second spot raising the excited anticipation. But when he went directly from “Day of the Eagle,” into his signature song, “Bridge of Sighs,” the place erupted. Those three songs were worth the price of admission but the set lasted an hour and twenty minutes without a breather.

Other classics included, “Daydream,” “Little Bit of Sympathy,” and “Somebody Calling.” More recent releases from Joyful Sky, No More Worlds to Conquer and Coming Closer to the Day were also part of the set.

And his playing is still impeccable with all the power and passion for which he’s known. Few can match his ability and no one sounds like Trower. For whatever cosmic musical connections exist, Trower and his fans have definitely bonded through tours and the 50-plus albums he has released since his days with Procol Harum. There is a feel and depth to his playing that reaches in and grabs you if you’re lucky enough to have been pulled into that joyful vortex.

Local favorite Joel DaSilva was the opener and was well received as he provided a solid acoustic performance, switching to electric guitar for his final offering, a neatly arranged cover of the Johnny Cash tune, “Get Rhythm.”

If you’re reluctant to catch this tour fearing age has slowed Trower down, fear no more. For fans, this is a must tour to catch, and not just for nostalgia. Trower is still very much the real deal. And there are seven more dates on his US tour schedule before he heads back to the UK.