So my buddy, Bongo Johnny, calls me last week to let me know that Dave Mason's Traffic Jam Tour was coming to town and we needed to be there!

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Traffic..... dude!! We're talkin' one of the most innovative psychedelic rock bands of the late 60's and early 70's! We had 6th row center seats for this Dave Mason retrospective. Dave came out on stage dressed in black and was bald as the day he was born saying, "It's great to be here, actually it's great to be anywhere at my age!" At 67, I can attest that Dave Mason still has the chops, both vocally and instrumentally. Behind him were two acoustic 12 string guitars, a Fender Telecaster, and a Gibson Les Paul.

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His band was comprised of three exceptionally talented musicians. On keyboards and vocals was Tony Patler, who's worked with the likes of Chaka Khan, Michael McDonald, and Janet Jackson. On drums..... Alvino Bennett, who's been one of the most sought after "in demand" drummers for Kenny Loggins, Stevi Wonder, and Robin Trower. On mandolin and the Fender Strat........Johnne Sambataro who's played and recorded with Eric Clapton, Steven Stills, and from '82-'89 Johnne was the lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the rock group, "Firefall."

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The first set was all "Traffic" from start to finish. As they launched into "Heaven Is In Your Mind," I flashbacked to when I was 17 in 1968, in my room, black light crankin', my Mom yelling at me to "turn the music down" as I proceeded to wear out the grooves of that debut Traffic album, "Mr. Fantasy."

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Some of these tunes I hadn't listened to in over 20 years. From "Pearly Queen" to "Vagabond Virgin" to "Feelin' Alright", the memories from my teenage years took hold and it felt damn good! Every single Traffic tune that Dave and his band played was a work of art from the guitar licks to the three part harmony. Keyboardist Tony Patler successfully tackled a couple of the Steve Winwood vocals. This guy can sing!! In my humble opinion, the two highlights of the first set were, "Feelin' Alright" where Dave let us know that even though Joe Cocker helped make it a hit......He was the one who wrote it! Another highlight a bit later in the "Traffic" set, Dave looked up at all of us from center stage and said, "I know you're ask for this one, so let's do it!" as he launched into a phenomenal bluesy version of "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"!

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The second set was all Dave Mason solo tunes from, "We Just Disagree" to "Let It Go, Let It Flow" to his legendary version of the the Bob Dylan classic, "All Along The Watchtower." The extended solos on "Watchtower"  by Johnne Sambataro on guitar and Tony Patler on keyboards kicked the crowd into a dancing frenzy right at the front of the stage! Imagine if you will, Miley Cyrus twerking her ass off at the ripe old age of 67. I don't think so. Thank you Dave Mason for once again reinforcing the phrase, "You're Never Too Old To Rock N' Roll!"

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