John Popper of Blues Traveler performs Aug. 1 at L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine. (John Swinconeck photos)
Blues Traveler’s concert at L.L. Bean proved at least one thing – a lot of people still really like Blues Traveler. The band performed a free show at the Freeport, Maine flagship store Aug. 1. There’s a reason why Blues Traveler, touring in support of their new album, “North Hollywood Shootout,” has a reputation as a solid live band, and they damn-well proved it. Also, kudos to whoever was on the mixing board.
Best Numbers:
• Busting out “Sweet Talking Hippie” early in the set seemed more than a dedication to Jerry Garcia – it was almost a greeting to thousands of hippies in attendance.
• An extended version of “But Anyway” gets thumbs-up for keeping the band’s signature jams in step with a very catchy melody.
• “Hook” never ceases to amaze.
• “Brother John” morphing into a cover of the Isley Brothers’ “Shout” was a nice way to wrap things up.
Important Observations:
• If you go to a popular concert at LL Bean, set up your lawn chair well ahead of time – like the night before.
• About 90 minutes before the opening act, the Jason Spooner band, took the stage, legions of hippies appeared, seemingly out of no where. It was enough to make one wonder if hippies spring forth from the ground as if from Middle Earth.
The artist known as Tex gets us all to do the wave.
• Everyone sitting in the bleachers to the left of the stage needs to pay tribute to a man in a loud shirt known only as “Tex.” Tex got us to do the wave. He thrilled us with his dance moves. And when the Freeport Police tried to stop his barefoot gamboling upon the sidewalk, we made our displeasure known (there could have been rioting). Hail Tex!
• Also appearing in the audience was the irony-slinging purebred hipster douchebag.
• Music played as Blues Traveler left the stage: “I’m So Ronery,” from Team America: World Police. Brilliant.
Left the concert feeling:
Blues Traveler's John Popper and Chandler Kinchla Aug. 1.
• Concern for a lovely woman who lent me a lens, but disappeared before I could give her the lens cap that she accidently left on the ground, like a Cinderella fleeing the ball who likes Canon.
• Secure knowing that LL Bean had clean, indoor bathrooms.
• Hey! I got to see Blues Traveler for free! Yay!
I’m starting to wonder if Blues Traveler ever gets paid to perform anymore. In the summer of 2000, I went with a friend to check out the University of Alabama for grad school, and as we wandered through the Quad, we discovered that Blues Traveler was playing a free show. It was surreal.
I paid to see them once back in 1997 and once back in 2002 or so… so they’ve at least been paid twice in their career.
I also have to say kudos to the woman translating the show to ASL. I think you could actually see smoke after she finished signing the bridge to “Hook”.