Blues Traveler is a band that is no stranger to the New York area. The band was formed in Princeton, New Jersey while they were in high school. The group has since gone from a Garden State garage band to grammy winner. After high school Blues Traveler left Princeton to attend The New School’s music program, as well as NYU. Starting out the show frontman John Popper reminisced on their experience in New York City.
Taking the stage at the beautiful Pier 17 in downtown Manhattan, Blues Traveler took the stage. Popper introduced their song ‘Manhattan Bridge‘ with a story of their time starting out in New York and the early morning drives across the Manhattan Bridge. The lead singer noted the time it has been since a live show and just how special it was to be in the city where it all started.
This nostalgic moment led into the band playing ‘Manhattan Bridge‘ and the beautiful instrumental. You could almost feel the memories the band had and was making again on this night and in this familiar area. For a long time live music was missing without a timetable for return. Wednesday at Pier 17 to a sold out crowd felt like for many their live music hopes fulfilled. In the same place that Blues Traveler music hopes were born and realized. It was a special thought.
From their the band went right into playing the song that won them their grammy ‘Run-Around.’ Fans yelled along to every word as “hey babe, let’s keep in touch” echoed amongst the surrounding skyscrapers.
Traveler’s Blues
Blues Traveler is on tour promoting their recently released ‘Traveler’s Blues‘ album. Popper took the opportunity to poke fun at their album naming abilities as he introduced the next song ‘Ball and Chain.‘ Another song that got the crowd going.
‘Traveler’s Blues’ is the bands 14th full length album. Three of which albums are gold albums Blues Traveler (1990), Travelers and Thieves (1991) and Save His Soul (1993). The next album Four (1994) went six-times platinum and spawned the definitive “Run-Around,” which garnered a GRAMMY® Award in the category of “Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group.”
Of what Traveler’s Blues means to the band guitarists Chan Kinchla said.
“Blues Traveler is not just a band; it’s a lifestyle,” Chan leaves off. “Blues Traveler is our life’s work. It’s enabled us to do so many other things. This little tribe we built in New York during the late eighties has survived all the way through—plus or minus some dearly departed brothers and sisters. It’s empowered us to be creative, make people happy and travel around spreading some good vibes. The longer we do it, the more we like it. Now, people know we can actually play the fucking blues too.”
Listen to it here.
See more Blues Traveler on their website.
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