A Whiter Shade of Trower: Influential Guitarist Plays Brixton
Robin Trower
Where have all the Mayalls gone? The Jaggers, the Jimis, the Mayfields? There’s good reason to believe they haven’t gone anywhere, and that it’s just a different game today with a different set of rules when it comes to making it as a rock god. That’s one reason why it’s important to be tuned in to the contemporary music scene. But every so often a legend from the golden era traipses through our local beat. In fact, one is journeying 1,100 miles to give a South Bay audience a lesson in guitar power. Robin Trower performs on Sunday at Brixton in Redondo Beach.
Trower is perhaps best known and revered for his 1974 powerhouse album, “Bridge of Sighs,” regarded as one of the greatest rock guitar albums of all time. Jimi Hendrix had an influence on Trower’s playing, and he rapidly became an influential guitarist himself. As an original member of Procol Harum, he’d struck the chords on his six-string with them from ‘67-‘71. He played on their first 5 albums, including “A Whiter Shade of Pale”. Predating the Harum days, Trower had formed a band called the Paramounts, a mostly R&B cover band that lasted from ’62-66. He’s recorded a couple of dozen albums over the decades, including two with famed Cream bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, and is now touring the U.S. in support of his newest album “The Playful Heart” (released Dec 2010).
Taken from an interview featured on his website, Trower says, “I had to start this album because I had so many songs backing up… I felt I must get in the studio and get some of these out… I was just very excited about the songs.”
It’s remarkable that someone, after nearly 50 years of writing music, could have the problem of too many songs backing up. Or maybe instead, like a tree that gains more branches with the growing years, it becomes easier for them to pile up like fallen leaves.
“I don’t really know where the ideas for lyrics come from,” Trower said in his interview. “It’s just, you know, you’re working on the music and a line will pop into your head… that’s where it starts basically.”
Trower has always maintained the power trio core throughout his lineups. For the recording (and touring) of “The Playful Heart” he’s brought in veteran accomplices Davey Pattison (vocals), Pete Thompson (drums), and Glenn Letsch (bass).
“The idea of recording this album was more about bringing the guys in that I use on the road,” said Trower in the interview. “I wanted to achieve something a bit more raw and live feeling.”
They hit the studio and basically jammed for a period of time without recording. In this manner they developed that raw, live vibe Trower was searching for – rather than piece together tracks with overdubs on top of overdubs. They continually rehearsed in this way before rolling the tapes.
At nearly 66 years old, the British blues rock legend’s hair may be a whiter shade than it used to, but his playing is as deep blue as ever. Like a Hendrix, his signature sound cannot be mistaken, and I bet if Jimi was still around the two of them would be sharing bills together.
Robin Trower plays Brixton on the Redondo Beach Pier, Sunday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7. Also performing, Everlove. Tickets, $29.50. Call (310) 406-1931 or go to brixtonsouthbay.com. ER