Robin Trower is an undisputed legend in the world of Rock music. He has a sound and style that is uniquely his own and it can cut right through to your soul. I love his playing. I've played guitar since age 9 and he is one of my heroes.
I purchased 2 tickets back in November of 2018 as soon as I heard he was coming to Seattle on May 17, 2019. I was eagerly anticipating this show. He's 74 now and the music on his latest albums has slowed somewhat, featuring mostly slower blues variations, so I was not expecting a rousing experience. But I was sure that it would be rich and soulful.
Unfortunately, that is not what he delivered. His playing was impeccable and there were moments of penetration into that indescribable realm of musical ecstasy, but they were seldom and fleeting. Mostly, he just did what he does night after night, seemingly by rote. Very little connection with the audience or even the 2 other musicians.
And speaking of the other musicians, WHY did he choose 2 KIDS to play with. They both looked like they were barely out of high school, and their performance seriously lacked any depth or emotion. I was definitely expecting, and we ALL deserved to hear him play with seasoned pros, not kids. It reminded me of the way Chuck Berry used to do shows - arriving in a town with his guitar and playing with whoever the local talent was.
Overall, this show was probably satisfying for casual fans, but lacking for those of us who have been listening to him throughout his career. It was frankly impersonal and uninspired. I was disappointed.