It’s hard to believe that 1994 was thirty years ago. While you let it sink in that three decades have passed since Friends and Forrest Gump came out, 1994 was also the year Blues Traveler released their seminal album, Four.
In a nod to the significance of this event, these relentless road warriors have been touring in support of the anniversary of their most commercially successful six-times platinum album. Besides the single “Run-Around” being the longest-charting radio single in Billboard history, the song also garnered the band a Grammy award for “Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or a Group.”
Flash forward to the year 2024 and you’ll find Blues Traveler on tour in support of the thirtieth anniversary of Four. They made a stop in Chicago on September 21st to play at the iconic Riviera Theater. This Uptown fixture boasts a storied history of its own with photos of the many artists who played there plastered along its 107-year-old walls.
While musical history was on the bill that night, the show also featured an appearance by the fast-rising multi-instrumentalist Vanessa Collier as the opening act. This talented artist, guitarist and stellar sax player recently racked up rave reviews from the locals following her turn on the main stage at the Chicago Blues Festival. She has also been garnering high praise for her latest release, Do It My Own Way.
Collier’s set included several cuts from the new CD interspersed with compelling stories about life on the road and blazing her own path in the music business. She closed off her stint on stage with a cover of Ann Peebles’ “Can’t Stand the Rain,” which showcased both her soulful vocal style and saxophone skills.
Following her fifty-minute set, Collier left the stage and received a rousing response from the audience. The buzz kept building until John Popper and company came on stage and acknowledged the hometown crowd with a singalong to “Sweet Home Chicago.”
After the opening nod to the Chicago blues tradition, the band launched into “Stand” and “Run-Around” from Four. Although it’s been thirty-seven years since Blues Traveler began their musical journey in Princeton, New Jersey, these opening songs serve notice that they haven’t lost a step in terms of musicianship.
Popper’s still-strong vocal chops and harmonica skills were showcased on “Things are Looking Up” from the band’s 2012 release, Suzie Cracks the Whip. They then roared right into “Freedom” from Four, which let guitarist Chan Kinchla crack into some wicked riffs and allowed the group to show why they were at the forefront of the early “jam-band” revolution.
The jam band vibe continued when Popper stepped aside and left the stage so bassist Tad Kinchla could take the reins with an extended solo. After that, it was back to more favorites from Four with Popper returning for “Look Around” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” Keyboardist Ben Wilson and drummer Brendan Hill also had their turns in the limelight that night.
Besides showcasing the band members’ talents and many tunes from Four, Blues Traveler also broke out some first-rate cover versions including the Isley Brothers’ “Shout” and Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher,” which demonstrated their willingness to stretch creative boundaries and take on various genres and musical influences.
After heaping praise on Collier, Popper summoned her back on stage so she could lend her vocal talents to the soulful “The Mountains Win Again” – another high point of the night.
Of course, true to their name, it was soon time for Blues Traveler to move on to the next leg of the Thirty Years of Four tour. But before they headed east to other venues, they closed out their Chicago show in fine fashion with “Hook,” which had the entire audience singing along to another of the band’s signature songs. Blues Traveler returned to the stage with a fine rendition of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” before taking their final bows and moving on.
