Review & Photos by Jordan West
Seeing a legend perform in the “twilight” of their career can sometimes make you feel really old. Summer and fall always bring out the oldies acts in droves, intent on getting that last gasp of cash before settling down. A lot of acts, who made their mark during the “golden age of classic rock” in the 1970s and 80s are very disappointing for their fans to see. Fans who go to a show to relive the songs of their youth and come home wishing they had stayed home is becoming an unfortunate and all too familiar thing.
Guitarist Robin Trower is now 80 years old. His long career, which started in the 1960s with Procol Harum and continues as a very popular, successful solo act since, with new music and concert appearances. As is the case with many concert goers, they come to hear the hits and try and pretend that they are young again and could care less about what new music the artist is touring to promote. I am happy to say that I am not one of them. New music keeps the blood flowing, and for this night, Robin Trower and his trio supplied enough fuel to satisfy his fans with both new and vintage musical treats.
After a very enjoyable 30-minute set from opening duo Katy Guillen & the Drive, Robin Trower and his band — bassist and vocalist Richard Watts and drummer Chris Taggart — took to the stage at The Grove of Anaheim to huge applause. In an age where flashing lights, taped background vocals, and pre-recorded samples have become the norm at many shows, tonight was pleasantly and completely void of that. Just three guys with a guitarist who uses his finely crafted and signature guitar tone to entertain.
Opening with “The Razors Edge” one of four songs performed that evening from his 2022 No More Worlds To Conquer release, Trower and his band were immediately in synch. The bluesy groove that the band laid down during this number set the tone for things to come. Trower, backed by two Marshall cabinets and using his wah-wah pedal exclusively to achieve his signature sound, stood stage right, and eyes closed, set about transfixing the seated audience for a 14-song set of guitar magic.
“Too Rolling Stoned” from his classic 1974 release Bridge of Sighs got the crowd jump-started, and I noticed, as is the case at all shows these days, the audience immediately took out their phones to try and capture it on video. Surprisingly, security emerged and immediately did their best to quell that situation, and all eyes became focused on the band, and it became a very enjoyable evening for all. Maybe this will become standard practice at shows, but we’ll see.
Trower, manning a red Fender Stratocaster, led the band into the lovely “Wither on the Vine” again from “No More Worlds to Conquer” and it was during this song that I became very appreciative of Watt’s range. As wonderful as James Dewar and his soulful vocals were on so many classic Robin Trower songs were, Watts voice has a gritty tinge that fits right in, adding depth to songs both new and old. A great take on “Somebody Calling,” the funky song from 1980’s In City Dreams record, kept me somewhere between appreciation of where the song took me back to, and where it is now with a new sound, was a great example. As wonderful and classic as that song is, with Trower’s signature guitar sound, Watt’s throaty, and sometimes scratchy voice gave the song a new lift, in my opinion. Granted, as I will always appreciate the late Dewar and his soulful tones, I really enjoyed Watt’s take on the classics all evening.
Watts did a great job singing “Distant Places of the Heart,” a song from Trower’s collaboration with the late Jack Bruce. This is not an easy thing to do. But Watt’s range really nailed it, and his bass playing, along with Taggart’s supreme time-keeping kept this writer’s attention, as Trower, and his dreamy tones, were in full effect, and kept things sonically enjoyable.
Robin Trower addressed the crowd at songs end and thanked them for their applause. “We’d like to do something off the new album, we hope you like it,” he announced. “One Go Round” was the only song performed from 2025’s Come And Find Me release. It is a “swampy” slow groove that when you close your eyes, will transfix you to another place. The lyrical meaning is pretty obvious. “You only get one go round, so try and make the most of it,” Trower explained recently. Great song and a nice representation on where the artist is today.
An interesting choice of songs, “It’s Too Late” another Jack Bruce song from his 1981 B.L.T. collaboration with Trower and drummer Bill Lordan followed, and it’s waltzing groove was very pleasing to hear. Taggart gave the song some “swing” and he really, as we drummers like to say, was “in the pocket” all evening. The classics “Day of The Eagle” and “Bridge of Sighs” pumped up the crowd as Robin Trower, always looking down at his guitar and closing his eyes when he isn’t, played those songs like he has for so many years, with a very unique tone and stayed true to the original arrangements.
“No More Worlds to Conquer” followed, and then the band launched into “Daydream” another classic Trower song from his 1973 Twice Removed From Yesterday LP, that, to paraphrase a word from the song, had the audience “spellbound” with Trowers signature sound emulating the original, and Watts husky vocal took the song to new levels of the greatness of this number. The rowdy, “Little Bit of Sympathy” kept the crowd moving in their seats as well as enticed a few of the aging attendees to rise and get their “ya-ya’s” out, concluded the set.
After thanking the crowd and leaving the stage, the band quickly re-assembled onstage and cranked up the very Cream/Electric Flag-like “Rise Up Like the Sun” from Trower’s 1994 20th Century Blues album. This one had the band really letting loose, with Taggart’s pounding beats leading the charge. The band then brought the pace back down and finished the show with yet another number from No More Worlds To Conquer, the lovely ballad “Birdsong” in which Watts vocal take shined. This song would have fit right in with any of Trowers mid-70s classic run of popular releases, and, as with many of his songs, brings a bit of familiarity in its structure. Trower’s wonderful guitar playing ability and tone, I am proud to say, is still intact at the ripe old age of 80.
Oddly, the show had been billed as “Celebrating 50 years of the For Earth Below” release, but nothing from that classic was performed. Oh well, Robin Trower is only an Octogenarian; he will be back to cover that part of his career another time in the future. Bravo to Robin Trower and his band on a very enjoyable evening in Anaheim.
