August 6, 2010 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Mason has given the Best Party Anywhere its official start with a little help from rockabilly double bassist Lee Rocker. It was an opening ceremony of sorts, and fans were quick to filter in for a taste of stellar musicianship from two names that aren’t often seen in concert. Both solo artists have made quite a name for themselves in their own right, but it was their talent alongside that of their top notch backing bands that made these shows something to remember.
If the name Lee Rocker doesn’t sound familiar, the name Brian Setzer most likely does. Setzer and Rocker are old friends from school, both with a taste for straight-up, 1950s rockabilly. On stage, the former Stray Cat’s massive, silver double bass attracted attention from the start, and the retro, slicked-back hairdos sported by the entire band were also something to see. Alongside the unique visual presentation, the band ran through a strong set of uptempo numbers that hearkened back to a much different time in music.
With talk of Buddy Holly and more than a few mentions of “stray cats”, it indeed felt quite a bit like 1958 as the band grooved on with a show that encompassed both the careers of Rocker and the world famous band which periodically reunites, the Stray Cats. The instrument Rocker plays has more than an extra foot in height on the musician himself, which meant that some creativity was required in order to play on for more than an hour. But he was up for that task, alternating between plucking the towering bass straight up in the air and strumming away in the more traditional, horizontal grip.
English guitarist Dave Mason followed with songs that also were reminiscent of another era, albeit not quite as far back as the 1950s. Classic rock fans will recall Mason as a member of Traffic, one of the most significant products of late ’60s psychedelic rock. There he penned classics like “Feelin’ Alright” before forging his own solo career that yielded the mellow favorite “We Just Disagree” among other tunes. Mason gave a taste of it all during his performance, with his guitar and vocal abilities still more than intact.
His six piece band provided a powerful sound, and bassist Gerald Johnson added to the fun with wacky facial expressions and fine playing. And although there’s a bluesy element to Mason’s voice, the blues went to a whole new level when Johnson took over lead vocal duties for a stirring rendition of “Baby What You Want Me to Do“. The songs were memorable and spirit of the music was evident in both Mason and the band throughout as they carried through a no-frills, all-skills show.
Classy performances from both Dave Mason and Lee Rocker surely point to good signs for the dozens of concerts yet to come at the Legendary Buffalo Chip.
