Martin Barre Band

The Road Less Traveled Tour
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
October 7, 2018

The Martin Barre Band returned to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center on October 7th to entertain an enthusiastic crowd. Having seen this band before and enjoying every moment of the concert it was a given that we were at The Kate to see them again. Martin said he also enjoys being at that particular venue and it’s a comfortable place for him and the band.

This is The Road Less Traveled Tour to coincide with the release of his newest album of the same name. This night they performed “Lone Wolf” and “(This is) My Driving Song” a couple of cuts off the new release due out October 28th. If the whole album is as good as these two he has solidified the fact that he continues to release new and relevant music.

In 2016 when I last saw Martin perform the Back To Steel album had just been released. The band was getting into their rhythm and playing cuts off that release. This time around they have been playing together for some time now, at least Barre, Crisp and Thomson have been. New to the line-up was Darby Todd on drums and he’s an excellent addition to the group.

Dan Crisp has totally come into his voice and delivered a strong performance. He not only has great vocals but also does a fantastic job on guitar. He seems to have his own style evolving and is very engaging, especially when he’s singing a blues song.

Barre was excellent as usual on the guitar and he also surprised the audience at The Kate when he scrambled down the steps from the stage during one song and played to the audience in front. He then took a seat in the front row and played back toward the rest of the band on stage, even giving bass player Alan Thomson the same look I am sure he sees from fans in the audience. It was a great moment and the crowd thoroughly enjoyed it.

The band had traveled through the night to get to The Kate after performing a show in Annapolis, Maryland. Barre said they were running on 8 hours sleep between all of them. If this is how they go on little sleep they need to be sleep deprived and punchy all the time because the entire band once again wowed the audience with a fantastic and energetic performance. Each song better than the last. They built the audience up to a crescendo and took them over the top with the encore of “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath.”

They always surpass the last show and never disappoint. I must say this was my favorite concert of year and I have been to quite a few. This show is a must see on the list of bands to catch and if you get the chance to see them by all means do so. We can not recommend them enough and are awaiting their next tour.

The Stand Up America Celebrate 50 years of Jethro Tull Tour in April and May, 2019 and is in addition to the regular Martin Barre Band tour dates.

www.martinbarre.com

Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:

Steel Monkey
Hymn 43
Sea Lion
Lone Wolf
Back to the Family
Love Story
This is My Driving Song
For a Thousand Mothers
Nothing to Say
Nothing Is Easy

Set 2:
Hunting Girl
My Sunday Feeling
I Want You (She’s So Heavy) (The Beatles cover)
Minstrel in the Gallery
A New Day Yesterday
Teacher

Encore
Aqualung
Locomotive Breath