Ah, what vision comes from hindsight — 20/20 they say. Almost half a century, several bands, many awards and honors, and collaborations later, classic rocker Dave Mason has a treasure trove of virtual snapshots. But perhaps one stands apart.
“I wish I had taken better care of my money,” said the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame great from his California home just before going on tour. “I gave a lot of it away. But when you?re young, you think there will always be more.”
There might not be the high demand he enjoyed in his youth when he palled around with the likes of Jimi Hendrix. (Mason played acoustic guitar on Hendrix?s classic rendition of “All Along the Watchtower.”) But Mason, co-founder of Traffic (which also launched Steve Winwood and the late Jim Capaldi into the musical stratosphere), still finds ways to get noticed.
Critics around the United States report the premier singer/songwriter/ guitarist blasting other acts almost off the stage, even when he opens. In fairness, Mason has a huge catalog from Traffic (“Dear Mr. Fantasy”) and his solo work on which to draw. But all the songs in the world don?t help if a musician loses the touch. Mason clearly still has it.
“Mason and his four-member band were in peak form throughout his eight-song set,” the OC Register reported after a recent show. “And even at 63, Mason remains a fiery lead guitarist able to play with dazzling speed, precision and feeling.”
Mason keeps the songs in the set that are fun to play, and he knows what his core audience ? ages 30-60 ? wants to hear.
“There is a lot of room to keep [the show] fresh,” Mason said. “I do different musical styles. I?m not blues, rock, ballads ? I?m an amalgamation of all of them.”
He recently released a live album and is putting the finishing touches on a new studio album that will contain some new music and renditions of some old favorites (“Deaf, Dumb and Blind”).
“Presumably tastes change, life experience happens,” Mason said in reworking some classics. “It?s just the natural response.”
IF YOU GO
Dave Mason
» Venue: Rams Head on Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis
» When: 8 tonight and Tuesday
» Tickets: $45; 410-268-4545; www.ramsheadonstage.com
