Dave Mason was maybe not the best-known of musicians – certainly not to the casual rock fan – but he cast a long shadow.
Mason passed away several days ago at 79 after dealing with health issues for a few years. A road dog among road dogs, Mason toured and performed as long as he could, but eventually he began to cancel concerts with increasing frequency (a couple here in Houston) until he announced his retirement from touring.
In addition to his own recordings (“We Just Disagree,” “Only You Know and I Know,” “Let It Go, Let It Flow”), Mason was a cofounder of Traffic and wrote the rock and roll standard “Feelin’ Alright?” for that band. He made numerous guest appearances on friends’ songs, including “All Along the Watchtower” (Jimi Hendrix), “Street Fighting Man” (Rolling Stones), “Listen to What the Man Said” (Wings) and “Immigration Man” (Crosby and Nash).
By all accounts, Mason was the kind of guy you would want in the foxhole beside you. He always treated his band members well during his solo career, even inviting a guitar player’s wife who was expecting to join the band on tour on his dime. Not only that, he –unbeknownst to the guitarist until later – gave the couple his own hotel suite and bunked in a smaller room so that they could better enjoy their time together. Dave Mason was one of the good guys.
Ticket Alert
Three bands with the word “black” in their names have just announced Houston dates. Black Stone Cherry, co-headlining with Buckcherry (we see what they did there), will perform on Tuesday, September 1, at the House of Blues. On Wednesday, September 2, guitarist Zakk Wylde’s band Black Label Society plays at the Bayou Music Center. OG punk rockers Black Flag are booked at the House of Blues on Sunday, November 1. Tickets for all shows are on sale now, but with all those similar names, don’t get confused!
Columbian reggaeton superstar Karol G – who was just recently a headliner at Coachella – brings her “Viajando por el Mundo” (“Traveling Around the World”) tour to NRG Stadium on Sunday, September 27. Some of the presales are in progress right now, with the rest of the sales set to roll out over the next few days.
Who says chicks can’t rock? Certainly not the fans of the Japanese group Babymetal, a female trio who will perform at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Friday, September 25. Babymetal is considered to be among the founders of the genre “kawaii metal,” which combines heavy metal and J-pop. “Kawaii” translates roughly as “cute” or “endearing.” That being said, Babymetal rocks hard, as do scheduled opening acts Halestorm (featuring guitarist Lzzy Hale) and Violent Vira. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now.
Concerts This Week
Guitarist Robert Cray performs tonight at the Heights Theater. Tremendous guitar player, great singer, masterful stage presence and a man of integrity. Not to mention the fact that he appeared as a member of Otis Day and the Knights in Animal House! You can’t go wrong here.
It was said by poet T.S. Eliot that “April is the cruelest month.” My bandmate Nick Rawson used to use that line to test his vocal mic at our gigs. He found it more interesting than “Check one, check two,” but that’s another story. At any rate, May is starting out as a close second in the cruel department, with three great shows booked on Sunday. Decisions, decisions. Choice number one is Little Feat at the 713 Music Hall. The band had quite a following in Houston during its heyday in the ‘70s, so no doubt a bunch of old timers (and yes, I’m including myself here) will be on hand to welcome Little Feat when the “Last Farewell Tour” pulls into town.
Option number two on Sunday? Los Lobos at the Heights Theater. This one really hurts, as Little Feat and Los Lobos are two of my all-time favorite American bands. I’m going with Little Feat since I had to miss them last time they were in town, but this is a situation where I’m cursing the notions of space and time and their preventing me from being in two places at once.
Finally on Sunday, Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials pay a visit to the Big Easy. If you are a fan of serious Chicago blues, you won’t be disappointed. Besides, there aren’t many people who can rock a fez better than Lil’ Ed Williams. And be sure to check out the band’s new album, Sideways, as it’s a killer.
Monday brings Florence and the Machine, performing at Toyota Center as part of the band’s “Everybody Scream” tour. I imagine some sort of an artistic statement is being made, but for whatever reason, lead vocalist Florence Welch appears in recent ads, publicity photos and videos in what my mother might refer to as an unladylike position. Rock stars. What can I tell you?
And speaking of Chicago bands, how about Earth, Wind & Fire at the Smart Financial Centre on Tuesday? Founder Maurice White played drums on numerous Chess Records sessions – backing artists like Etta James, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy – before launching EWF in 1970. With that kind of background in the business, it’s no wonder that the band recorded over a dozen gold and platinum albums. “Cause Knowledge Is Power: Sir Paul McCartney has said EWF’s version of “Got to Get You into My Life” is one of the best Beatles covers ever. Interestingly enough, when Macca began performing the song during his solo shows a few years ago, a horn section was prominently featured. It appears that someone was taking notes.
