The night was long on originals and short on cover tunes. My favorite cover was "Voodoo Child" - which he handled with ease. There wasn't a bad song in the bunch, but I will say that the second half of the evening truly blew the first half out of the water.
Talking with Albert after the show, I was even more taken with the band. Albert, working as a builder during the warmer Massachusetts months, tours during the winter. He's only pursued his love of music for the last nine years, with the full support of his wife and family. In the short time that he's been chasing his dreams, he's managed to catch the eye, and ear, of some of the best - B.B. King, and Double Trouble (who backed him on his first album.) He's been compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan, but then again, what blues rocker hasn't? Still, based on his studio time with Double Trouble, it would be easy enough to dismiss him as another SRV wannabe, but he's not. He has his own distinct voice and it comes through loud and clear on stage.
Bassist Dan Broad has used his non-touring months to complete his degree in Classical Music at UMASS. He's spent 23 of his 36 years playing music and playing Northeast MA. with a variety of bands. Touring with Albert for the last 3 1/2 years has given him a chance to see a bit more of the country.
Aaron Scapin, the newest and youngest member of the group, rounds out the band on drums. I didn't get a chance to talk much with him, but it'll be interesting to see what he's like the next time the group swings through Southern California.
While this may have been the band's first trip out west, I can guarantee it won't be their last. I'm looking forward to seeing them again. In the meantime, I'm cranking up the tunes and singing along.
Basic gear notes: When asked, Albert, between bites of a spicy Mahi Mahi sandwich, said he plays Fender Strats with GHS strings. Dan was playing a bass that he built from Warmoth parts. His other bass is a Fender.
Upcoming shows can be found on Albert's tour schedule.
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