Trower in Dartford: 16 November 2005

Arriving in Dartford [having flown in from North Carolina], I checked into the Bull and the Vic. After a bit of a rest and a hot shower I had a bite and a few pints at the pub downstairs.

Then I was off to the Mick Jagger Centre to see Robin Trower play. I arrived quite early and there were kids about in the lobby. Music classes were still going on. So I walked around the halls and looked at the art. Hanging high was a big picture of Mick in concert and a tour jacket beside it. Soon the kids all left and people started in to see Trower.

The opening act was a guy singing and playing acoustic guitar. I can't remember the name, but he was ok. I went to get another beer in the lobby when none other than Mr Geoff Whitehorn and wife enter the centre. It was so good to see a familiar face. I offered him a drink but he didn't take it. He had to drive his wife home.

So we chatted for a few minutes then everyone rushed into the auditorium. The room was about 100 feet long and 50 wide. The ceiling was about 40 feet high. There also was a balcony section in the rear. The Whitehorns and I planted foot about 70 feet diagonally from Robin's rig to get a better sound hopefully.

I couldn't believe my ears, it sounded too good to be true. It seemed as though he poured out every feeling and emotion through his guitar. I also loved that phase shifter he uses. Of course, the highlight of the show was Bridge of Sighs. It sounded like his guitar was weeping as if the world had ended. I am very glad that I got a chance to see one of the greatest guitarists on earth.

Thank you Roland for encouraging me to take the opportunity and setting up my stay in Dartford, London. 

Thanks Beatle ... hear his own playing by clicking here

[Geoff Whitehorn's comment to BtP about the evening ... 'Trower was great, still the best vibrato in the West']