2009.07.25
Blues Traveler at FloydFest main stage: People dig the hits
Chan Kinchla (left), John Popper
John Popper showed he still has his harmonica and vocal chops down, and Blues Traveler sounded tight and seasoned as always. The band played my favorite BT song, "Carolina Blues." It got a pretty good response, but nothing like the response to "Runaround," which Popper has joked is the only Blues Traveler song most people know.
I heard what I guessed were new songs, which went over OK, but this crowd was here for the biggies, including "Hook." I'm sure the band played that one, but I wasn't around. I had to get over to the admin tent and a landline to call the copy desk before deadline with an attendance estimate.
And now, I get to beat the print version. Organizers estimated a crowd of between 11,000 and 12,000 by the middle of Blues Traveler's main stage headlining set. Last year's total was 12,000. There is still a day to go at FloydFest 8.
I think several people did what you did during Blues Traveler, left. After the 2nd smoke break in which John Popper stayed on stage with his back to the crowd we left. The fans of Floydfest deserve better. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals gave it all to the crowd Friday night. Several other highlights were the Yard Dogs Road Show & Sol Driven Train. Both were awesome. Hope to see them all back next year. Blues Traveler can travel elsewhere. Floydfest is the best!!!
Comment by Madman Mac — July 31, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
Mac, that's too bad. Why does Popper want to act like that? Sad. It's not like he's going to be back in the charts and has an "excuse" to be uppity.
I dug the three other shows you mention here. The Yard Dogs, in particular, were intriguing.
Comment by Tad Dickens — August 3, 2009 @ 4:55 pm