Trevor Hall

Trevor Hall

Do you remember your first concert? I was probably 15-18 and saw Kiss. We actually had tickets that were so bad they were called “obstructed view” but that’s all we could afford. Obstructed view meant there was some massive object in your way so you couldn’t actually see the performance. Our tickets were even worse! We had tickets that were behind the stage…the only time we could see anything was when Paul Stanley would come backstage to re-apply his face makeup. Sounds bad? Don’t feel bad for me yet.

My friend Chris who was a die-hard Kiss fan knew all the band member’s names. I didn’t. When Paul cam back about the third time, he yells “Paul, Paul Stanley!” Much to my surprise, Paul stops on his way into the makeup booth and turns and looks at these two pathetic rock fans, stuck backstage, no view whatsoever, but still jazzed about just being there. Paul turns and moves towards us, crawling up onto to some massive PA Speakers and walks back and leans out to grasp the handrail of the balcony we were in and put out his hand, shaking both of our hands while we stood drooling and dazed.

My Lucky Daughter

Well, my 14 year-old daughter Alexia just got to see her first concert last Thursday, accompanied by her Dad (me) who had secured a photo pass to the Trevor Hall/Tyrone Wells show in Provo, UT at a tiny venue called the Velour Love Music Gallery. She was much more fortunate, front row, no obstructions, and group photos with the performers and a night of beautiful music played to perfection.

We waited patiently in the frigid evening air for nearly 30 minutes before they opened the doors. We had hoped to get the killer spot on the floor, which we achieved and were positioned dead center first row an arms length away from the performers. This was a tiny venue but I liked the intimacy of the place and they kept the volume at a less than earth-shaking level, which was very appreciated by both Alexia and I. Alexia commented early on that it was a bit loud and I told her she was very lucky, the last time I saw Trevor at Harry O’s in Park City, the music was so loud anything placed on or near the PA speakers would be physically knocked over by the vibration of the bass beat!

Trevor Hall

When will we get a full two-hour show or more and have Trevor as the main act? Is there no justice in this world? Sorry about that, it’s just that Trevor has such a large body of great work, I would like to hear more than a hour or so, it goes by so quickly, over before it starts. Someday, someday. Anyway, on this day, Trevor came on stage with his typical loose look, comfy sweater, T-shirt, jeans and, of course, bare feet. Sparkling eyes and sheepish grin, radiating peace, love and sweetness.

Trevor launched into his set and within seconds both he and the crowd were swaying rhythmically to the deep beat Chris put down and now for the first time, Mario Pagliarulo on bass dropping in the bottom, what a treat. So tight, yet so laid back. Closing his eyes, head tilted back deep into his music Trevor was mesmerizing, his sincerity has palpable.

Between songs Trevor appeased a fan (Abi) by speaking with her friend who could not make the show on her cell phone, I could her shrieks form the cell phone 10 feet away. Later Trevor left the stage mid-song and sang from the crowd. Later Trevor was carried away by the beat and danced in circled on the stage. Trevor sang a new song that he and Matisyahu had written together called United.

Mid-show he played a wonderful version of My Beating Heart and changed up the outro by playing an interesting little keyboard instrument that was powered by Trevor blowing into a small tube, just magical. Trevor’s music has always been simple, yet spiritually powerful, and now with the addition of Mario’s bass, it takes on a whole new level of intensity. If Trevor’s music did not put you into a deep peaceful state before, resistance will be futile now. Sweeping over you like a warm wave, his love-filled lyrics and gravelly voice, he sings with a sincerity that draws you in so close you can barely breath. And its just music, not that important right? Yeah, right…

His version of Venomous had the entire audience singing out load which seemed to surprise the band at first, crazy that this little out of the way venue in this sleepy little town could be so into this Rasta-soaked rhythm, but we were overwhelmed and washed away in Trevor’s groove.

Mario all the way from Naples, Italy

Trevor taught the crowd his great song Om Shakti Om which we gladly sang at the top of our lungs.

Chris drums like no else, power and grace.

Chris Steele "Blur"

Later in the show, Trevor welcomed a killer guitarist to the stage that added some gritty blues/rock/jazz riffs to a couple songs, I am still trying to determine his name and will update this review as soon as I can be sure.

TBD

In the meantime, here are a few pictures of this wonderful guitarist. If you EVER get a chance, see Trevor Hall, he will affect you, you will smile and hum his spiritually rich songs for days, lingering in your mind like a wonderful dream, where as is peaceful, calm and right.

As Trevor would sign off:

So Much Love

More info about the players;

Drummer: Chris Steele

Chris Steele began playing drums on laundry hampers with magic markers at the age of four or five (he really doesn’t remember too much from that time). He does remember “The Tropics”, “Thumbs Up”, “Temporary No Parking” these were some of the names of his band made up of his older brothers and some friends. At the age of twelve, Chris was already playing live shows in his hometown of Butler, PA. His passion for rhythm only grew with time as he began a journey that would take him all over the world. His college career started in the town of Youngstown, OH where he completed a bachelor of music degree. He then moved to Los Angeles where his scholarship to USC allowed him to finish his Masters in jazz studies. Along with the course curriculum Chris also studied privately with, Ndugu Chancler, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, Zoro, Gregg Field, John Riley, and everyone else under the sun. Chris’s passion for jazz music allowed him to share the stage with Kenny Burell, Conrad Herwig, Sean Jones, Bobby Shew, Jiggs Whigham, Alfonso Johnson, and Phil Woods. Chris also had the opportunity to perform a drum duet with legendary swing drummer Louie Bellson. A summer tour as the drummer for the Glenn Miller Orchestra followed by a tour with an R&B artist in China showed his passion for all styles of music. Cary Brothers had given Chris his first TV appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as he performed “Blue Eyes.” Behind the scenes you can hear Chris in the movie Dawn of the Dead and Four Brothers. In front of the camera you can see Chris as Jim Carey’s drummer in The Majestic. Chris has performed with a gambit of Pop, Rock, and Reggae artists that include Barry Manilow, Deborah Gibson, John Popper, David Foster, Rusted Root, and The Wailers. Now Chris is enjoying touring and recording with one of his favorite artists Trevor Hall. Playing on The Late Late show with Cary Brothers!

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 29th, 2009 at 5:46 pm. It is filed under Live music reviews, Past shows, Photography and tagged with Chris Steele, Mario Pagliarulo, Provo, The Velour, Trevor Hall. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.