Concert Photography and Reviews
Trevor Hall, Chris Steele and “Super” Mario Pagliarulo rolled into Utah in their trusty old van Lakeesha. It was almost exactly a year since their last visit to Utah, and the size of the crowd had nearly doubled. Trevor has just returned from his annual trip to India and he seemed energized. Trevor travels to India and donates his previous years earnings to Indian children’s charities, these trips also seem to serve as a time for Trevor to rest and rejuvenate. Does this sound like you typical rock or pop star, I think not. Trevor strives to operate on a higher level, one of pure love, service and compassion. Trevor has the rare ability to take his audience to that same higher place, even if it’s just for the duration of his show. Although tonights show seemed different somehow, the mood was electric, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation and even though this was my fourth Trevor show and I too was excited, each show is so diffeent, personal and unique, he seems to feel the crowd’s energy and adjust accordingly. The vibe he emotes energizes and engulfs a crowd and his energy translates directly into a smile on your face. Click on the Play button below to listen to a song off of his latest CD called Internal Heights, which is all about trying to live your life in an elevated state.
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For a complete set of 140 photos from this performance see this Flickr set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gonzoshots/sets/72157623375494760/
Trevor talked between every song and passed on his constant message of Love and service punctuated with humorous anecdotes like the the time he took all his friends to Shrek II so they could hear his song that had been selected for the soundtrack, time and time again he thought he heard his song start but it never did. And then the movie ended and everyone got up and left near the end of the credits, and then he heard it, the last 20 seconds of the credits contained his song.
He went on to say how he received emails about the movie that read like “Dear Trevor I am a janitor that works at a movie theater and I heard your song at the very end of the movie Shrek 2 and lobed it. The crowd roared with laughter knowing that fame is not the aim of this young man and only Trevor Hall could joke and laugh about his near miss with great fame. But right is might and Trevor will prevail and in the long run and be remembered as one you chose truth over Hollywood, Love over gold and service over truth over stardom and it’s trappings.
It was a pleasure to see the size of the crowd compared to last years crowd, Trevor fan base is growing slowly, by word of mouth, one convert at a time. The crowd knew his songs and sang along with every song. At one point he reached down in the middle of a song and took a camera from a fan and proceeded to take a picture of the adoring fans, handed the camera back and never missed a beat. See below.
It was cold outside but the venue was smoking hot and at one point Trevor had to remove a layer and a few irreverent requests could be heard like “Take it all off”, Trevor replied politely, “This is a PG show” and continued in his wonderfully endearing and humble way.
Chris Steele show cased his phenomenal drumming abilities on several solo’s, maintaining his constant and beautiful smile all the while.
“Super” Mario Pagliarulo, Trevor’s bassist for the last couple years held down the bottom as only he can, seemingly joined to musical hip of Trevor’s rhythms.
Trevor performs barefoot and here are a couple shots that show how close he and his band are:
Below are the lyrics to a song off of Trevor’s latest self titled CD called Unity. Read the lyrics carefully and you will se what I have been talking about, this young man’s speaks to the youth of this nation about tolerance, love and acceptance, how often you you hear that on the radio these days, especially in such an approachable format and upbeat/reggae fashion?
Unity
Oh
Yeah
Take me to the table where we all dine together
And pluck me from the crowd and return me to my sender
Whatever path you follow push on till tomorrow
Love all serve all and create no sorrow
So many rivers but they all reach the sea
They telling me he’s different but I just don’t believe it
Love is the glorious and everyone shall reach it
Who ever seeks it
Seen and unseen
I don’t want a reason anymore about the one I love, the one I love
I don’t want a reason anymore about God above, God above
I just want to melt away, in all His grace
Drift away, into that sacred place
Where there’s no more you and me, no more they and we, just unity yeah yeah, just unity yeah yeah, just unity yeah yeah, just unity yeah yeah
Well I don’t wanna count the leaves of the mango tree
I just want to taste it’s sweetness
So you can defeat this above and beneath this
Yeah
Come one and all, come stand tall
And whatever your approaching dance or meditation
If you got love along than you shall reach the station
You find a road, the supreme abode
In this city all hearts shine like gold
Don’t want a reason anymore about the one I love, the one I love
I don’t want a reason anymore about God above, God above
I just want to melt away, in all His grace
Drift away, into that sacred place
Where there’s no more you and me, no more they and we, just unity yeah, just unity, just unity, unity, just unity
Me and Jesus, Buddah, Moses, and Gouranga
All dance around, dancing on your thunder
Drunk on the wine of love for thee
Well tell me when will I be blessed to join the bliss of your company
Blissful company goes from sea to sea
From the depths of the valley to the mountain peaks
So many stories and so many fables of how the king sings of how the wall wails
Jerusalem to the Holy Himalayas
From Mount Zion to the hills of Jamaica
All land is holy, all land is sacred
All shall leave this world completely naked
Completely naked, completely
I don’t want a reason anymore about the one I love, the one I love
I don’t want a reason anymore about God above, God above
I just want to melt away, in all His grace
Drift away, into that sacred place
Where there’s no more you and me no more they and we just unity oh yeah
Where there’s no more you and me no more they and we just unity just unity
Where there’s no more you and me no more they and we just unity yeah yeah just unity yeah yeah just unity yeah yeah just unity yeah yeah
Trevor Hall is originally from South Carolina, where he resided until he was 16 years old. He began writing and performing when he was 14 years old. His introduction to music was from his father’s drum kit. His father was not only a drummer but a musician who inspired his son to write and love music as he did. Trevor claims to have always been surrounded and absorbed by music. It was on his 15th or 16th birthday when his father gifted him a recording session in his friend’s studio.
It was then that he recorded his first album, which was sold mostly to family and friends. After that, Trevor and his family began taking his music more seriously. At the age of 16, Trevor moved to California to attend Idyllwild Arts Academy, just east of Los Angeles. He attended this school from grades 10 through 12. While a student at IAA, he studied classical guitar, and met people from all around the world who influenced his life in a profound way.
During his senior year, Trevor signed a record deal with Geffen Records. He continued to focus on his music after graduation, moving to Los Angeles and working with such producers as John Alagia and the Laboriel Brothers. Other than an EP, none of the records that Trevor recorded were released. Geffen dropped him from the label in 2008.
Immediately after his departure from Geffen, Trevor began to write more music. He soon had 14 new songs under his belt along with his good friend/percussionist Chris Steele. They released their new album, “This is Blue” in 2008. Over the years, Trevor Hall has toured with many artists including: Steel Pulse, The Wailers, Matisyahu, Stevie Nicks, Ben Harper, Colbie Caillat, Los Lobos, Ziggy Marley, Rusted Root, and many others. He cites Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Ben Harper and Björk as his main influences.
Trevor has found his inspiration through meditation and his trips to India. He has helped out an Indian school there with donations from his shows.
Trevor’s first album is entitled “Lace up your Shoes.” and was released released on July 12, 2004. He then released a 4-song EP entitled, “The Rascals Have Returned” on January 4, 2006. Trevor is featured on a tribute album of The Band entitled, “The Endless Highway.” He then released his second live album (The first being “Trevor Hall Live”), “Alive & on the Road (With Chris Steele)” on October 18, 2008. And another album “This is Blue” on October 22, 2008.
An album titled “The Elephants Door” was scheduled for release, but was canceled when Trevor’s record label had dropped him from their network. It has since leaked onto the internet. His latest self titled album was released on July 18, 2009 after being signed by label Vanguard Records. The first single from this album is titled “Unity”[3] After the first week of the album’s release, it had debuted at #199 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Upcoming Shows
2.09.10 Des Moines, IA
2.10.10 St. Louis, MO
2.11.10 Lawrence, KS
2.12.10 Minneapolis, MS
2.13.10 Chicago, IL
2.14.10 Chicago, IL
2.17.10 Baltimore, MD
2.18.10 New York, NY
2.19.10 South Burlington, VT
2.20.10 Northampton, MA
2.21.10 Allston, MA
2.24.10 Philadelphia, PA
2.25.10 Vienna, VA
2.26.10 Columbus, OH
2.27.10 Charlotte, NC
2.28.10 Atlanta, GA
3.03.10 Austin, TX
3.05.10 Santa Fe, NM
3.06.10 Phoenix, AZ
3.07.10 Tucson, AZ
3.13.10 Santa Monica, CA
3.14.10 Ventura, CA
Below is a video I took of him at this show:
The “Unity” collaboration between Trevor Hall and Matisyahu for Trevor Hall’s self-titled album released July 28, 2009.
This is one of my favorite Trevor videos/songs called Liquor store, this song was never released by Geffen but the video remains on YouTube.
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