Dave Mason | February 10, 2023 | CMA Theater | Nashville, TN – Concert Review

Review by Shawn Perry
Live photos by Joe Schaeffer

While so many seasoned musicians have had their ups and downs, Dave Mason has somehow managed to balance his name and reputation as an outstanding songwriter, guitarist and vocalist. He is a man of unparalleled legacy who has recorded with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones; wrote widely covered songs like “Feelin’ Alright” and “Only You Know And I Know”; toured with Delanie and Bonnie; and continues his successful solo career. Seeing Mason and his band perform in the intimate spaces of the CMA Theater in downtown Nashville was a revelation of the man and his epic career.

To get things started, a young musician named Thunderstorm Artis, armed with nothing but an acoustic and a powerful voice, stepped up to play a 30-minute, eight-song set. A top contender for “The Voice,” who hails from Hawaii and has toured with Jack Johnson, Artis is stylistically slow and deliberate in his performance, leading to a tension of anticipation that builds with every turn of a verse. His rendition of The Beatles’ Blackbird earned him a standing ovation on television and tonight’s reading was just as moving. “Sedona”, an original composition, brought the whole room to a standstill. We would see Artis later; For now, his job of warming up the crowd has been well received and has been a nice transition for things to come.

The stage was already set for the headliner, so it was only 15 minutes before Dave Mason, drummer Marty Fera, keyboardist Tony Patler, guitarist Johnne Sambataro and bassist Ray Cardwell took their places and started. When they did, so did a surefire winner in the form of one of Mason’s most popular hits, “Only You Know And I Know.” Along with smooth and easy playback, images of Delaney and Bonnie releasing a single of the song appeared on the background screen. Mason told the audience that he spent a year and a half in Delaney and Bonnie’s touring band, which also included Eric Clapton and occasionally George Harrison. As we were to find out, most of the music played tonight was embedded in the rock ‘n’ roll paradigm in one way or another.

Looking all black, with his trusty red Fender Strat locked and loaded, Mason followed up with four Traffic songs – “40,000 Headmen” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy” which he originally recorded with the band with “Rock and Roll Stew”. ‘ and ‘The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys’, which were recorded and released when Mason wasn’t in the band (he’s been in and out of traffic three times). Of the four, “The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys” was the least recognizable, floating and tingling in a jazzy, dreamlike state. “Dear Mr. Fantasy” spilled out beautifully in a different key and beat.

Mason weaved Traffic’s history with Blind Faith when both bands shared a few bills together in 1969 (Steve Winwood was working a double shift at the time). We were treated to a tasty offering of “Can’t Find My Way Home,” with Sambataro leading the way with vocals and acoustic guitar.

It wouldn’t be a Dave Mason show without a few tracks from his acclaimed 1970 debut album, alone together. In addition to the aforementioned “Only You Know And I Know” which opens the album, the set included “World In Changes” (which was completely reworked at the time alone together was reinvented as Alone together again in 2020), “Look at you, look at me” and “Shouldn’t have taken more than you gave”. Mason also threw in other solo numbers like “We Just Disagree” (his highest-charting single) and 1977’s “Let It Go, Let It Flow.” let it flow Album.

The core set ended with what is arguably Mason’s best-known song, the immortal “Feelin’ Alright.” He proudly touted it as a number everyone knows, covered by over 50 artists, and definitely a tune that needed a little audience participation. Mason separated the choirs for the women and the men. He even invited Thunderstorm Artis for a verse. All were on their feet, swaying and unquestioning I feel good.

For the encore, the band went straight to Bob Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower,” a song Mason recorded both alone and with Jimi Hendrix. Old photos of Mason and Hendrix flashed together on the back screen. Today’s run, with the singer’s perfectly matched voice and guitar work, was the culmination of a great musical retrospective.

Epilogue: A visit to the merchandise table was like seeing the Dave Mason story in all its glory. In addition to a variety of CDs, LPs, posters, hats and T-shirts, there were tickets to pre-order the upcoming memoir of the musician, only you know and i know, written with renowned author (and frequent VintageRock.com contributor) Chris Epting. Turns out Chris was in Nashville with another musician he’s co-written on a memoir – the one and only John Oates. He was kind enough to show Mason and Oates a photo of himself after the show.