It all started when I thought I was just going on a camping trip with some friends. I wasn’t aware of it, but there were a few bands playing that would end up changing my life forever. One of the performing bands was the Rev Tor Band. That was around Memorial Day weekend, 9 years ago.
The Rev Tor Band is a staple in the western Massachusetts area that I’ve managed to catch several times a year since that summer weekend almost a decade ago. Everyone has heard of Tor in these parts and every local musician seems to know him. If you’ve seen him live, chances are you’ve seen him with a special guest or two. He’s just that guy that has fun on stage with everyone, and everyone enjoys his gracious showmanship. So it really didn’t surprise me when I saw the ad for his up and coming 10th Anniversary show. "10 years, 907 shows, 12 drummers, 7 bass players, 4 keyboardists, 3 guitarists, & 1 Rev Tor later…" I knew that it was going to be a night full of excitement and memories.
I walked upstairs into The Rev Tor Band’s initial lineup. Original members Tor Krautter, Rick Leab on drums, Jason Webster (Arlo Guthrie) on 2nd guitar, and Dan Broad (Albert Cummings) on bass. Also sitting in was Dave Vittone on the keys. Adding keys into that mix put the music over the top. An old favorite, "In Search of Ecstasy," floated in, and I knew that this was the beginning of a long night.
Through the night, Tor’s special guests included guys from the Mark Paradis Band, Flipper Dave, Fuzz from Deep Banana and plenty of the people that have played with him over the years. As each came in, they all had something in common, but you could hear their subtle differences. The music took on a roller coaster pace – faster, slower, mellow, intense. When Mike Bassiliere hopped on the kit, he added flair to a version of "Their World" that I had never heard before. As Dan Esko slapped the bass you realized the young talent that Tor was able to dig up over the years. When Tor and Webby screamed dueling guitars on "Get Your Own Road" you remembered why you fell in love, and the crowd seconded that notion. From the moment that I walked in until minutes before 2am, the dance floor was packed. Amazingly, Tor managed to stay on stage for the entire 5 hour stint.
For the first time in a long time I felt a very strong bond between band and crowd. In my opinion, this is exactly the feeling that makes you want to come back to a show. Tor and his consortium have always done a fine job of remembering the fans and here they were, celebrating a decade with us late into the evening – a 10 year collection.
Photo by Amy Feld
For more info see: revtor.com
