Review: McLovins and 7 Walkers @ Rev Hall
As we mentioned, Revolution Hall in Troy hosted its last jam show last week and writer/photographer Andy Hill was there to document the evening…
This was it, the last Revolution Hall show – the last real show anyway – before the comfortable room was to close as a live music venue, reportedly, to become a banquet hall. So, as one might expect the mood was one of lament and nostalgia as people slowly filed in and exclaimed their thanks to the staff that had helped to make Rev. Hall such a great place over the years. Conversations of fun times and great shows were overheard at every turn. Although inevitably those conversations would quickly devolve into the frustration of the loss of a stomping ground that had become a home away from home for so many of us.
When the McLovins took the stage though, all conversation halted and jaws quickly hit the floor. These kids, and I hesitate to call them kids as their musical maturity is astounding, played an amazing set that surprised even those of us that have seen them a couple of times. It is clear that they are no novelty act and will be around for a long time to come. Their music is as forward thinking as it is virtuosic. Even Malcolm “Papa Mali” Welbourne, of the headlining act 7 Walkers, gave them props in saying that he couldn’t get the rest of his band (Matt Hubbard, Bill Kreutzmann, and George Porter Jr.) to come onstage for their set as they “were afraid to follow the McLovins.” That is a compliment that the McLovins will not soon forget.
No one seemed to have any idea what to expect from the unique mix of players that 7 Walkers consists of, we just expected it to be good. The two-set show had set lists that were mainly comprised of Grateful Dead favorites. Although there was a couple of traditional blues tunes and couple of new songs whose lyrics were written by Robert Hunter thrown into the mix. From the looks of the crowd, they did not disappoint. Rev. Hall’s dance floor was packed one last time and it seemed that all of the prior lamenting had been replaced with jubilation until 7 Walkers feted the end of Revolution Hall’s concert days appropriately in their second encore with an abbreviated version of And We Bid You Goodnight.
READ ON for more from Andy on the final show at Rev Hall…
