I caught this tour last night in Orlando. Justin Hayward played first about a 90 minute set. Musically he and band were good.Â
He has 2 women on stage with him that are easy on the eyes. Gal on the flute was spot on. Guitarist was excellent. Justin's voice is
no longer able to sing many of the songs. He was perfect on a couple songs but off on others. A good long set with 7-8 familiar
Moody Blues tunes. I'll call it a decent set not quite good. Dave Mason played another 90 minute set and the dude can still play.
I found him more careful about singing allowing his 4 players to handle singing some of the songs. He started off with World in Change completely redone version. He followed with an excellent set of Traffic ending with Mr Fantasy, covered Can't my way home,
played his songs We just disagree, Only you know and I know, Feelin' Alright ending with a blazing All along the Watchtower.
Dave is late 70's talked about being on the road since 1962 at age 16. Feelin' Alright may have paid a lot of bills as she wrote it an
proudly mentioned 50+ other artists have covered it but recording Watchtower before Jimmy is clearly his favorite tune. He hammered it. He posted a handful of pictures of the Hendrix band including Dave during that time period.Â
 Outstanding night of music and did i mention tickets were $39 before fees.Â
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🤙thx, cool review - the Endangered Species tour - listened to Jimmy Herring’s Endangered Species CD just recently (w/T Lavitz, & Kenny Gradney & Richie Hayward from LtlFt)
bomb, hadn’t known Dave recorded Wtchtwr b4 Jimi - became familiar w/his mid 70s version on Split Coconut or one of those - cool his sharing photos from those Elec Ladyland sessionsÂ
Wow, sounds like a great night! And you are right as you alluded to: can't beat the price. I checked the Chicago shows. $78-$95 before fess and no Justin Hayward.
Everything in Moderation. Including Moderation.
Traffic's first few albums with Dave Mason are some of my favorite music. I've seen Dave a couple times in recent years and he puts on a fun show. I've seen him sit in with Warren and TTB which is always fun.
Dave Mason didn't record "Watchtower" before Jimi, they heard Dylan's original together and Mason plays the opening acoustic guitar on Jimi's version.
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PorkchopBob - First time I saw Dave play about 5 years ago he gave a nice discussion about Watchtower. He may not have released his recording but definitely gave the crowd the impression Dylan game him the song. He played/recorded a version which Jimmy then heard leading to the Jimmy version we all know. Its possible I misheard him but thats how I remember Dave's discussion. He loves the tune and still hammers it live. Great show - this version is a year old now an seemed like he had a longer solo couple nights ago.  Dave Mason All Along The Watchtower Feb 12 2022 Copernicus Center Chicago nunupics - YouTube
Maybe misheard or maybe he misremembered. Mason seemed to be everywhere during that period - Traffic, Jimi, Delaney & Bonnie. This is the general story I’ve heard, and what I remember him saying at the show I was at:
Dave Mason was a friend of legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, whose career was launched in England in 1966. Hendrix first heard the song "All Along the Watchtower", by Bob Dylan, at a party to which he was invited by Mason, and promptly decided to record his own version. That night he recorded the song at Olympic Studios, South West London, with Mason playing acoustic guitar. It was released on the Electric Ladyland album in September 1968. When the song came out as a single in October, it hit #5 on the UK Singles Chart and was a Top 40 in the U.S. Mason later recorded his own version of the song on his self-titled 1974 album, Dave Mason, with Bob Glaub on bass.
