Ticket 2 Ride

At age 78, former Traffic and Fleetwood Mac member Dave Mason is still on the road.

Mason travels the country regularly, I’ve seen him three times in the last decade. Sometimes he’s the headliner, other times the supporting act, but he always delivers an engaging and quality show. It’s the music and the stories, not a high-powered light and video production, that fans come to enjoy.

In the 2024 version of Mason’s touring show, he continues with the five-piece band, handing off about half of the lead vocals to members of his band. Mark Stein (Hammond B3 & vocals), Johnne Sambataro (guitar & vocals), Marty Fera (percussion), and Ray Cardwell (bass & vocals) make up his band. Sambataro has been with Mason the longest and has played with a lot of top name artists through the years.

Sambataro also handled the lead guitar duties on several songs, including a solo or two. At Mason’s age, why not involve his very capable band in the spotlight. Mason’s vocals haven’t seemed to change much, he has a pleasant, if unspectacular vocal range, certainly still capable of mastering his tunes. As a guitar player, I can’t tell that he’s any less the masterful players of old.

I found his song set list a bit quirky, absent a few showstoppers of previous tours, and the addition of more Traffic tunes. Mason has always included Traffic songs in his show, even if the veer widely from the originals.

The Setlist

“Share Your Love” From Mason’s 1978 solo album Mariposa De Oro. Written by Jerry Williams. Interesting choice to lead off with.

“Pearly Queen” From the second Traffic album, written by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. Mason has played this song frequently through the years.

“The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”/“Rock and Roll Stew” (Traffic songs) Mason has played “The Low Spark” many times before, though it’s a Traffic song he had nothing to do with. He recently recorded a blues version of this song for his new album. Mason’s arrangement has little similarity to the Traffic version we all know and love. He tacked on a snippet of “Rock and Roll Stew” which was also a mystery arrangement.

“The Words” Also from Mariposa De Oro, written by Jim Krueger, who supplied Mason with a number of songs during their collaboration in the 1970s. Solid song.

“Every Woman” Mason said that Bob Dylan called this a wonderful song. It’s a pleasant, mid tempo love song.

“Can’t Find My Way Home”
(Blind Faith cover) with Sambataro singing lead. From Blind Faith’s only studio album. Mason told the story that he played on the same bill as Blind Faith on their only tour, which is the reason to cover this song.

“We Just Disagree” The late Jim Krueger wrote this song that Mason covered on his Let It Flow album. This is one of Mason’s best known recordings, a concert must.

https://youtu.be/TDUgN96dbOk?si=35zvxtZRU59TupJe

“Roamin’ in the Gloaming with 40000 Headmen” From early Traffic, this is a deep cut from the first album, but a song Mason did not play on. However, he and ex-Traffic member Jim Capaldi toured together in the 1990s and used the song title for their tour. Mason did not provide any context for playing the song.

“Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave” From Mason’s debut album after leaving Traffic. One of the best songs from the album and it still reverberates today.

https://youtu.be/HtKCo3EohZk?si=V9yQ1U_Ve651TXP_

“I’m a Man” (The Spencer Davis Group cover) Written by Steve Winwood and Jimmy Miller and sung by Winwood. The live version was great, this band is all over it.

https://youtu.be/o8o0obZ5RCc?si=fyIqdQ_t_secTDsc

“Medicated Goo”
A Traffic song single released in 1968, and a staple of their live concert set.

“Dear Mr. Fantasy” Also a Traffic song from their debut album. Mason is credited with playing bass on the album. Maybe the most recognizable early Traffic song with a distinctive guitar riff. Mason’s live version has the riff, but little else sounds the same. He said he recorded a version of this for his new album.

“Only You Know and I Know” From Mason’s debut solo album. One of his most recognizable songs from his early career. The live version was enjoyable. I might have picked a song with a stronger guitar vibe to end the regular set, but no complaints.

https://youtu.be/WSnEhaXsWmE?si=DTO4rl2m4SvF-9dF

Encore

“You Keep Me Hangin’ On” A cover of Vanilla Fudge’s version of the Motown classic. Mark Stein, a founding member of the band takes the lead vocal and gives a thunderous performance on the organ.

“Feelin’ Alright?” Also from Traffic’s second album, Mason’s most famous and most covered song. Joe Cocker recorded a very successful cover of it. Mason asked the audience to sing along and was a fitting close to the evening.

https://youtu.be/yOuPqkUwEfA?si=rEVFHDHqvIDHIWPX

This seemed like a relatively short concert, about 90 minutes, which is average on his tour. For a man approaching 80, it’s difficult to argue about the length.

Mason is kind enough to come out to the merch table to sign items after the show, and greet fans, something he routinely does after a show. How many musicians still do that?

Mason mentioned his new memoirs several times and had advanced copies for sale.

This was a very good concert, one we enjoyed. I would not put it in the “great” category, simply because my criteria is pretty high. Mason has had a very interesting career, full of highs and lows, but still doing it. I may quibble about his set list because he didn’t feature all of his best songs, but that is certainly his choice. I have the records.

My partner dialed up the Traffic version of “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” when we got home. Even though she didn’t dig the concert version, she still grooved to concert, just like everyone in the crowd.

If you have the chance to see Dave Mason in concert, do it. No idea how much longer he will keep that tour bus on the road.