New music from Robin Trower

**Dan Roth** · 01-20-2019

New album coming out March 22 and a tour to follow:

From the press release:

With ‘Coming Closer To The Day’, Trower's songcraft and soulful performances have never sounded more alive – even on an album whose title track acknowledges that life is short and time precious. “I’m saying that I’m nearer the end than the beginning,” he explains. “But that doesn’t scare me. Not at all. If I went tomorrow, I’d feel like I’d been blessed with being able to achieve an incredible amount as a musician.”

The album was recorded at Studio 91 in Newbury, with engineer Sam Winfield. “’Diving Bell’ is probably my favourite track on the album,” he says. “‘Truth Or Lies’, that one was quite hard to pull off. I love the song, but I recorded it once and wasn’t happy with it, so I started from scratch again. It’s got quite a strong early R&B flavour to it. That song is not really about me. I’m writing from the viewpoint of a guy whose loved one has been messing around. ‘Someone Of Great Renown’, again, that song isn’t about me, but it’s maybe someone that I’d like to be.”

“’Lonesome Road’,” he continues, “that’s about me touring and asking how long I can go on with it. That’s definitely coming from my heart and head. ‘Ghosts’ is about things from the past where you didn’t do right in your personal life. ‘Don’t Ever Change’ is an out-and-out love song: a very nice, easy vibe, but still quite soulful.”

The calibre of the songwriting on ‘Coming Closer To The Day’ is matched by Trower’s performances, with the bandleader handling all instruments except the drums. His basslines are supple and rhythmic, his vocals growl and and the lead guitar work only adds to his reputation as an all-time-great soloist.

Tracklisting:
1. Diving Bell
2. Truth or Lies
3. Coming Closer to the Day
4. Ghosts
5. Tide of Confusion
6. The Perfect Wrong
7. Little Girl Blue
8. Someone of Great Renown
9. Lonesome Road
10. Tell Me
11. Don't Ever Change
12. Take Me with You

USA Tour:

4/02 Alexandria, VA Birchmere

4/04 Glenside, PA Keswick Theatre

4/05 Huntington, NY Paramount Theatre

4/06 Montclair, NJ Wellmont Theater

4/10 Buffalo, NY Asbury Hall

4/11 Northfield, OH Northfield Park

4/13 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live

4/14 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre

4/18 Lincoln, NE Bourbon Theatre

4/19 Kansas City, MO Voodoo Lounge

4/20 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater

4/24 Austin, TX Moody Theater

4/26 Dallas, TX House of Blues

4/27 Houston, TX House of Blues

4/28 San Antonio, TX Aztec Theatre

5/02 Phoenix, AZ Celebrity Theater

5/03 Anaheim, CA City National Grove

5/04 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern

5/05 Ventura, CA Majestic Ventura Theater

5/08 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst

5/09 Petaluma, CA Mystic Theatre

5/10 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

5/11 Lake Tahoe, NV Harrah’s

5/12 Jackson, CA Rancheria Casino

5/15 Eugene, OR McDonald Theater

5/16 Portland, OR Roseland Theater

5/17 Seattle, WA The Moore Theatre

**FrippWire** · 01-20-2019

Although I won't drive 2 hours to Grand Rapids to see him, I will be buying this disc. Even with a couple of less than stellar albums in the 80's (it was a confusing time for a lot of 70's rockers) Trower remains an autobuy for me.

**spellbound** · 01-20-2019

Can't wait to hear Robin's new album. Will try to see him at Lake Tahoe if possible. Few years ago, he had to cancel his Lake Tahoe date, and I had to return my tickets. I don't think he has been back in the area since.

**Lopez** · 01-21-2019

Not one show in New England. Too bad.

**ronmac** · 01-21-2019

Hoping for a Pittsburgh-area date. It's been a while since I've seen him.

**Vic2012** · 01-21-2019

I attended a Trower show 10 years ago. Hope he comes back this way. Great guitarist. Love his Strat tone.

**Koreabruce** · 01-21-2019

I absolutely loved his last album Time and Emotion, so this is an auto-buy for me. He's always been superb, tasteful musician, and these days I really like his voice. True, he's no James Dewar, but then who is? Robin's vocals blend with his music so well.

Then there's that guitar playing, that sound, and that feel... the epitome of a sophicticated bluesman.

**Dave (in MA)** · 01-21-2019

His singing sounds like Billy Gibbons.

Has any other famous rock star waited until his 60s to become his own lead vocalist? I can't think of one.

**dgtlman** · 01-21-2019

Have tix to the Tulsa show in April.

**mogrooves** · 01-22-2019

^^^^^
Sounds like early Hendrix. Caught him in '74 opening for KC; I might check him out this time around as well.

**Yodelgoat** · 01-22-2019

Wow, I haven't heard him do stuff like this - since the bridge of sighs days. Gorgeous strat sound. Ive heard snippets from his later albums and they did nothing for me. This sounded great.

**Garden Dreamer** · 01-28-2019

WOW, awesome to hear he's still kicking, still making music, still touring. If finances improve, I might have to catch the Huntington show...

DANG, that sample track is kickin'! Great to hear an analog sounding recording with the fingers squeaking on the strings! And he does sound like Billy Gibbons. Great work, Robin!

**Guitarplyrjvb** · 01-28-2019

Wow! Nice, stripped-down sound. He's way more Hendrixy than usual, but that's always been part of his thing. Vocals aren't bad either, but James Dewar, he's not.

**Fracktured** · 01-29-2019

Originally Posted by Guitarplyrjvb

Wow! Nice, stripped-down sound. He's way more Hendrixy than usual, but that's always been part of his thing. Vocals aren't bad either, but James Dewar, he's not.

His vocals have gotten better over the years but I agree with you, James Dewar was great, his vocals fit Robin's guitar playing so well. I'll check this one out for sure.

**Dan Roth** · 02-02-2019

There's also a 10-cd box coming out this month (no bonus tracks) - only $30 on Amazon - I am picking this up for sure:

**Vic2012** · 02-02-2019

Wow

. I need that box set.

**3LockBox** · 02-02-2019

I saw him back in the late '80s near Las Vegas at a rather small venue. The crowd was way over capacity and some drunk idiot kept yelling out Bridge of Sighs after every song. IIRC he eventually got bounced.

**Vic2012** · 02-02-2019

I saw Robin Trower in 2009 in a small club in Ft. Lauderdale. Unforgettable experience. That woman tone on that Strat is awesome.

**The Dark Elf** · 02-02-2019

I saw him in the mid-70s, then again about 5 years ago. He does not grow old musically.

**Fracktured** · 02-02-2019

The first time I saw Robin he opened for Strawbs. Great show by both. I saw him about 5 years ago and he still rocks. One of the best guitarists I've ever seen perform. The 10 cd boxed set is great for beginners. His albums always sounded better on vinyl for some reason though.