by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS
Some musicians have managed to Zelig themselves throughout the history of rock, placing themselves alongside legends at such perfectly opportune times that it’s astonishing to consider. One person who’s justifiably ubiquitous in rock is Dave Mason. Starting with his work in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Traffic, Mason left his mark on quintessential rock in so many ways it practically necessitates a list. He worked with half the Beatles, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson and the Rolling Stones, but Mason was no slouch as a solo artist.
His solo debut, Alone Together, was released in 1970 and stands as a monument to supremely melodic and thoughtful folk and prog rock. That nearly 50-year-old LP is being toured around now by Mason. “I’ve been doing some of these songs in my set for years, but I’ve never done all of them,” says Mason. “I just wanted to touch back to that album because for my audience, it’s a sort of classic album. So I get to do these songs sprinkled among my other songs, some Traffic things and all the songs people want to hear.”
Alone Together is a fantastic album, but it doesn’t begin to touch what Mason has contributed to the rock landscape. Foremost in people’s minds will likely be “Feelin’ Alright,” which Mason wrote for Traffic, and which became an enduring hit with Joe Cocker. Mason’s also tied to his work on Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower.” Through his involvement in all these projects, Mason has retained a steady voice. He has a strong presence in folk rock, and he’s a prodigious player who continues to strive for more.
Attendance at a Mason show is a connection to rock history. It can’t be denied Mason makes up a good bit of that fabric.
What: Dave Mason
Where: Capitol Theater,
206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia
When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27
How much: $30-$125
Learn more: 360-754-6670 | OFS