Concert Review: Shaw-Blades

by Rick Landers

Jack Blades (left) and Tommy Shaw at the Birchmere. Photo by Michael G. Stewart.

Before Jack and Tommy strolled on, the crew had placed a couple of worn couches on stage to frame a troop of Taylor guitars. To add some atmospherics, they lit enough incense to remind us of the days when most of the cover songs they played were hit singles. The couches didn’t remain empty for long as two couples were invited to hang out on stage, which created a comfy family room ambiance. Later, Tommy introduced one of the couch potatoes, who happened to be his easy-on-the-eyes daughter, Hannah.

A guy in the crowd hollered out, “How’re the vocal chords Tommy?” Word had gotten around that the tour had taken a toll on his singing, but to everyone’s relief, Shaw was in great form throughout the set.

Next up was the Seals and Crofts tune “Hummingbird” off the Blades-Shaw Influences CD with tight harmonies and a crowd that was more than willing to join in the fun for the rest of the night.

Sitting between and behind the two was guitarist, Will Evankovich, from the San Francisco group American Drag. Evankovich kept a low profile, but helped round out the guitar work with his own six-string, bass, and mandolin.

The guys turned to some earlier cuts off their 1995 Hallucinations album including “The Night Goes On” with some sweet mandolin. Jack pointed out that he and Shaw habitually release an album about every ten years, adding that they should have a box set ready in about 40.

During the show, the duet held on to their single-cutaway Taylor guitars. At one point, Tommy grabbed a beautiful blue-stained Taylor T-5 with twin lipstick humbucking pups and let loose with some fine lead work.

The affable Blades stood up and got the crowd singing a series of backup “nah, nah, nah’s” that led to a gritty and hard driving version of the Simon and Garfunkel hit “I am a Rock” with the fans fully pulling their weight. Jack calls out, “Blades and Shaw with Alexandria, Virginia, on vocals. Dogs are barking in the street!”

In fact, they probably were.

Throughout the show it was evident that Blades and Shaw were tight friends, poking fun at each other in a way that had the crowd howling. These gentlemen are spot on entertainers and have a comedic sense of timing that is comfortably familiar, yet full of surprises.

Recalling the days when Jack and Tommy were bandmates with Ted Nugent in the super group Damn Yankees, they offered up the number one hit power ballad, “High Enough”, followed by a cover of Spirit’s “Nature’s Way”.

Shaw-Blades kept up the cover tunes including Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”, Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” and another Simon and Garfunkel hit, “The Sounds of Silence”. And they kept the crowd tuned up with tracks from their own past including “(You Can Still) Rock in America" and "Sister Christian" from Jack's time with Night Ranger.

The end of the evening was growing near, but the crowd was having none of it so Blades and Shaw rolled out a couple of Styx tracks, “Crystal Ball” and “Blue Collar Man”, then ended the night with “California Dreamin'” and were gifted with yet another standing ovation from their northern Virginia fans.

Jack and Tommy have pulled together a winning act out of the ashes of classic rock ballads that is as entertaining as stand up comedy as it is musically. This is a show not to be missed.

Concert Photo Gallery

Jack Blades (left) and Tommy Shaw at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, March 26, 2007. Photo by Michael G. Stewart.

Tommy Shaw at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, March 26, 2007. Photo by Michael G. Stewart.

Tommy Shaw at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, March 26, 2007. Photo by Michael G. Stewart.

L-R: Jack Blades, Will Evankovich, and Tommy Shaw at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, March 26, 2007. Photo by Michael G. Stewart.

Related Links
Shaw-Blades
American Drag
Birchmere
Michael G. Stewart Photography