Robin Trower - One Moment in Time : Live in the USA
It would be easy for luminary British blues rock guitarist Robin Trower to rest on his six-string laurels and join the Legacy acts who perform nostalgia driven, decades old, greatest hits sets.
However the Godfather Of Tone, in the company of his Custom Shop Stratocasters, continues to release quality product in the 21st century.
Each newer and/ or current album contains a Trower nugget or two that deserves a place in the live set, as documented on One Moment In Time : Live in The USA.
Recorded during the 2025 Summer tour of the USA (specifically the Music Box At The Borgata in Atlantic City, and Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, New Hampshire) Robin Trower, with bandmates Richard Watts (bass, lead vocals) and Chris Taggart (drums) deliver a 14 song snapshot of a player who remains as fluid and toneful as he was half-a-century ago when presenting his 1974 masterwork, Bridge of Sighs.
'The Razor’s Edge' (one of four tracks from 2022’s excellent No More Worlds to Conquer) kicks off proceedings in a heavy blues stoner-rock vibe; Richard Watts is the perfect vocal foil for Trower’s meandering, yet visceral, guitar work.
Classic Trower cut 'Too Rolling Stoned' follows and features a delicious key change and solo in the run out. Dovetailing perfectly is Richard Watts' raspier vocal delivery, which suits the earlier material (originally handled by the late and great James Dewar) very well.
'Wither On The Vine' is a slow-paced, contemplative number which, again, features a great vocal performance by Richard Watts and a trademark Trower solo.
'Somebody Calling' has an extended funky workout introduction before Richard Watts vocally steps in to deliver another great interpretation of this older number.
Drummer Chris Taggart clearly suits this funkier edge and, in tandem with Watts' bass playing, provides the platform on which Trower can solo extensively (and creatively).
'Distant Places Of The Heart' (from the 2008 collaborative album with Jack Bruce entitled Seven Moons) is a moody downtempo with Richard Watts, again, excelling on the vocal delivery.
It’s followed by new song 'One Go Round' (from latest studio album Come And Fine Me), a slow and funky blues redolent of later-era Jimi Hendrix (no bad thing).
'It’s Too Late' (part of an earlier collaboration with Jack Bruce on 1981 album BLT) is firmly planted in slow blues territory. The number benefits from a sparse arrangement, while Trower & Watts trade vocal and guitar parts very effectively.
The band then rock out on 'Day Of The Eagle,' the lead-off track from Bridge Of Sighs.
Richard Watts again does justice to James Dewar’s vocal parts while Trower contributes some tasty wah-wah parts to punctuate the accents in the song.
However the Godfather Of Tone, in the company of his Custom Shop Stratocasters, continues to release quality product in the 21st century.
Each newer and/ or current album contains a Trower nugget or two that deserves a place in the live set, as documented on One Moment In Time : Live in The USA.
Recorded during the 2025 Summer tour of the USA (specifically the Music Box At The Borgata in Atlantic City, and Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, New Hampshire) Robin Trower, with bandmates Richard Watts (bass, lead vocals) and Chris Taggart (drums) deliver a 14 song snapshot of a player who remains as fluid and toneful as he was half-a-century ago when presenting his 1974 masterwork, Bridge of Sighs.
'The Razor’s Edge' (one of four tracks from 2022’s excellent No More Worlds to Conquer) kicks off proceedings in a heavy blues stoner-rock vibe; Richard Watts is the perfect vocal foil for Trower’s meandering, yet visceral, guitar work.
Classic Trower cut 'Too Rolling Stoned' follows and features a delicious key change and solo in the run out. Dovetailing perfectly is Richard Watts' raspier vocal delivery, which suits the earlier material (originally handled by the late and great James Dewar) very well.
'Wither On The Vine' is a slow-paced, contemplative number which, again, features a great vocal performance by Richard Watts and a trademark Trower solo.
'Somebody Calling' has an extended funky workout introduction before Richard Watts vocally steps in to deliver another great interpretation of this older number.
Drummer Chris Taggart clearly suits this funkier edge and, in tandem with Watts' bass playing, provides the platform on which Trower can solo extensively (and creatively).
'Distant Places Of The Heart' (from the 2008 collaborative album with Jack Bruce entitled Seven Moons) is a moody downtempo with Richard Watts, again, excelling on the vocal delivery.
It’s followed by new song 'One Go Round' (from latest studio album Come And Fine Me), a slow and funky blues redolent of later-era Jimi Hendrix (no bad thing).
'It’s Too Late' (part of an earlier collaboration with Jack Bruce on 1981 album BLT) is firmly planted in slow blues territory. The number benefits from a sparse arrangement, while Trower & Watts trade vocal and guitar parts very effectively.
The band then rock out on 'Day Of The Eagle,' the lead-off track from Bridge Of Sighs.
Richard Watts again does justice to James Dewar’s vocal parts while Trower contributes some tasty wah-wah parts to punctuate the accents in the song.
The trio then go for the knock-out punch by delivering a stellar version of 'Bridge Of Sighs,' the iconic number with which Robin Trower will forever be associated.
Richard Watts again delivers a great vocal part (he is also no mean bass player), while the extended instrumental version includes some of Trower’s best playing.
The blues soulful, downtempo title track from No More Worlds To Conquer is followed by another Robin Trower classic, 'Daydream,' with its delicious melody line and superb guitar performance.
At over twelve minutes long in the live environment Daydream also provides ample opportunity for Trower to stretch out his solos, and to great effect.
Perennial fan favourite 'Little Bit of Sympathy' ups the ante and allows the band to rock out on the main set closer. The guitar figure on this number is as classic as the song itself, and features more of Robin Trower’s expertise with a wah during the solo sections.
First encore number 'Rise Up Like The Sun' continues the rock quotient (bolstered by a wailing solo from Trower) before the woozy, slow blues of 'Birdsong' closes out the show, and album.
Robin Trower is now 80 years old so to deliver live performances of this quality, and intensity, is some achievement.
But more power to his elbow, or rather guitar fingers – long may his growling, loud amped tone reign, on both sides of the pond.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
One Moment In Time: Live In The USA will be released 30th January via Artone/Provogue.
Pre-order: https://lnk.to/RobinTrower
Richard Watts again delivers a great vocal part (he is also no mean bass player), while the extended instrumental version includes some of Trower’s best playing.
The blues soulful, downtempo title track from No More Worlds To Conquer is followed by another Robin Trower classic, 'Daydream,' with its delicious melody line and superb guitar performance.
At over twelve minutes long in the live environment Daydream also provides ample opportunity for Trower to stretch out his solos, and to great effect.
Perennial fan favourite 'Little Bit of Sympathy' ups the ante and allows the band to rock out on the main set closer. The guitar figure on this number is as classic as the song itself, and features more of Robin Trower’s expertise with a wah during the solo sections.
First encore number 'Rise Up Like The Sun' continues the rock quotient (bolstered by a wailing solo from Trower) before the woozy, slow blues of 'Birdsong' closes out the show, and album.
Robin Trower is now 80 years old so to deliver live performances of this quality, and intensity, is some achievement.
But more power to his elbow, or rather guitar fingers – long may his growling, loud amped tone reign, on both sides of the pond.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
One Moment In Time: Live In The USA will be released 30th January via Artone/Provogue.
Pre-order: https://lnk.to/RobinTrower