Toronto-born guitar legend Pat Travers recently spoke with Jeb Wright at Classic Rock Revisited about his forthcoming Retro Rocket album and his recent live record, Live At The Iridium. An excerpt is available below:

Jeb: I think you’re playing better lead guitar now than you did back in the day.

Pat: "Yeah, I think I know a little bit more about what I’m doing. I used to just wing everything—it’s true, especially in the beginning. At some point, I started to try to understand music, more or less so I could communicate with other musicians. I know a lot now about what I am doing and what everyone else is doing, but after forty years I think I should." 

Jeb: You have many elements of music that create the Pat Travers sound.  Do you try to keep things to "your sound," or do you let yourself just go other places?

Pat: "More and more, I am using less and less of any kinds of effects on guitar.  I am even using less guitar picks and I am playing my Fender Telecaster a lot more.  I am into finding things on a simple guitar that sound great without having to sex them up to make them sound good. For example, a couple of weeks ago I got thinking about Paul Kossoff and Free. I went on YouTube and called up a bunch of their early live concerts and stuff. I think I have as much of a connection with him as I do with Jimi Hendrix, maybe even more so.  I just feel that I play those fifths more and those bluesier licks." 

Click here for the complete interview.

Travers picked up his first guitar after a Jimi Hendrix performance in Ottawa. His debut album was released in 1976, and while his most successful releases like Makin’ Magic and Crash And Burn are now more than 30 years old, he never consigned himself to the nostalgia circuit.

In 2012 Pat Travers Band made a comeback with a new lineup - which saw the return of drummer Sandy Gennaro behind the skins - and a new record Can Do, released the following year. A great release which saw Travers and his band playing better than ever! In the tour that lead up to the release of that album, he picked the right venue for this celebration of a new live CD, Live At The Iridium NYC.

Pat says: “The two shows that we played at the Iridium Club in February 2012 marked the first time I ever really felt totally comfortable and “at home” in “The Big Apple”. The people at the Iridium just made us feel like we were honorary New Yorkers. It was awesome.  Having done an extensive European tour at the end of 2011, a Caribbean Cruise Ship gig and a bunch of concerts at the beginning of the year the band was on fire. So being able to record a set at the Iridium in New York City was the perfect venue and time to capture the PTB at their smoking best. We were fortunate to have Jon Paris join us on “Blues Harp” for two classic tunes and he just tore it up and showed us all how the Blues is really done”.

Presenting all the highlights of his career and combining the individual talents with the chemistry of being on the stage, you can feel an energy that is tangible on this recording, an enjoyment that is infectious, and, quite frankly, you owe it to yourself to catch this band whenever and wherever you can.

Live at the Iridium NY tracklisting:

"Rock And Roll Susie"
"Gettin’ Betta"
"Crash And Burn"
"Heat In The Street"
"Josephine"
"I’ve Got News For You"
"Ask Me Baby"
"I La, La, La Love You"
"Lone Wolf" (Kirk solo) / "Red House"
"If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day"
"Spoonful"

"Black Betty"

Audio preview:

Pat Travers Band:

Pat Travers: Guitar, Vocals

Kirk McKim: Guitar, Vocals

Rodney O’Quinn: Bass Guitar, Vocals

Sandy Gennaro: Drums

Jon Paris guest on “Blues Harp” on “If I Had Possession Over Judgment Day” and “Spoonful”