Blues Traveler, Augusta Chronicle: Renee Williams
Hailed by many as one of the greatest harmonica players of our time, John Popper, lead singer and principal songwriter of Blues Traveler once received great advice from Toots Thielemans, the jazz harmonica legend best known for his iconic theme music for "Sesame Street." After Thieleman's death in August, Popper was prompted to share that advice with his followers on Facebook, "...This was a man who once told me to "keep on puffin," Popper wrote. "But this man was more than an impactful anecdote in my book. He was truly one of the very few harmonica virtuosi at the time who truly and deeply proved that the instrument was only limited by a failure to imagine or...dream." Through Thieleman's philosophy and his trusty harp, Popper found a way to imagine and dream. Popper played his way from straight-F student at Princeton High School to attend college and has gone on to perform for more than 30 million people to date, performed over 2,000 live shows and composed such radio staples as "Hook," "But Anyway," and the longest-charting single in Billboard history, "Run-Around,"
On Friday, October 14, Blues Traveler will perform at the Columbia County Amphitheater in Evans. The band's latest album, Blow Up The Moon is a collaboration between various artists and enlists an eclectic mix of songwriters influenced by the band’s career. Blues Traveler will be supported by two up and coming acts, The Marcus King Band, mentored by Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule guitarist, Warren Haynes and is a six piece hailing from Greenville, SC. Cranford Hollow from Hilton Head will open the festivities. 100 VIP tickets are available for $85, and include a tented VIP section, preferred stage view, tables, chairs, VIP open bar and catered food. Advance General Admission tickets are available for $25 at www.fwbpro.com. Should tickets remain day of the show they will be available at the door for $30. An additional 10% will be added to every ticket to raise money for Press On which funds pediatric cancer research.
Over the past twenty five years, Popper has appeared with Eric Clapton and B. B. King at the White House, welcomed the Hungarian ambassador to the stage, inducted Carlos Santana into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has adhered to his imagination and dreams despite adversity. After a motorcycle accident a few years into his career, Popper was confined to a wheelchair while his weight ballooned. Popper's on-going battle with obesity was further compounded by codependency issues and the untimely death of founding Blues Traveler bassist, Bobby Sheehan.
In Popper's new autobio, Suck and Blow: And Other Stories I'm Not Supposed to Tell." Popper, along with Relix co-editor in chief, Dean Budnick reflects on Blues Traveler's wild adventures including the night Popper had a close run in with secret service agents at the White House. In his new book, Popper wrote, "The night ended in style...when I picked Bill Clinton up off the ground in front of the Secret Service and nobody shot me. He giggled like Barney Rubble." In Suck and Blow:, Popper offers fans a humorous balance of road stories and party fouls mixed with a heavy dose of self-deprecating humor, honesty and humility.
Pushing 50 years old, Popper told Billboard that writing his book was a valuable tool that allowed him to be more introspective at this current crossroad in life. "As I creep ever more treacherously close to the half century mark, while at the same time beginning a new life with a young wife and new baby, I figured this would be the perfect time to look back at the life I’ve lived up until now as now my perspective of such younger adventures and an almost three-decade career with such an unlikely and legendary band may change."
