Harrah's Casino - Elizabeth, Indiana - April 11th, 2008
They are one of the few remaining links to The Golden Age of 'rock n' roll',
a touring time capsule that refuses to wilt under the pressure of corporate ownership of venues & noted facilities across the globe. Some of the survivors of those halcyon days during the apex of 'hippiedom' are castigated as 'nostalgic', purveyors of the sound of a placid 'west coast' rock that still exudes from the current members of the band and inclusive of Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael Hossack and long time singer/songwriter extraordinaire, John McFee. With a treasure trove of hit's the Doobie Brothers continue their assault on today's artistic scene and few can mirror the image that has now endured for nearly forty years.

Their annual excursions across the country have evolved into a pedagogy for today's youth and who better to unravel the 'Life & Times' of an American musical institution.

The 'magic' of both acoustic & electric guitar and the myriad of songs that defined the California dominance of the early seventies still prevails as was proven by the exploits on April 11th at Harrah's in Elizabeth, Indiana. These are not relics for musical trivia, these stalwarts of the genre are the heroes of the most romanticized time frame known to mankind, the embodiment of 'Rainbow Warriors' that as the youth of America we most tried to emulate. The band has ultimately retained the luster that made them an instantaneous fan favorite (partially predicated on the dubious name) band from San Jose, California. The charisma, crowd rapport, whimsy and interaction within the band and the adoring fans is still one of the great allures while attending a Doobie Brothers performance. Now rapidly approaching four decades as a known international entity, how tragic that the name hasn't been suggested for enshrinement to The echelons of musical immortality at Cleveland's Hall Of Fame.

Politics aside, few bands have been able to sustain a musical odyssey that endures for forty years. Liked or disliked, their credibility to music can never be impugned or demeaned. In regards to durability, my hopes are that they continue to expand the boundaries of their chosen art form, tour on a regimented basis, remain as a viable musical assemblage of noted talent and forever 'rock in peace'.



Cheers
(kudos to Audrey Hager/ Harrah's for their collective role in bringing bands of this magnitude to the metropolitan Louisville area)
Cheers
Don Aters - Haight Street Music News - April 12th - 2008