Review | 7 Walkers @ Tupelo Music Hall | 12.28.2010
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WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT – As the Year 2010 was coming to a close on a wintery night in the Green Mountain State. There was something hot happening at The Tupelo Music Hall located in White River Junction Vermont on December 28th, The 7 Walkers were in town to promote their self-titled album The 7 Walkers.
Despite the cold snowy weather that was hitting the east coast hard, I decide to make a run for the 7 Walkers show. This was my first time to this venue so I wasn’t sure what to expect. When I pulled up I noticed several people were carrying coolers. Come to find out The Tupelo Music Hall allows it’s patrons to bring in beer and wine and they will even provide the openers for FREE if you fail to bring one. This unique feature definitely makes venue it stand out(more appealing).
The Tupelo Music Hall is an outstanding venue for seeing any show. The venue allowed one to truly enjoy the music in this simplistic environment that put the music first. It was an intimate setting that gave everyone the opportunity to view the band with ease. Not an obstructed view in the place. A true fans venue.
The crowd, mostly composed of Baby-Boomers, middle age Hippie’s and sprinkle in some younger souls made for an outstanding time. This was not a show where the older generation relaxed in their seats. Everyone was up and dancing at The Tupelo.
The band with their distinctive sound, an electrifying hybrid of San Francisco Bay area rock and New Orleans funk came ready for the evenings show. Kreutzmann refers to the sound as “swampadelic.†The band is currently composed of famed percussionist Bill Kreutzmann, guitar virtuoso Papa Mali, multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard primarily playing the keyboard and whatever he can lay his hands on, while legendary bassist George Porter Jr. rounds out the group
This unique place has created an environment of intimacy, let alone setting forth what a true Music Hall should be compared as far as atmosphere. The setting was unique to say the least. No more than 12 rows deep and 20 across, adding up into roughly 250 people. Performing there self titled Album, The 7 Walkers landed there album #1 on the Jam band Charts as of this article.
Despite the evening filled with excitement, there was something missing. The band arrived for the gig minus their tour bus and some equipment which was stuck somewhere else in New Jersey a result of the major snow storm that hit the east coast. After arriving in from the airport several phone calls placed and arrangements where made to have the necessary equipment brought up from 5 hours away. Despite the problems the band suffered through they were still eager to play for there fans.
The night music started off with Space>Mr. Charlie>King Cotton Blues>Bird Song>Ha Poky Way>Mr. Okara>He’s Gone>Early in The Mornin’>Death Don’t Have No Mercy>Let The Good Times Roll>Bertha>Sue from Bogalusa>Sugaree and never stopped from there till concluding with7 Walkers>Evangeline>Bottle Up & Go .
A night all there will remember for quite some time. A wonderful way to close out the Year 2010. Due to it’s intimacy, most of the dancing was occurring around the sides and back of the venue. The band currently is touring the mid-west states before heading off to the 6th Annual Hunter Mountain Jam in June 4th.
We weren’t able to find a recording of this specific show but here’s an excellent recording of The 7 Walkers playing a few weeks prior to this review on The Archive.