Date: March 28th 2013
Featuring: Chuck Ragan, Jon Gaunt, Joe Ginsberg, Dave Hause, Rocky Votolato, Jenny Owen Young, Toh Kay, Kayleigh Goldsworthy, Anthony da Costa
Link: http://www.therevivaltour.com

The Revival Tour is a unique tour that Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music started up. A bunch of musicians and friends get on stage and perform for hours until it’s time to call it a night. It’s a fun time and a great chance to check out some musicians you might not have heard of before. This was my first Revival Tour and it won’t be my last either!

I was surprised to see a photo pit at Irving Plaza for this show but was definitely happy about that. I was even happier when I found that the photographers didn’t have to leave since the way the show is set up. The full core group of the Revival Tour came out and played a few songs together. Chuck Ragan and company played “Nomad of Fate” and then others like Jenny Owen Youngs, Dave Hause, Toh Kay and Rocky Votolato would each sing one of their own tunes. After the punk jamboree, each musician gets a couple of songs in the spotlight.

Toh Kay from Streetlight Manifesto started things off to an impressive start. His finger pickin’ guitar style had my mouth open with amazement. After playing a song or two, someone was shouting out to him and kind of messed him up since he was laughing. And he had to start over or remember his place in the song. It felt like comedians getting heckled in a way, and Toh Kay wasn’t the only one that this was happening to. The musicians were going along with what they were shouting out but I can tell towards the end that some were getting annoyed by the talking of the crowd to the people on the stage.

Toh Kay was later joined by Dave Hause and Joe Ginsberg, and then Jenny Owen Young was up next. I saw her once with Frank Turner and Larry and His Flask and thought she was good. Jenny did another superb job this time around, even tackling the harmonica for the first time in front of a bunch of people. At least that’s what I think what happened. She was later joined by Chuck Ragan on upright bass, Jon Gaunt on fiddle and Joe Ginsberg mandolin. She made a comment about Chuck and his hair, which made him kind of red haha.

But do you sense a pattern here with each set from the musicians? It’s all about collaboration and camaraderie at The Revival Tour which makes it such an awesome show to see. No stoppages! Dave Hause was later on making fun Chuck Ragan about that, about how there shouldn’t be any silence or delay.

I haven’t heard of Rocky Votolato’s music before so it was nice to see him live. That’s another cool thing about Revival, hearing people you haven’t heard yet. A sweet moment happened later on when Jenny Owen Young came on stage with the phone with lyrics to sing along with Rocky for a cover. Was it a Bob Dylan song? I can’t remember. Dave Hause was up next and clearly one of the crowd favorites. It seemed like most people knew all of Dave’s song. I was singing along of course. It was great to hear “C’mon Kid” again. At one point Dave played a new song, which I think will be out on Rise Records when that’s released. Dave’s album Resolutions was just re-released by Rise. Dave is an excellent performer and works with the crowd. He’ll sing along with the crowd or he’ll make them participate in stuff. At one point he wanted two sides to be split up and then someone was being a wiseass and jumped in the middle. He joked he was Moses, which was funny. That didn’t stop Dave of making fun of him though. During Dave’s set, he let Kayleigh Goldsworthy play a song. I believe she’s been on the Revival Tour in the past. I wish she performed more! Great voice!

Chuck Ragan was obviously the last featured member on the tour and couldn’t wait to hear some Chuck Ragan tunes. My favorite from Chuck is “Nothing Left To Prove” and glad he played it. It’s something about that song that I just love, and have to listen to when I’m in the car on my way home from a long day at work. I like to pretend to sing like Chuck and sing along (badly might I add!). During Chuck’s set, he let singer/songwriter Anthony da Costa play a song which I liked. I could watch Chuck perform his songs all night long. His vocals are so distinct, but he’s such an amazing songwriter as well.

I’m really hoping Chuck, Joe and Jon decide to come around as a trio at some point just to play their stuff. The show was getting late for me so I left after all the members & guests came back onstage to play a couple of songs. If you haven’t experienced The Revival Tour, be sure to check it out if its playing in your city! You won’t be disappointed!

Below are some pictures of the show but I’ll have 150 photos from the entire show up at SkaPunkPhotos.com later on today.