Pulse - Robert Randolph brings sounds of soul to summer concert series

This opportunity arose for fans across the Capital Region on Wednesday, July 16 when Robert Randolph and The Family Band performed at Albany’s Empire State Plaza as part of the “At

The Plaza” summer concert series. Although the show is free, the price of driving 100 miles to Albany and back is not, so I join forces with three friends of mine to alleviate the burden on our wallets and to celebrate one of today’s great up-in-coming guitar players together.

We arrive in the Capital city around 7:30 p.m. – giving ourselves ample time to reach our destination and enjoy a few drinks of choice before Randolph’s scheduled start time of 9 p.m.

We march up the plaza’s marble steps to enter a world with people from all walks of life talking, laughing, and dancing. On stage, performing a rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” is hip-hop heavy Arrested Development – the second of two opening acts.

The setting at the plaza is picturesque with the stage situated in front of one of the complex’s three reflecting pools and the city’s skyline looming just over head. Randolph takes the stage unannounced just as the sun disappears below the horizon and he launches the crowd into dance mode with a funky introductory jam that sends his sharp sustained notes cascading into the night sky.

The group teases “I Need More Love” and eventually finds their way into a version of “Good Times.” We groove along as Randolph’s energy on stage transpires to the crowd below like electricity coursing through a pool of water.

The man who grew up playing before god in the African-American Pentecostal churches of New Jersey acts as though he feels the power of lord at his finger tips as he slams his fingers against the fret board like a preacher pounding his fist against a lectern. It is just the beginning of the set, but Randolph is already feeling the power of the music as he jumps to his feet – kicks his bench out from underneath him and continues to jump up and down while he plays the unconventional guitar – causing the crowd to erupt with excitement.

The band continues on with their funky beginning – finally changing modes into “I Need More Love” – a crowd favorite at Randolph shows. The hypnotic dance party takes on even more energy with the introduction of the song as the audience chants the chorus along with Randolph.

As the set moves on, Randolph eventually picks up a red box-shaped guitar, reminiscent of the one 1950s rocker Bo Diddley used to play, and launches into a version of Diddley’s namesake song, “Hey Bo Diddley” – a song that helped bridge the gap between blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

I groove my way through the remainder of the high energy show occasionally stopping to catch my breath as the heat starts to get the better of me. However, my short breaks are only for a few moments at a time as Randolph is able to do what he does best by keeping the crowd involved from the beginning right up until the end through his onstage antics and crowd interaction.

Toward the end of the set, Randolph teases Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” – quickly changes modes and enters into “Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That” – only to find his way back into a rendition of “Voodoo Chile” that would have made the late guitar god proud.

The song signals the end of the show and the crowd erupts with excitement as the band takes their final bow and exits the stage. I scan the crowd for my friends, who left me guarding the cooler for a good part of the last half of the show, so they could get a closer look at the steel pedal master. Although I would have enjoyed their company while grooving along to the bands mix of highly dance worthy tunes – I do not mind their absence because it gave me the chance to interact with some interesting characters and the pleasure of enjoying one of the world’s great guitar players in peace.

I spot them in the chaotic crowd and we march down the plaza’s marble steps mixing in with thousands of other smiling freaks who are undoubtedly feeling the same sense of elation that we are feeling.

In an age when it is nearly impossible to find anything for free, my friends and I took advantage of not only a free concert, but a great concert. Randolph could have just shown up and went through the motions knowing that the crowd present was witnessing a free show, but instead his passion and love for the music was prevalent on stage and contagious to everyone present – a feeling that can often times be hard to get out of a band you are paying to see – let alone one you are witnessing for free.

As we exit the plaza, my friend Rosalie turns and says “what a great show and just think it didn’t cost us a thing.”