After 50 years, Dave Mason Still Draws Crowds and Accolades
Music, like a lot of industries, has undergone rapid and radical changes. Still, somethings have thankfully remained constant, like the beautiful steady and soothing voice, and the sensational guitar strumming, of rock n’ roll icon Dave Mason.
Mason’s extraordinary career spans some 50 years. His songs grab you and hustle into your heart. You feel them. Without question, it’s in his words. But mostly, it’s in Mason’s delivery.
His name is synonymous with the legendary British band Traffic, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. However, Mason is widely known and celebrated for his solo work, as well as his myriad collaborations with some of the rock-and-roll greats, including members of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimi Hendrix.
Mason will be performing at 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 18 at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center as part of the MV Concert Series. Ahead of his August island performance, This Week on MV had the unique pleasure of speaking with Mason from his Reno, Nevada home.
TW: Martha’s Vineyard is one stop on your current Feelin’ Alright Tour. Will you have some free time while you are here?
DM: I have been to the Vineyard before, but has been a while. Although I won’t have much free time, I am very much looking forward to my stay. Martha’s Vineyard is one of the most beautiful spots in America.
TW: The Tour celebrates your blockbuster hit Feelin’ Alright, a song you wrote when you were just 19-years-old. Did you have any idea at the time the song would be such a success?
DM: I wrote that song when I was young and in Greece. It is a love song, but I was not feeling so good at the time. It is actually a question: “You feelin’ alright? I’m not feeling too good myself.” That song has been covered about 50 times and I really have to thank Joe Cocker. He took the tempo up and increased the airplay.
TW: How do hope people feel before, during, and after a performance?
DM: I want them to feel good for an hour or two. I want them to enjoy the music. I have never been out there with a political message or agenda. It’s all about the music. I liken it to having people over for a homecooked meal. I want them to relax, enjoy the time we have together, and leave feeling sated.
TW: You have been doing this for 50-plus years. How has your music evolved?
DM: I am essentially a guitar player who writes songs. My guitar playing has gotten a little more polished, and my voice is not quite the same as it was I was 19 years old. Still, I like to think I have seasoned well.
TW: Do you have any plans of slowing down? What’s next?
DM: I will keep touring as long as I can. I love playing live. I am also putting together a documentary of my life. And there are plans in the works for a new film and TV network that I will be doing the music for. It’s still early days, but it looks like things will pan out. It is something I have been wanting to do.
TW: Congratulations and best of luck with that. Congratulations are also in order as you recently got married. How is married life?
DM: Married life is not much different. Winifred and I have been together for 15 years, so I have long stopped any kind of chasing around. And any differences we have are like a little rain—they just softly come and go. Winifred is a great companion. I love to cook and Winifred is great at cleaning up. When I cook I focus on fresh and simple. Growing up in Worcester, England we were doing the whole farm to table thing long before it became the latest burgeoning food trend.
TW: Any last thoughts?
DM: I am looking forward to my visit to the Vineyard. Please make sure to say hi and come backstage to meet the band.
