It’s a good time to be Damon Fowler. His trio is just back from a European tour that had them playing to big audiences in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway. That tour came on the heels of a string of dates opening for George Thorogood.
As a matter of fact, their first big hometown show is Friday night at the Side Door. (Tickets are selling very fast, so before you finish this blog I’d advise you to follow this link for tickets.)
Damon Fowler
He’s also a regular member of Butch Trucks’ traveling outfit – the Freight Train Band – playing lots of Allman Brothers material around the country. And his other project – Southern Hospitality – is still out there playing occasional gigs – including the Legendary Blues Cruise with Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal coming up at the end of this month.
Even his problems have had silver linings lately. The band got to Key West for a show in advance of the recent hurricane – and when no other bands could get there – they ended up playing five nights in a row.
And the abscess that sidelined him last summer (we will skip the gory details) seemed like a set-back until he realized he got to spend a month recovering at home with his family – which now includes Maxwell, age 4 and Cora, age 2.
“I spend the time watching TV and eating cookies with my kids,” he said when we chatted last week. “It was fun.”
The recovery cost him some gigs with Butch Trucks, but didn’t cost him his slot in the band. Playing with Trucks is a dream come true for this former Brandon boy.
“When I was 12 my Uncle Bobby gave me a copy of “Live at Fillmore East” and for me that was it.” He said. “It’s so great to be on stage and look over and see you’re there with an original member of the Allman Brothers.”
It’s likely his bass player, Matt Walker, may be joining him soon in the Freight Train Band. And this Friday, Matt will be on stage with Damon along with drummer Justin Headley. It’s the same lineup that Damon used last year when he recorded his live album at the Palladium.
That album has been selling well for him at his gigs around the U.S. and Europe. And the record labels are again sniffing around about a deal.
“Life has been incredible,’ Damon said. “I’m just trying to keep it all on track.”
See how well he’s doing this Friday night at the Side Door. I’ll see you there!
Leave a Reply