Chris Hillman - Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, 14/2/2018

  by L. Paul Mann

published: 26 / 3 / 2018

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Country rock legend Chris Hillman mixed old favourites with new tracks at a special sold out benefit concert for the devastating California Wildfires. L. Paul Mann was at the Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara to review proceedings.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, Chris Hillman brought his latest tour to a sold-out audience at the historic Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, California. The current tour is in support of his highly praised new album ‘Bidin’ My Time’, produced by the late Tom Petty. Hillman fronted an acoustic four piece, featuring two of his longtime collaborators, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson, both of whom appear on the new album. I first saw the iconic Hillman perform a solo concert at the Roxy theatre in 1975, the first concert I ever attended in California. Even then, as a young music fan, I knew of Hillman's contribution to the pop music world as a founding member of The Byrds. But the master songwriter, singer, and musician had a groundbreaking career long before the folk-rock days of the Byrds. He began his professional music career at the age of 15, back in 1960, playing in a series of successful country and bluegrass bands, while mastering the mandolin. Along with another music legend, Alan Parsons brought some of the earliest country-rock cross over tunes into The Byrds musical catalog. After The Byrds, Hillman contributed to several successful crossover bands, including The Flying Burritos, Stephen Stills Manassas, and the Desert Rose Band. During a brilliant performance at the Lobero Theater, the foursome played a 22 song setlist culled from all of these great bands, the group’s new album and more. Before Hillman introduced his band at the beginning of the show, he reiterated that the show had become a benefit concert with all proceeds donated to charities in support of the recent Thomas Fire and Mudslide victims. Hillman has long been a nearby Ventura resident; the city hit hardest early on by the Thomas Fire. With tears in his eyes, he explained how he had the fire consume part of his garage, but due to the heroic actions of firefighters, his home was saved. He personally thanked Ventura County Fire Fighter Lance Austin, who was assigned to his residence during the fire and helped protect his home. Then the group launched into the extensive setlist. Hillman played guitar at the beginning of the evening, before switching to his beloved mandolin for most of the night. Jorgenson was the most musical member of the group switching between various string instruments and keyboards. During an especially inspiring version of The Byrds classic hit ‘Eight Miles High’, Jorgenson leads the group into jam band territory with a spiraling guitar solo. Pedersen meanwhile wowed the crowd with some of his tunes, going back to his involvement in the early 60’s bluegrass band The Dillards and including songs from The Desert Rose Band. The most exciting moment came early in the set when local Santa Barbara County resident David Crosby made a surprise appearance onstage to lend his harmonies to an inspiring rendition of The Byrds classic, ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’. The tune brought the entire audience to their feet for an extended ovation. Hillman introduced some of the exciting new tracks from the latest album with anecdotes of working with Tom Petty in his studio. The fact that the record was one of Petty’s last projects before his untimely passing made the album all the more special. The evening was a brilliant walk through pop music history including innovative crossover tunes mixing early Bluegrass, Country, Folk and rock music to form the roots of the Americana music that we hear today. Hillman can genuinely be called a living legend of American pop music, all be it a reluctant, humble one. Photos by L. Paul Mann www.lpaulmann.com

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