Ah yes, it’s Friday 7/24/26 6pm, and we find your humble servant and his best friend Tom on our way to the Guitar Sanctuary in McKinney to catch the one, the only Pat Travers. We actually got there early enough to get one of the close parking spots, not that there are any bad spots, we just scored one of the closer ones. Yay us! We had reserved two chairs at a four spot table, so I wanted to get there early enough to grab the best seats. A quick “howdy” to Brian at the door who checked out tickets and in we go. Our table is towards the back on the left side of the stage. Normally I like to be on the right or right center, but hey you take what you get and you’re happy. (Mom used to say something like that). It’s about a half-hour before the Maylee Thomas Band takes the stage, so I have time to get my stuff together and organized, sounds like a lot of items, but it’s my camera (phone), mini tripod, notebook/pen and of course my ear plugs. Yes, I know, but I’ve already got tinnitus, and I don’t need it to get worse. These are great you can hear everything just at a lower volume. Alright, out go the lights, (sorry), and Janis, I mean Maylee, takes the stage. Maylee and crew fire up the evening with “Blood is Thicker Than Water”, followed by “Texas Home”. Guitarist and former McKinney mayor George Fuller holds the fort on stage right, an excellent guitarist, but one I always feel is holding back on us, come on George let it bleed! I have seen the Maylee Thomas Band several times and they always smoke the night. Tonight, they did a tune I hadn’t heard them do before, Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” , a smoldering version it was, most enjoyable. Maylee showed her vocal talents with “Crazy is What I Need”, then ending with Freddy King’s “Going Down”. Great set guys. Lights come back on and it’s a trip to the restroom, followed by a step outside for some nicotine, and we’re back ready for Mr Travers.
Pat opens the show with a tune I wasn’t familiar with, I wrote down Rock-n-Roll as that was the chorus. I was a wee bit disappointed that Pat was playing his trademark Gibson Melody Maker, but I also realize that geez, that guitar has seen a lifetime of things that most of us couldn’t imagine. I hope it’s has been retired, and not gone. Pat tonight chose a Fender Stratocaster as his guitar, and proceeded to melt everyone’s face off. They’re second tune was an old favorite “Life in London”, last time I heard Pat play this one was back in the late seventies, when Pat Thrall, Mars Cowling and Tommy Aldridge were in the band. Tonight was a trio, and thanks to an absolutely brilliant bassist and drummer, nothing was missed it was classic Pat Travers all the way. Wish I would have gotten the bass and drummers names but unfortunately didn’t. “Crash and Burn” follows “Life in London”, then “I’ve got News for You”. Next Pat pulls a fast one and surprises the heck out of me with a blistering version of Blood, Sweat, and Tears’ “Spinning Wheel”. Let’s bring on “Born Under A Bad Sign”, “Snorting Whiskey” and end the night with of course, “Boom Boom Out Go the Lights”. I would have loved to have heard “Heat in the Street” or “Hooked on Music”, but oh well. Pat Travers is at the ripe old age of 72, a mere nine years older than yours truly, and I can attest his guitar playing is still spot on. It was an excellent evening of music at a wonderful venue.