Blues Traveler John Popper added to Synergia NW 2011 lineup

Greg Roth Seattle Music Examiner

April 28, 2011 -

He has trotted the globe with Blues Traveler and makes his home in the Northwest. Next Friday night, May 6th, John Popper will join band mate Brendan Hill, along with a group of local music luminaries, to participate in Synergia Northwest in support of youth music education. 

Popper and his band first came to national prominence with several appearances on Late Night with David Letterman. Letterman championed the band early in their career and introduced them as his favorite band prior to their performances on the show. Letterman's band leader Paul Shaffer has played on several of Blues Traveler recordings.

 The band had breakout and mainstream success with their fourth album, titled Four, which was released in late 1994. The catchy pop single "Run-Around" became a popular hit and was followed by the snappy number, "Hook". "Run-Around" won a Grammy Award and broke a record for most weeks on the chart.

Blues Traveler appeared at Woodstock '94 and later became an opening act for The Rolling Stones. Popper has also made several appearances with Northwest resident Dave Matthews and the Dave Matthews Band.

The charismatic and witty Popper is also most known for his legendary live performances and a fan base that has followed the vocalist / harmonica virtuoso and the band with an almost religious fervor.

The musical paring of Popper and Hill is a great addition to a strong musical bill that will feature Queensryche, Yes man and Plastic Ono Band drummer, Alan White with his band White, Shawn Smith of Brad, Tennis Pro, Heart by Heart with Heart founder Steve Fossen and Somar Macek,  Geoffrey Castle, Michael McMorrow, Roger Fisher, Scotty Olson and special performances by the Seattle Seahawks Blue Thunder Drum Corp and Seattle's Kokon Taiko.  The Kokon Taiko performance continues Synergia Northwest's acknowledgement of the area's unique and diverse cultural heritage.

The Synergia Orchestra will also perform the brilliant and moving Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia composition"China Doll" from Georgia-based composer and educator Lee Johnson's "Dead Symphony #6: An Orchestral Tribute to the Music of the Grateful Dead". One of the goals and objectives of Synergia Northwest is to help bring some of the most interesting and eclectic musical collaborations and experiences to the audience year over year.

Tickets are on sale at Tickets.com, in person at the Paramount Theatre box offices (M-F 10am-6pm), 24-hour kiosks located outside The Paramount & Moore Theatres, charge by phone at 877-784-4849 or online at: STGPresents.org.

For more on Synergia Northwest 2011 please go here and visit seattlemusicinsider.com
Also you are invited to visit the official Synergia NW website and their Facebook Page.