Written by: Geoff Tischman

Warren Haynes has been my favorite musician and one of my favorite guitar players since my first seeing him at the Wetlands way back in 1990.

Around that time I was an avid taper and routinely spent multiple nights a week at clubs in NYC taping and grooving to my favorite bands like The Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler and God Street Wine. On many occasions we would be lucky enough to get Warren sitting in and, like playing tennis with a better player, Haynes’ presence always elevated the music to new and higher levels.

Putting it simply, Warren Haynes was the first great guitar player that I saw up close in a small room. And no matter how small that room was (or later, how large) his playing, singing, and songwriting continued to knock me out.

They still do.

I was so excited to photograph the Warren Haynes Band’s second to last show of their fall tour at my home venue of the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.

Coincidentally enough, I was there with old friends from back in the Wetlands days and we all agreed that Warren sounds better than ever.

The lighting and production on the stage were top notch and in the first set the band did a wonderful mix of  Gov’t Mule (“Tear Me Down,” “Banks Of The Deep End”) and Warren Haynes Band tunes (“Spots Of Time,” “Go Down Swinging”).

The second set featured covers by Steely Dan, The Grateful Dead and The Meters.

With a guest sit-in by the great George Porter Jr. on bass, Haynes and his band were nothing short of spectacular.

The Warren Haynes Band lineup:

Kevin Scott Bass

Greg Osby Saxaphone

Terence Higgins drums

Matt Slocum keyboard