Blue Monsters Tour (Blues Traveler + Big Head Todd & the Monsters) — McMenamins Grand Lodge, Forest Grove

The Blue Monsters Tour—a co-headlining combination of Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd & the Monsters—rolled through the outskirts of Portland, Oregon on Friday night with an outdoor performance at the McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove. Yes, it’s 2023 and both bands are a bit older these days, but the show certainly brought back those mid-90’s vibes from the H.O.R.D.E. Festival that Blues Traveler founded and ran for many summers.

Big Head Todd & the Monsters kicked off the evening and worked their way through fan favorites like ‘Bittersweet,’ ‘Resignation Superman,’ and ‘Circle’ before closing out their set with a spirited cover of ‘I Wanna Be Sedated’ by the Ramones. Frontman Todd Park Mohr was all smiles throughout the evening, clearly enjoying the beautiful grounds and the enthused crowd while he jammed with a few Fender guitars that looked like they’ve been well-loved for many years now. 

Blues Traveler came on stage after a brief break, led by John Popper and his signature hat, adorned with a series of harmonica plates. The energy in the crowd jumped up right away as Popper wasted no time getting straight to the bluesy harmonica jams that have captivated audiences for years before settling into the grooves provided by brothers Chad (guitar) and Tad (bass) Kinchla, along with drummer Brendan Hill and keyboardist Ben Wilson. ‘But Anyway’ was a highlight of the night, as was Todd Park Mohr’s appearance to join Blues Traveler for an extended version of ‘Carolina Blues.’ 

After years (and decades now!) of playing together, it should be no surprise that these two bands both seem to effortlessly deliver a great show, night after night. 

More photos of Blues Traveler at the McMenamins Grand Lodge. All photos by Tom Pacyk.