Bachman Turner Overdrive

It's a very sad snub that Canadian-born guitarist Randy Bachman has been in two iconic rock bands, the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, and neither have yet to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bachman's guitar stylings are so much a part of the classic rock legacy that he should have been a two-time inductee decades ago.

While that is a discussion that could go on forever, it is so refreshing that Bachman has restarted Bachman Turner Overdrive and is touring the US again after a long absence from the concert scene.

Bachman Turner Overdrive performed at the Chevalier Theater in Medford, Massachusetts, on March 9, 2024.

Opening with the classic cruising tunes "Roll on Down the Highway" and "Rock Is My Life, and This Is My Song," the band then pulled out "Shakin' All Over" (originally done by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates and famously featured on The Who's classic "Live at Leeds" record). The song was a hit for the original version of the Guess Who, when the late Chad Allen (who passed away in 2023) was on lead vocals (prior to classic line-up vocalist Burton Cummings joining the band). Bachman tore off some amazing guitar work on the song, and it was a nice tribute to Allen.

The Guess Who train continued on with the gorgeous and remorseful vibes of "These Eyes" (where the keyboard riff is almost like musical teardrops) and the equally heart-wrenching "No Time," as the lyrics declare a major change of heart toward a summertime lover.

Harking back to 1974, the group did a fiery take on the title cut from the album "Not Fragile" (which topped the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart) and the testosterone-filled "Four Wheel Drive".

Another mini-marathon of Guess Who hits was ignited with "American Woman" (the band's most recognizable joint) and "No Sugar Tonight" (which Bachman said he wrote after seeing a tough guy in California get scolded by his wife, who declared he would be getting "No sugar tonight!"). and the jazz-tinged Undun."

As Bachman is the sole original member of the current touring incarnation of the group, he is joined onstage with his son, Tal Bachman, on guitar. Tal Bachman pulled out his 1999 smash, "She's So High," which sounded even better with his father doubling his guitar. Also, Tal Bachman told the crowd that when "She's So High" was getting major radio play in the US, he was still living in Canada. He did not actually hear the song on the radio until he took a trip to Boston that year to promote the song. He rented a car in Boston and the first time he ever heard his song was on the car's radio.

Bachman Turner Overdrive staples "Let It Ride" and the irresistible and iconic "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" were the set-up to a major song medley built around their smash, "Hey You.".

"Hey You" was split up with a medley of cover songs from Free ("All Right Now"), Steve Miller Band ("Rock n' Me"), AC/DC ("You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Highway to Hell"), Rolling Stones ("Honky Tonk Woman"), Frankie Valli ("Can't Take My Eyes Off You"), T Rex ("Bang-A-Gong (Get It On)"), and Steam ("Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"), before reprising and finishing up with "Hey You".

The ensemble returned for a sole encore of "Takin' Care of Business." Elvis Presley allegedly named his 70's band, the Takin Care of Business Band (aka the TCB Band ), after this Bachman Turner Overdrive hit and this completed an amazing night of Canadian-bred, classic rock nirvana.