Exclusive | I saw Blues Traveler at Mohegan Sun. Theyre a force of nature live

Well, that exceeded all expectations.On Friday, July 31, Blues Traveler headlined at Uncasville, CT’s 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena and full-on blew the roof off the sucker.The rapturous four-hour (!) show, just one of many as part of their nationwide, summer tour with special guests Spin Doctors and Gin Blossoms, felt like a near-religious, communal experience.Although John Popper’s group surely could coast on the goodwill they garnered in the ’90s, the ensemble refuses to phone a single note in and delivers muscly, gutsy jamming where songs bleed effortlessly into one another (reaching a euphoria-inducing fever pitch the second time they cover The Charlie Daniels Band’s “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” but more on that later) and switches genres at the drop of a hat.Their live show — which is equal parts southern-fried, freaky, psychedelic, prog, funky, jazzy and, yes, bluesy — is not just impressive.It’s inspired.They’re far from done, too.

Popper and co.have shows all over North America scheduled from August through October this year.

That includes stops at Canandaigua, NY’s Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Aug.9, New York City’s Capital One City Parks Foundation Stage on on Saturday, Aug.

15 and Hamburg, NY’s Erie County Fair on Tuesday, Aug.18.Should you attend, prepare for a marathon that also happens to be an alt-’90s dream come true.Spin Doctors gets the Herculean show underway with a quick seven-song set made up of unimpeachable hits like “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” along with a rousing cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain” and fan favorites “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues,” “Margarita,” “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven” and “Still A Gorilla.”Simply put, they’re a delight.Shortly after, Gin Blossoms takes the stage and expertly straddle the line between sensitive and powerful or folk and rock.

The hurt in Robin Wilson’s voice that makes his music so powerful is still in...