LIVE REVIEW: The Doobie Brothers in Mansfield, MA (06.29.26)

On a humid Monday night throughout the “Great Woods” of Mansfield, Massachusetts, the one and only Doobie Brothers came to town for the “Oneness Tour,” opening up for Santana and firing on all cylinders. At the Xfinity Center on that June night, the legendary rock group delivered a decade-spanning set that celebrated all eras of their lineup, while also including the title track from their most recent record, Walk This Road.

The Doobie Brothers were formed in 1970, and although the band has lost founding members along the way, they remain constantly active. With rockin’ classics like “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “Jesus Is Just Alright,” and the calming “Black Water,” I could not wait to hear the setlist, as this was my third time attending one of their performances. Held together by a multi-talented eight-piece band, the American rock group from San Jose, California, is currently led by original members Patrick Simmons (lead and backing vocals, guitars, and banjo) and Tom Johnston (lead and backing vocals, guitars, and harmonica). Other members include longtime member John McFee (backing vocals, guitars, mandolin, viola, and cello), John Cowan (lead and backing vocals, bass guitar), Marc Russo (saxophone), Ed Toth (drums), and Marc Quiñones (backing vocals and percussion).

But there’s one key member who reunited with the band back in 2019, and they’re likely the main reason people wanna see this band over and over again. That man is the talented Michael McDonald (lead vocals and keyboards), who helped write the band’s chart-topping hits like the song “What a Fool Believes” (which became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “Minute by Minute,” and many more. Michael’s soothing voice was a staple in the ’80s, with him performing on just about every “Yacht Rock” song of the time, such as “Ride Like The Wind” by Christopher Cross, “Peg” by Steely Dan, “This Is It” by Kenny Loggins, and the classic “Yah Mo B There” by James Ingram.

As the lights slowly dimmed low, followed by lead guitarist Tom Johnston running onto the stage, jamming the intro to the song “Rockin’ Down the Highway.” Starting the show with this song just felt perfect. It showed that Tom’s voice was still there and brought the audience back to their second record, “Toulouse Street” from 1972. Following that song, the crowd continued to fill the amphitheater as the band performed a variety of songs to showcase each member’s singing. Bassist John Cowan powered through “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” guitarist Patrick Simmons grooved with “Black Water,” John McFee beautifully played the viola, and the band even got to play a unique version of “Amazing Grace.” But one song that shocked me the most was the decision to perform the Michael McDonald classic “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” given that the band has not played it live since McDonald released it in 1982.

But overall, there’s no band like the Doobie Brothers, because even during the middle of the show, nobody gets bored or tired. Because every song is a hit. The pacing is just incredible. Right when things got nostalgic with a reformed version of “It Keeps You Runnin’,” they slammed right into “Minute by Minute,” a song that I didn’t think would get me in the feels, but with the soothing vocals of McDonald, it brought me nostalgia that I wasn’t even alive for! And not to mention, the stage setup was relatively simple, relying on excellent lighting to set the mood for each song without becoming overwhelming or distracting. Audience lighting was also used effectively to draw fans into the performance, especially during sing-alongs, like when the crowd joined in on “Long Train Runnin'” with a thrilling chorus of “Love,” a word that feels like it connects to the theme of this tour.

Finally came “Listen to the Music,” probably one of their most-listened-to songs. Even after hearing the song constantly, it always hits the perfect spot in my heart. And in all, the crowd knew every word! As for myself, I favor the Michael McDonald era of the band over their earlier catalog, but this song has always been a classic in my mind, ending an incredible night of rock ‘n’ roll. I mean, coming out to this show just felt right. I never had the opportunity to see the band perform at its peak. But after seeing this lineup three times, I quickly realized, as I left the show on Saturday night, that they are true to the music and to fans like me. They are the closest band you could see that can do the songs justice, the way the fans want to hear them. They still have the spirit, energy, thrill, and fun that all of those tracks possess for all fans, young and old.