Power trio

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The power trio is a rock and roll format popularized in the 1960s. (See 1960s in music)

The rise of the power trio was made possible in part by developments in amplifiers and guitar technology that permit the guitar to provide more sound than before. Particularly, the advent of electric bass guitar defined the bottom end and filled in the gaps. Perhaps the first embryonic "power trio" may have been Buddy Holly and The Crickets, whose onstage sound relied on a driving rhythm section that underpinned Holly's guitar and voice.

During the late 1960s, several arguable power trios included The Who, Cream, Led Zeppelin, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, although none of these were ever particularly identified as power trios. (The Who and Led Zeppelin, for example, had 'power trio' instrumentation, but featured a lead vocalist as a fourth member.)

Image:Rush-in-concert.jpg The traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard often featured in rock music. However, some power trios also experimented with keyboards and sequencers in the studio, most notably the Canadian trio Rush, whose bassist-frontman Geddy Lee has often demonstrated his multi-instrumental capabilities on diverse rock albums such as 1977's A Farewell to Kings and 1985's Power Windows. Modern digital technology has also enabled a power trio to duplicate their studio performances in concert, as evidenced by Rush's 1989 live album, A Show of Hands, where Lee simultaneously sings, plays bass, and plays keyboard with foot pedals. This technology, in combination with their style and production, have given the band the nickname of "Canadian Power Trio".

Power trios have been characterized as loud and bombastic, often embarking on long improvised jams. Typically, vocals and songwriting were less important than instrumental performance or overall impact. Compare, for instance, the Jeff Beck Group, (with Rod Stewart on vocals) with Beck, Bogert, and Appice, a similar lineup without a significant vocalist. The latter was called a power trio, whereas the Jeff Beck Group was not. The emphasis on guitar solos and crashing rhythm sections in the power trio contributed to the development of heavy metal, although some power trios would prefer hard rock labels.

Some 1970s British groups, such as Genesis and UK began with larger lineups, but eventually became keyboard-oriented trios in the mode of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. However, due to the absence of a lead guitarist, these progressive rock groups are not usually considered 'true' power trios -- although they certainly had an influence on some others.

Perhaps the most famous power trios include the aforementioned Rush, Cream, ZZ Top, and The Police.

Other well-known trios from the 1970s and 1980s include Budgie, Grand Funk Railroad, Triumph, Blue Cheer, Cactus, Glass Harp, Motörhead (at times), The Minutemen, West, Bruce and Laing, and the Robin Trower Band. Although power trios fell out of fashion during the 1980s, some continued to emerge well into the next decade, such as King's X, Green Day, Jawbreaker, and Nirvana.

The 1990's edition of King Crimson toured as a double power trio, with two drummers, two basists and two guitars, while, also in the 1990s, Ben Folds Five gained some notoriety as a guitarless power trio with piano, bass, and drums. In 2005 The Mods formed and began the Power Trio Revival, paving the way for later groups including the John Mayer Trio.

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Prominent power trios

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