Doobie Brothers Reunite with Michael McDonald and Bass Icons for “Walk This Road”
At long last, The Doobie Brothers have released Walk This Road, marking the return of former member Michael McDonald alongside Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and John McFee. The band, which is also being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this month, convened with producer John Shanks to bring out their individual talents to fulfill the Doobie sound.
“Getting back in with the guys and playing again is great,” said McDonald. “In my heart I’ve always been a Doobie Brother. We’ve all remained friends over the years. We’ve all been enjoying it tremendously, even more than we thought we would.”
From the opening title track, it’s clear that the classic Doobie Brothers sound is intact. The song, which “embodies a sense of hope and togetherness,” is also something new for the band. Along with a cameo from Mavis Staples, the it features all of the members singing.
“We all sang on ‘Walk This Road,’ that’s a different kind of track for us to do,” says Johnston. “I think it’s good to try to do things you haven’t done before, that’s the way it should be.”
Shanks and the Doobies called on top-shelf session bassists for the album, and any bassist who looks at the credits will be excited. Shanks plays a bit of bass with the rest of the album anchored by Pino Palladino, Bob Glaub, and Sean Hurley. Of course, longtime Doobie Brothers bassist John Cowan delivers his astounding background vocals to the album and will be on the road with them throughout the year. See below for full North American tour dates.
Walk This Road is out now on CD, vinyl and as a digital download (Apple Music, and Amazon Music).
Walk This Road Track List:
- Walk This Road (Featuring Mavis Staples)
- Angels & Mercy
- Call Me
- Learn to Let Go
- State of Grace
- Here to Stay
- The Kind That Lasts
- New Orleans
- Speed of Pain
- Lahaina
Doobie Brothers ‘Walk This Road’ 2025 North American Tour:
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8/4 | Detroit, MI | Pine Knob Music Theatre |
| 8/6 | Burgettstown, PA | The Pavilion at Star Lake |
| 8/7 | Holmdel, NJ | PNC Bank Arts Center |
| 8/9 | Bristow, VA | Jiffy Lube Live |
| 8/10 | Wantagh, NY | Northwell at Jones Beach |
| 8/12 | Virginia Beach, VA | Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre |
| 8/13 | Camden, NJ | Freedom Mortgage Pavilion |
| 8/15 | Boston, MA | Xfinity Center |
| 8/17 | Gilford, NH | BankNH Pavilion |
| 8/18 | Saratoga Springs, NY | Broadview Stage at SPAC |
| 9/4 | St. Louis, MO | Hollywood Casino Amphitheater |
| 9/5 | Ridgedale, MO | Thunder Ridge Nature Arena |
| 9/9 | Milwaukee, WI | American Family Insurance Amphitheatre |
| 9/10 | Tinley Park, IL | Credit Union 1 Amphitheater |
| 9/12 | Cincinnati, OH | Riverbend Music Center |
| 9/13 | Noblesville, IN | Ruoff Music Center |
| 9/15 | Franklin, TN | FirstBank Amphitheatre |
| 9/17 | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Blossom Music Center |
| 9/18 | Toronto, ON | Budweiser Stage |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
