This band's back story and that of the individual members could fill this review many times over. But you don't need me for that, just go online.
The two most important facts you will learn are these : Stevie Ray Vaughn is the common denominator in the genesis of the band. And two, it's not blues, it's rock.
Okay, Southern rock, Texas rock, call it what you will, shot through with memorable melodies and several thousand miles on the clock vocals, courtesy of Doyle Bramhall II and the legendary
Charlie Sexton, both of whom make their guitars howl, cry and sing, and likewise their voices. The music is soulful, dark, sturdily tuneful and frequently scorches a path through that swampy, smokey territory staked out by The Stones, The Black Crowes and on occasion, Jimi Hendrix.
Surprisingly, for a band who formed in 1992, and released a self titled debut, this is only their second release and at that, it's essentially a live version of that first recording, plus some grade A bonus stuff.
There are 3 discs in this set.
The first is the 13 song live recording. The second comprises 3 new studio tracks and an extra special live track and the third disc is the DVD version of the first plus extras. Good value or what?
The songs, underpinned by a rhythmic cornerstone of Chris Layton (drums) and Tommy
Shannon (bass), both long time Vaughn sidemen, are mainly written by Bramhall and Sexton, and don't they just shine. Even in their darkest lyrical moments, there's a sparkle, and a ringing, uplifting abandon to the music.
'Sent By Angels', '
Carry Me On' and '
Nadine' are all shambling, rambling rock songs; shadowy, majestic, classic rock with a magician's touch, deeply rooted in what seems now like a distant, golden era.
'
Crave And Wonder' and '
She's Alright' belie their birth in jam sessions, where a riff, a guitar motif and/or the fragment of a melody develop into something more substantial, something more defined and indeed, judging by these songs, something more refined.
The wonderful thing about this material and these performances is the way in which the songs just grow and grow with repeated spins, flowering eventually into lustrous blooms that never seem to fade.
'Crave And Wonder' started life as one of the new studio tracks, on disc 2. Live, it makes up in passion what it loses in drive and focus. In the studio it gains sweetness and charm, and considering it's a studio recording, a sparkling spontaneity and freshness.
They give the romantic fatalism of Paul McCartney's
'Too Many People' a steely spine and add shades of psychedelia that just might outshine the original.
Ironically, the other new track, the dreamy, smouldering
'What I'm Looking' for has a distinct Beatles' feel, confirming the band's love of good pop music is the equal of their affinity with rock and blues.
Lastly, the DVD includes the complete
'Live In Austin' gig, allowing us to be impressed with band's cool, hip demeanour and consummate musicianship; plus a fascinating, if short, backstage documentary.
Without question, an overlooked gem.
Written by
Brian Saturday, March 27, 2010
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