This album was recorded on
Tuff's UK tour with
Shameless in October 2002.
The sound on the album is not a million-dollar production. It's a low budget recording, so you can always complain about the sound. However, a band like
Tuff cannot bring a huge production to England, so the alternative is, that
Tuff doesn't release this stuff - and that would be a shame.
Tuff Live in concert displays an honest band, which is true to the style. Their performance takes you back to a time, where music was all about having fun, sex, sing-along tunes, great hooks and looks. There has been no fix ups in the studio, so this is a raw live recording that understates that you can't hold a great band down.
Since
Tuff only released 2-studio albums back in 1990 and 1993 it's admirable that can continue to Tour
Europe ten years after their heyday. That clearly emphasizes the quality of the songs and that 80's Hard Rock will never die.
From
Tuff's first album we are treated to half the album performed live, among them concert opener
Good Guys Wear Black. The song is first class Hard Rock. Another highlight from the debut is
Spit Like This, which has a great drive and a great solo from guitarist Michael Thomas.
From "Religious Fix"
Tied To the Bells works out great. The song rounds off with the riff from
Walk this Way. Album highlight is
God Bless This Mess, which kicks ass.
Tuff also performs a great version of Michael Monroe's
Dead Jail or Rock n Roll.
The show ends with a newer
Tuff track entitled
American Hair band. That song is fabulous with a stolen rhythm from Metallica's
Sad But True. I only read about the song, but it has to be listened to. The lyrics slam grunge bands and salute the Hair bands. The song is one long reference to either Hair bands or their song titles spiced with a few riffs from Poison, Guns N' Roses,
Twisted Sister and Kiss. Every song that incorporates the infamous band
Johnny Crash gets two thumbs up from me.
Gimme L.A. Guns and the Dangerous Toys
Quiet Riot, Bang Tango and The Bullet Boys
Love Johnny Crash
Grunge bands are trash
C.C. Deville, Mick Mars and Slash (the intro to Sweet Child O' Mine is played)
The CD contains 3 bonus tracks recorded live on Knac.com May 2001. I think these 3 tracks are album highlights, because the sound is a bit more heavy and raw, which actually fits
Tuff nicely. The guitarist at the time was Darrell Roberts. He adds some great lead playing to
Good Guys Wear Black and also spices
God Bless this Mess with some great leads. The version of
American Hair band has a slight variation, since it incorporates
Twisted Sister We're not gonna take it instead of Mötley Crüe's
Dr. Feelgood, which was featured at the UK shows.
Some might remember
I hate kissing You Goodbye from MTV, but that is not representative of
Tuff's material. I also thought this was bubble-gum Glam because of the video, but this is great Hard Rock 80's style. Stevie Rachelle's great vocals provide
Tuff with a hard edge and his vocals are strong throughout the whole record.
This is an honest live recording and a lecture of how the joy of playing causes the survival of great songs and how strong material overshadows a doubtful sound. Overall a highly enjoyable and entertaining live album, which I recommend for every fan of 80's Hard Rock.
Written by
Michael Thursday, September 18, 2003
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