Live At Last (2003 Norton Records)
The Great White Noise
by Ray Violette Moncton, NB
March 15, 2004
MATT MINGLEWOOD BAND-Live At Last (2003 Norton Records)
It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here. The Matt Minglewood
Band live! Recorded at "Minglefest" in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the energy of a
live Matt Minglewood show is captured here for all to experience. After
over ten records and a couple or three decade, a live release was long
overdue. The wait has been worth it.
The first track, "Tell Me" sets the stage for the set. Matt and guest
guitarist Jeff Healey trade licks and vocals back and forth, and the fun
doesn't let up for 75 minutes. "Whiz Kids" is typical of a lot of the
tracks here. The performances just smoke, and leave many of the studio
versions in their wake. "How High Is High Enough", with its sing-along
chorus, and tasteful organ break, leaves one wishing they were there to
witness this tight outfit. "Let Someone Else Drive" is a typical
blues-stomper, but is made more gritty with Healey's vocals, and a darn fine
honky-tonk piano solo, followed by some extended guitar work.
It's difficult to pick out a stand out track here. Some songs like "Me +
the Boys" (which Charlie Daniels covered) and "East Coast Blues", illustrate
that Minglewood is the definition of East Coast Blues. "Somebody Help Me"
has that classic blues riff that we hear so often, but here, it's mixed with
some of the best vocals Matt has ever done, and let's not forget some great
guitar fills and solos.
Probably the standout track would be "Rockin' The Blues", a story song with
the best solo on the disk. The whole band comes together on this track.
Matt has to be seen live to be fully enjoyed, but this live album will
suffice in the meantime. A few years ago, a couple friends from Kentucky
came up to Fredericton to visit. Luckily, Matt Minglewood was playing that
weekend, and put on a great show. These friends still comment how they'll
never forget Matt jumping up on the tables in the bar, kicking empty beer
bottles out of the way, and all the while soloing. You don't get that on
this cd, but it's as close as you can experience without being there.
"Live At Last" indeed!
The sound of the live recording is great. Crisp and clear, it's mixed
extremely well, with all the instruments being heard as they should be, but
then jumping out of the speakers at the appropriate time. It's not clear
why "Can't You See", a Marshall Tucker Band track that Matt has made his
own, fades out at the end, but it's a fitting conclusion to the set. Chills.
Ray Violette, Moncton, NB
Reviewer, www.greatwhitenoise.ca