January, 2004
Tim Holek
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Minglewood is a living
Canadian music legend. He combines Southern rock, country, Celtic and blues
into each and every performance. With 10 previous albums out (dating back to
1976), he has just released his first live CD. Recorded in September 2002, the
74-minute set includes a few guest artists
Most prominent is virtuoso
guitarist Jeff Healey who appears on all 13 tracks. Only five are covers and
there are two songs never recorded by Matt before. The signature Minglewood
sound and storytelling abounds on this disc. For a prime example of those
catchy fervent rhythms, aggressive piano fills, zestful vocals, choruses with
east coast jigs and changing melodies, listen to "Whiz Kids." Most tunes come
with a rolling down the highway attitude where caution is thrown to the wind.
If you enjoy a high energy double-barreled attack that rocks your blues, you'll
love this CD. The ashes left in your CD tray will confirm just how much this CD
smokes!
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Matt Minglewood is a living
Canadian music legend. His nation-wide popularity is a testimony to his
timeless appeal. He combines southern rock, country, Celtic and blues into each
and every performance. Hailing from Cape Breton Island, he is a great
story-teller, is full of humour and has a light-hearted approach to life and
its challenges. With 10 previous albums out (dating back to 1976), he has just
released his first live CD, Live At Last (Norton Records). Just prior to its
release, he made these comments: "People have been torturing me forever to put
out a live album. They said my studio albums are great but they're not the same
as seeing it live. You try real hard to capture that (in the studio) but it's
hard. This live one actually does capture it. Its got energy up the ying-yang
and I'm really happy with it.
When I heard the rough stuff I said I'm gonna mix this – this is the live album
people have been bugging me for." Minglewood's description of the new CD was
very accurate. Recorded in front of a very lively and enthusiastic Sydney, Nova
Scotia crowd in September 2002 at 'Minglefest,' the 74 minute set includes a
few guest artists. Most prominent is virtuoso guitarist Jeff Healey, who
appears on all 13 tracks. Only five are covers and there are two songs never
recorded by Matt before. Needless to say, there is lots of interplay and
weaving between these two Canadian guitar greats. It's done as a complementing
affair rather than a competing one. Matt's solos are more harsh when compared
to Jeff's smoothness. However, Healey gets downright screeching at times, as on
"Night Creeper." Other guests used more sparingly include Michael Pickett
(harp), Billy Joe Green (guitar), and three backing vocalists. Grant Leslie and
Neil Robertson tackle the bottom and pulse, while Jim Ralph performs wonders on
keyboards. In the studio, Matt added his acoustic guitar and Hammond organ to
several cuts.
The signature Minglewood sound and storytelling abounds on this disc. For a
prime example of those catchy fervent rhythms, aggressive piano fills, zestful
vocals, choruses with east coast jigs and changing melodies, listen to "Whiz
Kids." Here, Jimmy's quick-paced, orchestral solo precedes equally fast wailing
from Jeff.
"Let Somebody Else Drive" is an old-time rock 'n' roll song which denounces
drinking and driving.
"Hughie T. & Annie Lizzie" is an emotion-laden instrumental where you feel
compassion in every sweet note Matt plays on crying slide guitar. These names
are the way his parents were affectionately addressed by people who were close
to them.
For a rocked up version of the blues, listen to "Somebody Help Me." Ralph's
keyboards are haunting while Matt's shrieking and wailing guitar is played
methodically.
Things are tamed down on the almost entirely unplugged, country folk number "Me
& The Boys." Sometimes music can express more than words.
Sometimes words can express more than music. "Travelin' Man" equally says 'I
Love You' via both. The song is so from the heart, so down to earth and so
loving that it gives hope that not all blues-rockers may be womanizing drunks.
"Cape Crusader" suffers a bit from the absence of studio wonders. This is the
only song the boys do not recreate effectively live.
"Can't You See" is such a staple of Matt's live performance, it is too bad
that it fades out before the song was completed by the band.
Minglewood has spent most of his life on the road. It won't surprise you that
he regularly sings about it, and most tunes come with a rolling down the
highway attitude where caution is thrown to the wind. He plays blues-based rock
with heavy doses of Southern rock. If you enjoy a high energy, double-barreled
attack that rocks your blues, you'll love this CD. Its crisp Minglewood
production makes you wish you were there. The ashes left in your CD tray will
confirm just how much this CD smokes!
For CDs, booking and information, contact: 757 Main Street, Glace Bay, NS, B1A
4Y7 Canada, E-mail minglewood@ns.sympatico.ca, Website
http://www.mattminglewood.com/.
Reviewer Tim Holek