Led Zeppelin: Inner City Blues (1973)

Legend has it Led Zeppelin had recorded a number of concerts from late 1972 to early 1973 in anticipation of a live album. The band made a stop in Southampton, and after a lackluster first night amped it up for their second show, with was recorded for local radio. So think of Inner City Blues captured in the Old Refectory on 1/22/73 as a could have been, a contender for what was eventually released as The Song Remains The Same, and one of the best sounding bootlegs I’ve ever heard. The song selection is superb, the improvisational takes are inspired, and everyone is in fifth gear, these songs so completely embedded in their DNA. Even the flubs make it inspired, and this is one where the immersion is large and firmly in place.

ChrisApril 8, 2025April 8, 2025Leave a comment

Genesis: Getting In Tune (1976)

Live Month continues with Bootleg Week, which is admittedly odd considering my penchant for clear, immersive production when it comes to live music, something typically not the case with bootlegs. But for certain artists, getting to hear specific albums or eras, hearing bands really work and stretch out their tunes is an irresistible draw. This goes double for progressive rock, and Genesis specifically. Getting In Tune (terrible title, I know) showcases the band supporting A Trick Of The Tail, their first with Phil Collins taking over vocals from Peter Gabriel and with the legendary Bill Bruford taking the drum seat (ignore the inaccurate cover art – Chester Thompson would join in ’77). The recording, from their second night at London’s Hammersmith and broadcast for radio is solid, showing a band still fearlessly charging forth unabated by the lost of so prominent a front man.

ChrisApril 7, 2025April 10, 20251 Comment

Rush: Snakes & Arrows Live (2008)

As a modern document of a band, the live album has been suffering since the onset of the 21st century. I don’t know if it’s because of streaming, the turn to singles and the growing dismissal of record sales, but it feels like the heyday for new live music (archival releases are a completely different, glorious matter) seems to have passed for most bands. Thank goodness Rush never seemed to care about anything like that. 11 live albums that continuously chart the evolution of their live presence is a huge feat, and you could argue they never put out a bad show, even when touring some less than great albums (looking at you, Presto and Roll the Bones). Snakes & Arrows Live is a great example, showing how their later, hard rock approach meshed nicely with their classic tunes, and how a band then more than 30 years its their career can bring excitement and maturity to songs you’ve heard a hundred time before.

ChrisApril 4, 2025April 4, 2025Leave a comment

Phish: A Live One (1995)

When I think about the music of Phish, it signifies for me almost the whole of the early to mid-90s, specifically the time I was at college. Sure, grunge was exploding and nu-metal was, uh, grooving, but you couldn’t walk across campus without a) getting close to smacked by runaway hacky sacks, and b) said near-hacky sack attack being accompanied by the music of Rusted Root, the Spin Doctors, Dave Matthews Band or Phish. They’re the quintessential jam band in my mind, for better or for worse, and when I finally caved in to check them out it was with A Live One, their first official live release. My approach was similar to how I got into The Grateful Dead – if they’re known for their live shows, might as well start off with one of those, huh?

ChrisApril 3, 2025April 3, 2025Leave a comment

CD, Vinyl

Iron Maiden: Live After Death (1985)

I won’t argue it has a more iconic line than yesterday’s Johnny Cash album, but for a kid growing up in the 80s in love with hard rock and heavy metal, there was no greater thrill than shouting out “Scream for me, Long Beach!” along with Bruce Dickinson. I may have discovered Iron Maiden through The Number of the Beast, but it was Live After Death, their live document of the 1984-85 Powerslave tour that hooked me as a fan for life.Practically a note for note execution of their greatest hits to date, everything from the cover artwork to the photos to the galvanizing me into the fan for life I am today.

ChrisApril 2, 2025April 2, 20251 Comment

CD, Vinyl

Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison (1968)

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” I don’t know if there’s a more iconic opening to a live album, or a more iconic performance than At Folsom Prison, the first live album by the Man in Black himself, Johnny Cash. He was my gateway into country music, like I’m sure he was for millions more, and even folks who completely disavow the genre admit to a grudging respect to the man. Listening to this album you can understand why: few artists could spin a story like Cash could, and few could engage an audience so completely. Similar to yesterday’s review of Curtis/Live! the immersion when I lay back with this on the stereo is deep and dense.

ChrisApril 1, 2025April 5, 20251 Comment

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Tag: live