Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 4/5 Released: August 8, 2006 Reviewer: David Coats |
Last winter, when it was announced that The Sadies were going to be recording a live record, the band put a call out through the media for their friends to come perform on it. The resulting 41-song package, recorded during a two-night set in February 2006, is practically a family reunion, both literally and metaphorically – guests include the pitch-perfect Neko Case, Garth Hudson of The Band, Gary Louris of the Jayhawks, and Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo.
Live In Concert is impressive, energetic, and dynamic, with stylistic changes aplenty, from rollicking instrumentals (‘Cheat’) to 60s-inspired country/folk (‘Snow Squad’), from bluegrass-tinged spirituals (‘Higher Power’) to mournful, somehow uniquely Canadian folk ballads (‘Eastern Winds’). While some songs fall flat (especially, unfortunately, most of Jon Spencer’s songs on the second disc), many songs sound especially sharp, especially ‘1000 Cities Falling’ (from their most recent studio record, 2004’s Favourite Colours), the rousing ‘Tiger Tiger’, and a strong performance of Blue Rodeo’s ‘You’re Everywhere’. The arrangements of these songs don’t deviate much from the studio originals (all the Sadies songs are still two minutes or less), though the improvisation on the second disc (where The Sadies and Louris perform a cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Lucifer Sam’, for example) is a highlight. Oddly, however, the rapid-fire transitions don’t confuse, and only enhance the effect of the band’s artistic eclecticism.
Unlike many live records, not only is this a good pickup for fans, but it’s also an inviting – and thorough – introduction for newcomers. In spite of the occasional sub-par moment, this jam-packed set features a long list of high-end songs, and perfectly captures the grass-roots atmosphere of The Sadies, their friends and their fans in what comes across as a genuine celebration of music. Wish I’d been there.
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