With the end of the year begins the time of retrospect. Performing exactly a year ago on October 30th the band release their Live Performance of their jaw dropping performance at Birmingham’s Arena a year later. A step above the norm the release encapsulates just how much emotion was felt that night and what all fans of music regardless of genre sense when seeing their favourite band live.
[tracklist]
1. Rain Wizard
2. Blind Man
3. Me and Mary Jane
4. In my Blood
5. Holding On… To Letting Go
6. Maybe Someday
7. Such A Shame
8. Things My Father Said
9. Fiesta Del Fuego
10. Sunshine Of Your Love
11. Like I Roll
12. Bad Luck And Hard Love
13. Drum Solo
14. Hollywood In Kentucky
15. Hell And High Water
16. Soul Creek
17. White Trash Millionaire
18. Blame It On The Boom Boom
19. Layla
20. Peace Is Free
21. Lonely Train (Can’t Judge A Book)
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]97 :00 minutes[/length]
[record_label]Eagle Rock Entertainment[/record_label]
[release_date]30th October 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
Beginning the show with the earth rocking single “Blind Man” Black Stone Cherry confidently navigate their way through a completely sold out Birmingham Arena. With each member performing on their respective instrument in perfect timing, our singer is caught off guard when the words of “Me And Mary Jane” are sung right back at him even louder than they first exploded through the PA. Followed closely by “Such A Shame” where the band truly get into their stride seeing those boot stompin’ southern grooves own the stage. Though it’s not just all good time grooves, the ballads in the shape of “Things My Father Said” seeing the crowd positively light up the arena make for an emotional track side of Black Stone Cherry that is often not seen in a live setting.
With many DVD’s particularly those that are simply a live performance, emotion is an incredibly hard object to portray. Often consisting of ninety minutes of a band playin, pretending to leave the stage only to return one final time much of the time they can be a fairly mundane affair. Selling out the Birmingham Arena Black Stone Cherry defiantly question this way of thinking with not only a fantastic performance but one that brings emotion to not only someone who hasn’t been a fan but who used to not understand the band.
Performing their rock ‘n’ roll southern drawl material the band run through their catalogue with ease, complete with the occasional drum solo it’s the elements where you can truly see that the band are actually in awe of the audience and whilst it may also be the other way round, it gives a fantastic sense of closeness to the band. Often missed completely especially with something as big as an arena performance the distance between the crowd and bands can both be physical and metaphorical but when the band move into “Bad Luck And Hard Love” we hear the roars of the fans deafen the band, not exactly the normal reaction.
Stating that when they played their first ever show here in Birmingham at The Barfly guitarist Ben Wells would have never imagined of returning to a 8,000 strong crowd performing material that is now classic. Vocalist Chris Robertson‘s southern bellows echo throughout the arena as the band deliver cuts like “Hell And High Water” and Black Stone Cherry classic “Blame It On The Boom Boom” but truly what is immediately taken away is the sense of complete gratitude the band have. Often getting slightly choked up the band are truly mesmerised by their fans and are completely in their debt. As mentioned before it’s incredibly easy to capture the usual band performing to sol out audience scenarios but brining the viewer into the band for ninety minutes to feel like you were there from the very beginning is nigh on impossible. Ending the night on small medley complete with a small rendition of the Clapton classic Layla, moving into “Lonely Train (Cant Judge A Book)” the band bow out gracefully. Perhaps their music might not be for everybody but their message is universal, without their fans they are nothing.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]Not only a fantastic performance exhibited by the band but a truly honest and humble statement that they truly are in every single fan’s debt. Thank You : Livin’ Live is just as kick ass as it is humble.[/why]
