Y&T – Live at the Mystic
FRONTIERS RECORDS www.frontiers.it
For a band of their longevity, Y and T live albums have been thin on the ground. In fact the only one I can recall was 1985’s Open Fire, which with its single disc track listing came and went faster than you can say ‘contractual obligation’.
But their energetic live show, which is now an annual highlight in the UK, is finally given justice with this double disc. Recorded at the Mystic Theatre in their home state of California late in 2011, most of the audience banter is left on the cutting room floor to cram in maximum music, although there is a moving moment when during Squeeze, guitarist John Nymann singing the late Phil Kennemore’s trademark song, he implores the crowd to shout so that Phil can hear him in heaven.
The set is heavily weighted towards two eras- their holy trinity of Earthshaker, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary and its opening cut Hungry for Rock gets a rare airing, Black Tiger and Mean Streak; and 2010’s studio outing which gets a surprise six tracks, with the likes of Blind Patriot the tongue in cheek Gonna Go Blind and I’m Coming Home nestling easily in the set. However the latter part of the eighties when they moved in a more commercial direction is very lightly represented, so you will look in vain for Summertime Girls or Contagious.
The set faithfully reflects all the hallmarks of classic Y and T, even if Dave Meniketti’s voice naturally sounds a touch more careworn than in the old days. All the highlights are there, from joyously bounding rockers like Forever and Mean Streak, the classic Rescue Me, Dirty Girl as the band wend their way through a jam, well chosen surprises like Don’t Wanna Lose and Surrender, and I Believe in You and Winds of Change with some epic lengthy solos from Dave.
It’s been long overdue, but either as a souvenir of one of the best live bands around or a greatest hits style primer for one of America’s hidden hard rock treasures, this album delivers on every level.
****
Andy Nathan
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
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UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.
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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
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