Lucinda Williams - Live in Switzerland 2007

This is another superb live recording of Lucinda Williams, on this occasion in Basel, Switzerland, at the Festsaal Messe, AVO session on the 13th November 2007.

Although Lucinda was promoting her 'West' album at the time she covered a range of other earlier material, that for me, seems a great introduction for anyone unfamiliar with one of the foremost modern country rock or alternative country artists.

Source: FM stereo live broadcast on DRS3 radio Switzerland

Sound Quality: Very good FM Stereo DAT conversion.

Genre: Alt Country, Folk, Rock.

Set: Full live performance see notes below.

Set List:

01 Passionate Kisses (Broadcast started during the second part of opening number)
02 The night's too Long
03 Crescent City
04 Sweet Old World
05 Pineola (fade out) **
06 (fade in) Pineola ending
07 talks with the audience
08 Lake Charles
09 Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
10 Can't Let Go
11 Steal Your Love (fade out) **
12 Essence
13 Righteously - band intro
14 Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings
15 Unsuffer Me
16 talks with the audience
17 West

** there were two nasty and long drop outs on the radio broadcast (32 seconds during "Pineola" and 30 secs right after "Steal your love") thus the taper had to apply some fading's to leave out those unexpected moments of silence.

Lucinda's Band:

Doug Pettibone: pedal steel, guitars, mandolin, harmonica
Chet Lyster: steel, guitar, keyboards
David Sutton: bass
Butch Norton: drums

Links: The ever improving and comprehensive official site HERE.

Comments: I love a few of these songs so much, that you cannot expect an impartial review for this particular boot.

It's also rather pleasing to know of an artist, who has really lived the country rock lifestyle, and still looks and sounds so great (especially as I am a little younger - hope for me yet, if you get my drift).

Download link in comments below, or click on the picture.

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Lucinda Williams

Catatonia - Live and in Session 1998

I remember seeing Catatonia in London back in 2000, they were really entertaining, and new how to play live, this recording was therefore a pleasure to get hold of.

Performing at The Newport Centre, Gwent, in Wales, on Thursday 26th March 1998, Catatonia were on this occasion supporting Travis (Idlewild were also on the bill), nonetheless they played a full set.

Also included is material from a BBC Radio One session.

Source: FM Stereo recording.

Sound Quality: Very good mp3 @192kbps.

Genre: Indie Rock & Pop

Set: Full live performance

Set List:

International Velvet
I am the Mob
Game On
You've Got a Lot to Answer For
No Stone Unturned
Way Beyond Blue
Don't Need The Sunshine
Goldfish and Paracetamol
Mulder and Scully
Part of the Furniture
Road Rage
Jump or be Sane
Bleed

BBC Radio One session:

International Velvet
Mulder and Scully
No Stone Unturned
Strange Glue
Mulder and Scully

Links: No official sites, Wikipedia with some additional links HERE. Cerys Matthews official site HERE.

Comments: The live element may have circulated as 'Land of our Fathers' on CDR, beyond that I do not know much else about this gig. There's something a little bit special about great Welsh bands playing to a Welsh audience, maybe it's a Celtic thing.

Listening to this performance I think I know who the real headline act was on the night!

Download link in comments below, or click on the picture.

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Catatonia

The Sisters Of Mercy - Amsterdam 1983.

This is the second of five mainland European dates The Sisters Of Mercy performed, during their 'Trans Europe Excess Tour'.

The band who started performing live in 1981, had already developed a strong following with several independent single and EP releases, often being 'hailed' in the UK indie press of that time.

Playing at the excellent venue The Paradiso, Amsterdam, on the 28th August 1983, this boot has apparently also circulated as 'Napalm Gods', 'Possession', and 'Live In Amsterdam', along with this copy entitled 'Beware The Ghost'.

Source: Sound board recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @ 320kbps.

Genre: Post punk, Gothic Rock.

Set: Majority of concert (cannot confirm if full set).

Set List:

1. Burn.
2. Valentine.
3. Anaconda.
4. Heartland.
5. Alice.
6. Emma.
7. Temple of Love.
8. Floorshow.
9. Adrenochrome.
10. Gimme Shelter.
11. Kiss the Carpet.
12. Body Electric.
13. Lights.
14. Sister Ray / Louie Louie / Ghost rider.

Total Playing Time 70:43

Band Line Up - 1983.

Andrew Eldritch, vocals, keyboards, guitars
Gary Marx, guitars, vocals on one early track
Ben Gunn, guitars
Craig Adams, bass
Doktor Avalanche, drum machine

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: By the time of this tour The Sisters Of Mercy had already developed and honed their unique and somewhat haunting layered sound.

Their version of the Rolling Stones classic 'Gimme Shelter', remains one of my all time favorite cover versions.

The band are touring again this year, and who knows ! although their recorded album output is pretty intermittent, their site suggests that perhaps we will see something new later this year.

Download links in comments below.

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Sisters Of Mercy

Cocteau Twins - Live Black Session 1994

The Cocteau Twins are one of my all time favorite acts.

I will resist the inclination to give an over the top and gushing review and just say, for any fan this is a must have.

For anyone not familiar with them, and at the risk of being accused of musical heresy, their recorded material is a much better starting point, then you will just want more, and settle for any bootleg, bearing in mind the principle that one persons pleasure, is another's poison...

Live on the 4th February 1994, this is Cocteau Twins live in studio 105.

Source: Live 'Black Session' recorded for France Inter (French radio station) in Paris, Maison de la Radio, Studio 105, (with studio audience).

Sound Quality: Very good FM stereo @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Dream pop / Ambient (1986-1997), Ethereal (1983-1986), Gothic rock / Post-punk (1979-1983).

Set: This is the full studio concert.

Set List:

01 - Pur
02 - Road River and Rail
03 - Bluebeard
04 - Heaven or Las Vegas
05 - Whales Tails
06 - Carolyn's Fingers
07 - Iceblink Luck
08 - Summerhead
09 - Ella Megalast Burls Forever
10 - Blue Bell Knoll
11 - Pink Orange Red
12 - Aikea-Guinea
13 - Sugar Hiccup

Links: Official site HERE. 4AD site (also very good detail) HERE.

Comments: I have always been a fan of the Cocteau Twins music, from the first time I heard them in the first half of the 1980's, until now.

Like all good fan's I live in hope of more, although that is probably unlikely and unfair, still us fans are like that.

This is a good live boot of the band, (theirs some awful stuff out their), the audio quality needs to be good for them, however as is often the case with their live material, Elizabeth Fraser's vocals are a little to low in the mix (in my opinion), that said, this is still a must for any one who has an interest in the band (and yes - yet another band from Scotland).

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Cocteau Twins