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Blues Underground Network |
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Don Ray Band "Live In Nashville"
(DVD)
I don't get very many DVD's in the
mail, maybe 2 or 3 a year, but I sure enjoy them, especially if the DVD is
a band that I am very familiar with. The Don Ray Band is such an
Band. The Don Ray Band first caught my attention in 2009 with Don Ray's
first solo release, "On Top Of The Heap" which I liked so much that I not
only gave it a 5***** rating, but I also chose it as the "Best USA
Blues Album" in my 2009 Year End Review, and I also picked it as the #2
Album in my Top 25 for 2009, in that review, as well. (http://www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com/2009_Year_End_Review.html)
Another accolade of note for that Album, is the fact that it reached the
#1 Spot "on Real Blues Magazine's "Top 100 Must Purchase Blues Albums"
chart". Don Ray's 2010 release, "Lonesome Rider" was also a very
strong release, garnering another 5***** Rating. Now with the Don Ray
Bands first Live Concert DVD release, we all, not only get a chance to
hear this amazing band, but we also get to see them in action, as
well.
The Don Ray Band call Nashville their
home, so the title of this DVD should come as no surprise. It was recorded
at The Rutledge, Nashville, TN, on October 17th, 2010 and has a run-time
of 84 minutes. The DVD was Directed and Co-produced by Don Ray.
Performers on "Live In Nashville", included the Don Ray Band consisting of
Don Ray (Vocals/Percussion), Jonathan Armstrong (Keyboards/Vocals), Donnie
Lee Clark (Electric Guitar/Vocals), Curtis Jay (Bass Guitar), and Scott
Thompson (Drums). Special guests on "Live In Nashville", included Shaun
Murphy, Curt Ryle, Tim Beattie, Trez Gregory, and Laura
Vida.
"Live In Nashville" consists of a 16
song set list and includes a good mix of their most popular songs, with
the majority of them, 12 in total, coming from their second Album,
"Lonesome
Rider".
The Don Ray Band start off this DVD
pretty strong with a tune from their second CD called "In Your Eyes", and
was a great opening song to start off the concert, especially with Don
Ray's vocals in top form, as well as his playing the Cow Bell.
Additionally one cannot help but notice the amazing guitar work of Donnie
Lee Clark, which is dominate throughout all the
performances.
After three more nicely done songs,
we get to the first round of Special Guests, which Don Ray introduces as
the Raylettes, Trez Gregory, and Laura Vida, and Guitarist Curt Ryle, whom
Don Ray worked with extensively on "Lonesome Rider". The song "Boom Chika
Wah Wah", is one off their first Album, and starts off with Jonathan
Armstrong on Keyboards and Don Ray hitting a single drum before they
really get into it. I have always liked the background vocal singers on
the bands Albums and it was nice to see them performing Live on this DVD.
"Boom Chika Wah Wah" will remind a few of you of music by Lynyrd Sknyrd.
It was really fine to see the two guitarist on stage complimenting each
other with their playing. Also really neat was when Don Ray went over and
starting to play a double set of Drums a few times throughout the song.
Boom Chika Wah Wah" was certainly one of the highlights of this DVD, at
least for
me.
After two more songs the Raylettes
bid adou, but Curt Ryle stays on for one more song "Victim Of
Passion", a song that Don Ray and Curt wrote for the "Lonesome Rider
Album.
After another song with just the
band, Don Ray introduces, Harp Player Extraordinaire and co-writer of the
song they perform,
"Gone Nowhere", Tim Beattie. Lovers of great Blues Harp will certainly enjoy that performance.
After two more fine performances, Don
Ray introduces Shaun Murphy, for the song "Love Is". "Shaun joined
Little Feat as a full time member in 1993 for the recording of Ain’t Had
Enough Fun. Whether she was belting out the blues or softly singing a
ballad the listener is in for the treat of an emotional roller coaster
ride. In addition to her extensive work with Little Feat, Shaun’s voice
has graced the recordings of such luminaries as Eric Clapton, the Moody
Blues, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Meat Loaf (as part of the duo Stoney
& Meatloaf) and Bob Seger." Shaun was a member of Little feat
until January 2009. Shaun and Don Ray give a very memorable performance as
they duel back and forth on this great soulful blues
song.
After "Love Is", the Don Ray Band
finish off the DVD in fine style with 3 more performances which end with
"Lonesome Rider", the title track of their second
Album.
Fans of the Don Ray Band are really
going to enjoy this latest offering. It was not only a DVD chalked full of
really good performances, but also a well produced DVD. Beyond that, I
kind of wished they would have included a booklet, but what the hell, who
has time to read when the Don Ray Band are up on
stage.
"Live In Nashville" has no problem
getting my recommendation as a really decent Concert DVD. Nothing overly
fancy, but sometimes that can be a good
thing.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground
Network)
Additional Info
Tracklist
01. In Your Eyes
02. A Woman Becomes The Blues 03. Monday Morning Blues 04. So Far Away 05. Boom Chika Wah Wah 06. So Wicked 07. I Cant' Find My Angel 08. Victim Of Passion 09. The Trigger 10. Gone Nowhere 11. Ball and Chain 12. The Ruckus Room 13. Love Is 14. Barbecue and Beans 15. Poison 16. Lonesome Rider
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