Rory Gallagher - Live In Concert (DVD)

.../> Ever since I saw Rory and an early Taste (with Norman Damery and Eric Kitteringham) at the Woburn Abbey Festival in 1968, when, in my opinion, he absolutely blew an off-form Jimi Hendrix off the stage, I followed his career avidly, as I did those of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, BB King, Otis Rush and many other great blues players. I saw him play nearly 40 times and while I do not claim to have known him well, he always remembered my name, shared ...
...which starts the DVD has Rory showcasing several of his favourite numbers and giving Blind Boy Fuller and others a mention, a timely reminder of what a champion he was of the black musicians, especially the country blues players. Pistol Slapper Blues, played on his beloved National Steel (which Blind Boy Fuller himself used), is absolutely great, fast, accurate and funny, and as good as the version on the brilliant "Live in Europe" album. ... more

It is impossible to review this item fairly without some background.

Ever since I saw Rory and an early Taste (with Norman Damery and Eric Kitteringham) at the Woburn Abbey Festival in 1968, when, in my opinion, he absolutely blew an off-form Jimi Hendrix off the stage, I followed his career avidly, as I did those of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, BB King, Otis Rush and many other great blues players. I saw him play nearly 40 times and while I do not claim to have known him well, he always remembered my name, shared many a pint in the Ship in Wardour Street next to the old Marquee and we had a great evening and meal in Salisbury.
Hardly ever did I think that Rory's recorded output came anywhere near his live work, except for, perhaps, Irish Tour '74 (which was, of course, live!), which was recorded on film by Tony Palmer. Some love this DVD, just because it is Rory, but the appalling editing, mismatches of music and film, shots of Rory's left ear and endless fillers remind me far too much of the Farewell Cream Concert at the Albert Hall (backed, of course, by Taste), by the same producer, which is an unspeakable disaster and a ghastly tribute to art school editing. The music, it seems in both cases, is an annoying external irritation.
At last, at last, along comes this DVD which comes as close as one can get to illustrating just how good he was, and how fantastic this particular band was too. He is such a technician, and yet so in love with the music and the playing that you just have to watch him, as you would a good magician, just to see what he will do next.
The acoustic set which starts the DVD has Rory showcasing several of his favourite numbers and giving Blind Boy Fuller and others a mention, a timely reminder of what a champion he was of the black musicians, especially the country blues players. Pistol Slapper Blues, played on his beloved National Steel (which Blind Boy Fuller himself used), is absolutely great, fast, accurate and funny, and as good as the version on the brilliant "Live in Europe" album. He used 4 tunings regularly on stage, standard, open E, open D and open G, and see how many you can spot here! Paul McCartney always said that a test of any great musician is that he should be able to captivate a crowd with just an acoustic guitar or even a capella. Rory does just that - I dread to think how most recent bands would fare.

On to the rockier stuff, after the mandolin extravaganza of Goin' to my Hometown, and the band is on fire, Rory's guitar squealing, riffing away, playing some really unusual chords and scat singing. But Special Mention must go the the band, especially Rod De'Ath - I cannot think of many drummers who could keep this frenzy up and yet be so techically exciting. I have said time and time again that he is the most under-rated drummer in the whole history of rock apart from B J Wilson of Procol Harum and Ringo, who is the best timekeeper ever. Ever-faithfull Gerry McAvoy manages to play with his lower half almost touching the ground, pounding bass when needed but great swirls of technical skill on tap at all times, and Lou Martin (from the band Killing Floor) is, well, Lou Martin, all over the keyboard as though it had upset him, but capable of some soft and touching chording, as in Calling Card.
And so it goes on for about 25 songs, and Special Mention also to Rory's slide playing throughout. Rory, if you're listening, you are not supposed to be able to play slide like that in standard tuning, so don't do it again, do you hear?
High spots? Where does one start? Garbage Man, one of Muddy's great songs, is full of drive and feeling apart from some unfortunate editing, and I Take What I Want (x2), Bought and Sold, Tatoo'ed Lady, Secret Agent and Souped up Ford are all absolutely edge of seat stuff. But it's all really good and, having seen Cream live at the Albert Hall in 2005, reminds me that all this nostalgia about the "old days" is not, perhaps, without foundation.
No point at comparing Rory to Eric or to Gary Moore or to anybody else. They all come at the blues from a different angle and they are all talented musicians. Rory was simply Rory, very very different from the others and we will never ever see anything like this Nicest Man in Rock again. This DVD is indispensible and essential listening. Six stars, easily, were it posssible, and now the archivists have found many years of Rory at the Montreux Jazz Festival - already on DVD and simply stunning.

Everybody, buy one extra copy for a friend who doesn't know a lot about Rory and the boys and start converting the unknowing right now! Wonderful stuff. One of the very few in the "indispensible" category. 

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