baby, this time it’s for real
I’m not a tease, just differently clued.
But this time it’s true: last show of the first tour (depending on how you define tour), and we’ve got good audio. Check the downloads page for the Pearl River gig earlier this month, a one-of-a-kind show: a full, high quality taping of Taylor Hicks with the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (his former band) and Josh Smith (lead guitar from his 2007 tour band) at the Pearl River Resort in Philadephia, MS, November 2, 2007. Both the band and the set list are combinations of then and now, with Hicks and Brian Less (keyboards) spanning both.
Bar band or tour band? A year ago, that question was being hotly debated. Is it still relevant? Was it ever? In any case, now you don’t have to choose.For something to listen to while you download:
The Right Place
Forever Man
categories: downloads, live, music
tags: Pearl River, taping, taylor hicks
posted by what at 08:02 am
They still benefit from a bit of fiddling with an equalizer (easy in iTunes, ask for help if you need to), but I’m glad to have them ‘done’.
Great job Malisa! This must have been a lot of work. Is this your first taping? Thanka to C2what for hosting these as well. Still downloading.
Thanks. I taped the Summer NOLA too. They both have their issues, and the perfectionist in me just grits my teeth through some of it, but for a first and second effort (with a borrowed rig…thank you) they’re not too bad.
Loved the trip back to PR, Malisa. Please tell your inner perfectionist to lighten up. Wonderful job! I’m especially high on Gonna Move, Breeze, Circles, Right Place and Forever Man. Hope we don’t have to wait too long for your third effort.
If that guy that sings would do one of his aforementioned acoustic shows in the LA area…that’d be swell.
God I love that mans voice. Thanks for video and the downloads.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard why Taylor didn’t use LMBO as his touring band? Was it contract stipulations with his company or what? To me using LMBO would have been ideal… they already knew each, knew their weakness’s, strengths etc.
Not to dis-credit the touring band, because they also are awesome.
Taylor and Josh are terrific together, hope he stays around.
Hey What…The Forever Man link above plays the Right Place also..
Trixi - thanks for the heads-up on the file issue. Fixed now. Enjoy.
Wow. I’ve been so out of the loop. The real world called for a while, thank God that’s over. Anyway, I’m wondering, is Taylor still touring?
The tour ended awhile back, followed by several one offs. As far as I know (which isn’t far), this Pearl River gig is the last tour-like appearance on the schedule.
Bar band vs tour band is certainly not important. I continue to feel that the composition of his backing band in general, however, is very important. I think that TH once said that he was advised by Keb Mo to surround himself with the best musicians that he could (afford). I think that still holds true today, perhaps more so. I hope he will continue to recruit musicians whose unique talents supplement his own, and who might stretch his musical boundaries. I’d like to see him again with musicians whose play can be showcased on stage, and who are enjoyable to watch on stage. Examples: Brian Less, Al Carty.
This show should prove once and for all that LiMBO (Brian, Sam, Zippy, Mitch, Jeff) can definitely play with the best of them. Yes Sam was absent due to family obligations but I’ve heard Sam play and I know he would have brought something compelling and unique to the table. Obviously Josh was more than an adequate substitute. Now I don’t want to turn this into a Sam vs. Josh debate but remember the show at Herman’s in September of ‘06 when LiMBO performed with Taylor? Guess which regular member of LiMBO couldn’t be there? Mitch Jones on bass. Who stepped in on bass in his stead? None other than George Porter of The Meters (!!!). My point is just because Taylor has been able to secure some amazing talent as stand-ins shouldn’t take away the fact that the regular members of LiMBO are great musicians in their own right. Period. We know Josh Smith is an amazing guitarist but the way I see it, his playing at Pearl River at times overshadowed Taylor. I remember the shows from the spring tour where Josh actually fit in with the rest of the band and reined in a lot of his extended improvs. Obviously Taylor is appreciative of Josh’s work, respects him as a musician, doesn’t want to hold him back and doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight. Even toward the end of the spring tour, Taylor yielded his harmonica solo in “Gonna Move” to Josh Smith so Josh can cut it up on the guitar. I felt it was a very classy move. Taylor has always been about letting the guys he’s played with get their exposure as well. It feels like Taylor really goes out of his way to give credit to those he’s played with. And let’s be honest, how many of us knew about Josh Smith prior to him being part of the tour band?
Would Dave Evans, Carlos Santana, Slash or John Mayer make a good substitute for the lead guitar position in the Taylor Hicks Band? Regardless of their playing styles and abilities, it’s a no brainer. While recruiting the best musicians is important, it’s obvious to me that Josh’s playing, his musical stylings and what he ultimately seeks to accomplish creatively veers a different course with respect to Taylor’s musical vision. Not better, just different. While it’s his competence as a guitar player and skill level allows him to play with Taylor, in my opinion, their styles really don’t mesh. That is, unless you want Taylor Hicks to be the lead vocalist in the Josh Smith Band.
I feel like what many fans are neglecting is that Josh deserves his own band. He could probably nail more 32nd notes in succession than Sam but so what? Can Zippy high stick like Felix? Can Mitch hop up and down like Al Carty? Does any of that matter? The authenticity and soulful playing of LiMBO, their chemistry and commitment toward one another, the sound they produce collectively is what makes them a BAND. If Josh and Taylor have agreed that Josh is to play lead guitar in the Taylor Hicks Band, I’d definitely be interested as to how they’d collaborate on the next album and what they might be able to achieve. But as far as I know, Josh is his own singer, songwriter and guitarist. Unless his status changes, he’ll always be that special guest guitarist. The composition of the backing band has to be in sync with the vision of the leader and Pearl River clips proved to me that LiMBO is more than capable of providing that for Taylor Hicks.
10k, I must be listening to a different recording than you (ha). I guess I missed some history on the “bar band vs. tour band” thing, but LMBO doesn’t really float my boat.
Kudos to Malisa for getting both of these shows on tape.