The Insomniac film.... Rory Gallagher The Beat Club Sessions The Beat Club Sessions opens with the lively Laundromat, a scalding hot tater that jumps around like a lobster in a pot. Gallaghers guitar playing here is positively stunning, flowing effortlessly from raw scraped rhythms to jazz-inflected solos, his gravel-throated vocals almost an afterthought in the face of the songs massive groove. Gallaghers Sinnerboy is a horse of a different color. The intro offers up some delicate guitar picking, Gallaghers vocals complimented by shimmering cymbals before he cuts loose with a muscular, bluesy rhythm that leads into a taut solo that cuts like a razor. Contrasting with these scorchers is the long-time Gallagher favorite I Dont Know Where Im Going, an acoustic blues number with a little Delta mud in the grooves, Gallaghers subdued guitar strum matched by his warbling harmonica work. The serpentine slide-guitar that introduces I Couldve Had Religion opens the door to a smoky, down-n-dirty sin-and-salvation tale that sounds like Robert Johnson with an Irish lilt to his voice. The song stomps and stammers out of your speaks like a hungry beast, a change in fortunes from Johnsons hellhounds as the songs protagonist willingly chooses the dark side. Gallaghers slide-guitar runs wild through the song like a jolt of electricity guaranteed to tickle the fancy of any blues-rock fanboy. Used To Be is another long-time live fave, a raucous houserocker a la Cream, Gallagher using the power-trio format to its fullest, the song bristling with electric guitar riffs and crashing rhythms. The rollicking In Your Town shows just the slightest hint of Chicago blues in its deep rhythmic groove, Gallagher almost shouting his vox above the din, an aural assault partially created by his flamethrower fretwork. The songs rapid pace is propelled by drummer Wilgar Campbells incessant percussive percussion and bassist Gerry McAvoys heavy basswork. Again, Gallaghers squealing guitar play tortures the arrangement with a black cat moan and a spine-shaking intensity. Gallaghers Crest Of A Wave is one of his signature tunes, a lyrically and musically epic song that offers ringing, circular guitar, strident vocals, a rock solid rhythmic backbone, and a leather-tuff solo that soars like a bird of prey. Gallaghers cover of Junior Wells Messin With The Kid may be absent the masters powerful harp playing, but the guitarist claimed equal ownership of the song with soulful vocals and an inspired, fleet-fingered bit of guitar play. McAvoys bass solo here is a thing of beauty, while Campbells drum solo adds a bit of bluster to the songs braggadocio, but its Gallaghers wailing solos that steal the spotlight.
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 00:23:55 +0000
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