What an absolute eye opener of a live album this was. It captured the unbridled rock and roll energy that Warren Zevon possessed, at once large and epic and small and intimate as an artist could ever be. A storyteller, a singer, a songwriter, an artist, a live performer, no one will ever be able to match what Warren brought to the table. This release has been a long time coming, but now that it is here, it must be witnessed.

I was something of a latecomer to the table when it comes to my listening to Warren Zevon. My Father was a fan, but I didn't picked up on him until I was into my 20s. We had the opportunity to see him perform live in 1999 when he was gearing up for the release of Life'll Kill Ya, a brilliant slice of classic Zevon wit, insight, and skill. It is an evening that I am likely to never forget. He was on the stage alone, he performed half the set on acoustic guitar, the other half on keyboard, and it was this fantastic evening, kind of like hanging out with an old friend, singing along and just having a good time. Now Stand in the Fire is a distinctly different experience, but one that is in line with what I know of Warren Zevon.

Stand in the Fire was recorded at The Roxy in LA, a small, intimate club that seemingly had its roof nearly blown off by this energy filled performance. This has to be one of the best live albums I have ever listened to. This is what a rock show is all about, loud, and brimming with energy. I can only imagine what it must have been like to have been there that night. It is one for the history books. It features a Warren Zevon teetering on the edge of madness. It stands apart from his great studio recordings, as the wit infused songs take on a new life as he adlibs a few lines, involving such characters as James Taylor and Brian de Palma in his tale of a werewolf loose on the streets of Los Angeles.