Back in 1990 someone mentioned to me that I ought to hear Gary Moore's "Still Got the Blues for You." I had never heard of Gary, but I kept my car radio tuned to the local hard rock station hoping to hear the song. One day riding on Highway 98 in Florida, I happened to hear the tune. How sweet it was! It was rare to hear some pure blues (though some may disagree) floating through the airwaves.
The Still Got the Blues tour in 1990 is captured on this DVD of Gary and the Midnight Blues Band (Don Airey-keys, Frank Mead-alto/harmonica, Nick Pentelow-tenor, Nick Payne-bari, Martin Drover-trumpet, Andy Pyle-bass and Graham Walker-drums) live at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Gary and the band cover a great mix of blues classics by such legends as: Albert King, Freddie King, Otis Rush, Peter Green, Roy Buchanan and special guest Albert Collins who sits in on four songs: "Too Tired," "Cold Cold Feeling," "Further on Up the Road," and "The Blues Is Alright." A special treat is "Cold, Cold Feeling," the duet with Albert Collins. I don't know what it is but Albert's eyes almost look like they're tearing up as he sings of "ice around my heart." A very moving performance by Collins.
Gary plays the Heritage Gary Moore Model, and a 1959 Les Paul on most numbers. I don't know if it was the Peter Green Les Paul he used on "Midnight Blues" but his tone kills. It was very reminiscent of B.B. King's "Live at the Regal."
Anyone who questions Moore's blues credentials just has to watch this performance to be convinced of Gary's right to be up there with the elite of blues guitar. Search this newsgroup bit.listserv.blues-l/ under Gary's name and you'll see the "blues police" at work. I used to subscribe to this list and there was always bickering about who was blues and who wasn't. Gary's name often came up. As far as I'm concerned, music is about communication. Is the musician telling me something, bringing it to the audience, stepping outside himself/herself, able to transport the listener? Gary meets all these criteria. He is truly inspirational.
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Article comments
1 - Paul Roy
If you like this, you should check out his "Live Blues" video (unfortunately it is only on VHS). It was from a 1993 performance at a small London club and features the Midnight Blues Band, and a special appearance by BB King. It is as good, if not better, than Montreux, which kicks some serious ass. I will be posting my review of Live At Montreux soon (hope you don't mind) since I was almost done when I read your post.
2 - LetzRoll
The only thing the "Live Blues" video possibly has over the Montreux DVD is Gary's flawless performance of Midnight Blues (a better tune than Still Got the Blues by a good margin). But then, I've never heard him do a bad rendition of Midnight Blues, and his laying it down here on this DVD is the best part of the entire concert. And the concert is SUPERB!! He doesn't play it too very often so he hasn't worn it out. It helps too that the mindless FM radio morons never did discover it.
But as for the Montreux DVD, it is hands-down Gary's best captured assembly, period. If you want to witness Gary at his peak, this is it. And Albert Collins is a nice treat too. Of all his stuff on video, which isn't much, this is possibly the best as well. Cold Cold Feelin is chilling indeed, he's hittin on all 8, and clearly playing from his gut. Blues? O yeah, no mistake there.
For $11, this is too good to pass up. Even if you have never experienced Gary before, its not much risk. You can throw it away at that price if you don't like it. But unless you're deaf or dead, you're gonna dig it, cuz Gary gets down and does some bodacious axe bending - he's talkin' to ya - and pierces your very core - in a masterful concert that is nearly perfect in all respects. It's too short, but the great ones always are. Seriously, if this don't move ya, you aren't alive.