BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION-LIVE OVER EUROPE BLU-RAY/CD-“BOUND BY MUSICALITY” BY JOHN EMMS

 

You can’t manufacture a band this good. 

This is a group bound by musicality for music sake, and Live Over Europe amply displays this.

It should be noted this show is now also available as a 2 cd effort and download.

Hence the review for this spring.

The band’s output,  2 studio cd’s and this blu-ray/dvd/live cd show the group in steady growth.

As bassist/chief songwriter and vocalist Glenn Hughes has stated with each member having solo careers this band is very busy and each member would love to find time to have the band settle in. 

Well folks, when you watch the band ride the groove of  songs like The Outsider, One Last Soul, and I Can See Your Spirit (with it’s cool brief interplay nod to Led Zep) you know the band is coming from a natural place. Of course, the band is rehearsed, but members are clearly encouraged to react to each other and the dynamics of what is going down.

Even though the band’s sound is classic hard rock they are not bound to that concept. Songs like The Battle For Hadrians Wall, and Song For Yesterday with a blistering solo by guitarist Joe Bonamassa as well as Hughes superb vocal on The Great Divide show BCC to be multi-dimensional.

It’s a treat to hear Sherinian’s keys and Bonham’s drum work add glue and dynamics to songs like Faithless, Cold and the muscle of Crossfire.

Hughes’s feel for the stage and the audience is fired by his integrity and his chops. His front man work is a joy to watch.

Joe Bonamassa’s  guitar work is melodic, confident, fiery, and above all uniquely eclectic.

 Bonamassa seems to be not only a role model for young players but a guitarist/songwriter who’s talent is just beginning to be tapped if that is possible when you watch or listen to his gift.

On this concert blu-ray BCC are clearly a group of musicians bound by musicality and integrity.

Sound, both on the cd and the blu-ray is tight but not glossy.  Producer/mixer Kevin Shirley lets you “feel’ the band as opposed to trying to overpower you with a huge surround mix.  

Next week look for my review of Joe Bonamassa Live From The Beacon Theatre New York and Warren Haynes Live at The Moody Theatre

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist,  radio show host   http://emms.podbean.com/ and musician www.theshaftmen.com