Having seen the Blaggards live, I can safely say this recording manages to capture their weird, wonderful, and manic action.
Version of “Whiskey In The Jar” that’s half Western swing? Check.
“Waxie’s Dargle” sung at about 180 beats per minute? Check.
“Drunken Sailor” with all the dirty parts left in? Check.
Damn, this is a fine band. And unlike many live recordings, Live In Texas catches their onstage and song choice persona quite well. This is, after all, the band who mashed up “Folsom Prison Blues” and “The Fields Of Atherny” into the ultimate jail-sucks medley, “Prison Love Songs.” Live is a giant detonation of Celtic badassry, heavy drinking (or at least singing about it), and Texas attitude.
“Leaving Of Liverpool” is one of my favorite versions of this standard. “Botany Bay” is a rollicking, thumping, blazing dance tune that leaves me wondering why the fiddle didn’t catch fire. “Big Strong Man” – well, just listen to it. I can’t stop giggling. They manage to namecheck Austin’s (in)famous music venue The Continental Club while a fiddle saws through the tune we know better as “Yakety Sax.”
There is exactly one weak spot on this CD. “Spancil Hill” drags a bit; it’s like the band treated it as an intermission. Unfortunately, the rest of Live makes you expect manic energy, and this is flat by comparison.
Do you like the Dropkicks Murphys? Flogging Molly? Great Big Sea? Then you should amble on down and check out the Blaggards’ Live In Texas. You won’t regret the detour.
