Collectors Music Reviews

Revolution (ARMS 59/60 PR)

Glasgow SECC, Glasgow, Scotland – May 8, 2006

Disc1: Pretending – So Tired – Got To Get Better – Run Home – Revolution – Let It Rain – Back Home – I Am Yours – Nobody Knows You – Milkcow Blues – Running On Faith

Disc2: After Midnight – Little Queen Of Spades – Everybody Oughta Make A Change – Motherless Children – Wonderful Tonight – Cocaine – Layla – Crossroads

ARMS throws in an excellent audience recording of EC’s first official gig from his 2006 /07 World Tour, just three days after the warm-up show in Le Cannet (France).  Funny to hear EC say “please forgive us if we do some mistakes” right after “Got To Get Better”.

First shows are likely not to see a tight band, you know, but on the other hand will give you the possibility to hear songs that will not be performed again on the rest of the tour.  This is the case of “Revolution” and hence the title for this release. “Let It Rain” and “Run Home To Me” were not played in France either but they would be played again on later nights.

EC moved from classics to newer material and to classics again with a fantastic guitar work all the way through. Highlights of the first part of the show have got to be the opener “Pretending” with EC delivering a short but fast solo (I always have that flutter of expectation when he approaches the first solo of the night) and “Got To Get Better”.

The acoustic set was short but enough to slow the tempo for a while mid way through the gig. With no electric sound, “Back Home”, “I Am Yours” and “Nobody Knows You” are best heard with headphones or at night. I have always liked EC’s guitar work above all… but how well he can sing too!!

The last part of the show starts with a rushing version of “After Midnight” and the band then launching themselves straight into “Little Queen Of Spades” before the first one is finished. “Little Queen Of Spades” is just a real showcase for all the three guitarists’ talents and with Chris Stainton’s piano playing reaching one and every note! After the slide-guitar treats of “Everybody Oughta Make A Change”
and “Motherless Children” come “Wonderful Tonight” with a subtle, quiet outro solo by EC which will always melt my heart.

Then up with the volume for a storming closure with “Cocaine” and “Layla”. If you are a die-hard Cream appreciator, this will have been a hard way for you. Only the encore will treat you to the one and only Cream number of the night: “Crossroads”. At least, you get a great Robert Cray joining the band for it.

In short, if this was a performance with rough edges, I want to listen to a show when EC and the band get it perfect!!

A great release by ARMS that you should not be missed!

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