By Monk
Many artists thrive, and survive, on giving their fans exactly what they want and expect, and this resurrected archive recording, featuring the farewell performance by the original line-up of one of the most enduring and beloved hard rock acts of the past half century, proves just why Dave Meniketti is one of those artists, reminding us of just how and why he has enjoyed not just longevity but continued respect for what he does… and that is deliver on each and every occasion he straps on a guitar and steps up to a microphone…
Recorded in 1990, as indicated above this performance very much drew a line in the sand for the then incarnation of Y&T: having enjoyed massive success in the mid- to late-Eighties with iconic albums such as ‘Black Tiger’ and ‘Mean Streak’, like many of their contemporaries their star was somewhat in the descendant and the band decided to call it quits while they were still reasonably ahead of the game (as well as other related issues, upon which Meniketti elaborated in an extremely rare interview I did with him a little over a decade ago…)
One thing that strikes you immediately – well, outside of the “farewell performance” intro – is how fresh and vibrant both the songs and the overall mix sound. In fact, the album sounds like it could have indeed been recorded just yesterday, or even today (sic), rather than 30+ years ago. Unlike many resurrected recordings by many of Y&T’s contemporaries, there is nothing which sounds in the slightest bit “dated”. In fact, it sounds as alive and in your face as if you were standing front and centre right here right now, capturing the pure, raw energy of an artist who has always left everything he has on the stage, no matter what collective of musicians he has behind him.
Of course, all the omnipresent big ‘bangers are present, from the rambunctious, declarative intro of ‘Mean Streak’ through ‘Black Tiger’ to ‘Midnight In Tokyo’, ‘I Believe In You’, ‘Forever’ and ‘Rescue Me’ (sung here by the late Phil Kennemore and not included on the original release), songs which are staples of Y&T’s set to this day, which is perhaps why this album sounds so relevant. But of course, as it represents the end of the band’s first era, there also is a good smattering of older deep cuts no longer included in latter-day sets, such as the heavy blues swagger of ‘Struck Down’, the catchier-than-a-contagion ‘Don’t Stop Runnin’ and the Gary Moore-evoking solo workout of ‘I’ll Cry’.
A personal highlight on this opus is a beautiful version of ‘Winds Of Change’, while Kennemore’s aforementioned lead vocal performance on set finale ‘Rescue Me’ definitely sent shivers down my spine.
I’ve always found live albums to be something of hit or miss affairs, and you often can’t tell how much of the recordings are actually “live”. This recording, however, epitomizes all the qualities I have come to expect of Dave Meniketti and Y&T: honest-to-goodness, balls-to-the-wall no-airs-or-graces rock ‘n’fuckin’ roll delivered from the very depths of his heart and soul in a way which exemplifies the timeless quality of the music which he has produced over the past 50 years. Couple this with one of the most powerful, precise and energetic (and criminally under-rated) couplings of guitar and vocals, with both hitting the mark on every level… well, ÜR massive, you know the score…
Hopefully the man can get over the health issues he has experienced in recent times and bring all of these qualities, and his music, to the ÜK for maybe one last turn of the circle…
- ‘Yesterday And Today Live’ is out now.
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