In Concert 1 (Dig)

The Sadies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B000GG4N1A
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,953 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The kings of Canadian turbo twang bend genres like they bend strings on this 40-cut, star-studded extravaganza. On the original numbers that open the two-disc live recording, the quartet appliy their giddyup gallop to the instrumentals and soaring harmonies to the songs, before sharing the stage with dozens of luminaries who make this a "last thrash" equivalent to the Band's Last Waltz (though the Sadies aren't disbanding, as their fellow Canadians did). Guests include Neko Case and Jon Langford (both of whom the Sadies have served as backing band), Kelly Hogan, Jon Spencer, the Band's Garth Hudson, the Jayhawks' Gary Louris and the frontmen from Blue Rodeo. Yet the spirit of a family reunion pervades the concert, with the set also spotlighting the musical parents and uncles of the Sadies' Dallas and Travis Good. It's hard to imagine another band ransacking the songbooks of Roger Miller, Pink Floyd, Bob Wills, and the Mekons without suffering stylistic whiplash, but the raw vitality of the performance (recorded by Steve Albini, with no overdubs) transcends category. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sadies Are The Best Too Bad About The Guest!, October 6, 2006

By 

soulcargo "soulcargo" (Bowie, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Concert 1 (Dig) (Audio CD)

I love this band. In fact they are among the best combos around today. I love their brew of country, Spaghetti Western and surfish instros, Byrdsy Burritos country rock, etc. They are also a great presence in concert and this collection shows that in spades. The inclusion of Garth Hudson proves to be affirmation of their status. The Canadians all jam together with great chemistry and synergy . In fact as I write this, I'm looking forward to hearing them tonight with some band called The John Hardy Boys and.....ahem Jon Spencer, which leads me to my next point. Boy does he drop a couple of logs on the second disc. I don't get the appeal of this guy. Like the other reviewer says, it's just not my taste. It seems that bands that I dig always open for this dude and I wind up leaving early. Zzzzzzz. This is a five star CD except for the Spencer stuff on disc 2. At least they're at the beginning and easily skipable. Rock On Sadies!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK, a few quibbles...., March 12, 2007

By 

jjp (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Concert 1 (Dig) (Audio CD)

the sadies are an awesome live band. however, any time i've seen them in toronto--guests tend to appear. the gigs in ny are generally guest free and much preferable. the 1st cd is very good, but the 2nd one drags. the 2nd is full of guest appearances, ranging from the decent [neko case--but too much of her]to the highly annoying [jon spencer].

also, side projects dominate on the 2nd disc--the material is relatively unknown and definitely 2nd rate. my favorite cd 'tremendous efforts' gets shortchanged--loved on look, flash and a couple others are usually strong live songs that are nowhere to be found.

still in all--this is a good spot to start if you are interested in finding out about the sadies. most of their studio material is heavily overproduced--they are completely different in concert and they are somewhat of a road warrior band anyway.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Everything & the Kitchen Sink-Sadies In Concert, Vol.1, June 18, 2007

By 

Peter Walenta "flying parsons" (Long Island, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In Concert 1 (Dig) (Audio CD)

I've been following the antics and musical journeys of Toronto's Sadies since early 2000 when I first saw them live in concert at the now defunct Ted's Wrecking Yard. In reviewing that show back in April 2000, I described the live sonic blast that The Sadies delivered as "sounding like Johnny Cash on speed...oh, wait, Johnny Cash was on speed." Disc One of The Sadies In Concert Volume One, lives up to my recollections of their very best live shows, as they romp ferociously through as many as two dozen songs in a set. The experience leaves you breathless, and if you're standing right up front at the stage, you can partake of punk waltzing...even if you can't dance! Disc One is an excellent set of Sadies tunes that span their now nearly nine year career as purveryors of fine alt.country rock. I could quibble that they left out their great covers of Elvis Presley's "Loved On Look" and The Byrds' "Wasn't Born to Follow", but on Disc One, The Sadies deliver their originals with energy and gusto and the sound quality is excellent. Well done boys.

Disc Two, ah disc two...I had to listen to it several times before I could get with what it was all about. Not really a tribute to The Sadies, not really a Yep Roc Records sampler (although that is the only connection I know between Jon Spencer and The Sadies), not really a farewell concert...no disc two is thematically linked by the side projects of Blue Rodeo. And The Sadies, in addition to having opened for Blue Rodeo, just happen to be one of Blue Rodeo's side projects. This is not a bad thing, as Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor and The Sadies have collaborated on some fine songs like, "The Story's Often Told/Palace of Gold". Unfamiliar to most listeners outside of the Blue Rodeo musical community, however, would be the two tracks credited to The Unintended, ("Another Day", All Passed Away") which was a band Greg Keelor put together with Dallas & Travis Good (Sadies) as well as former Eric's Trip leader, Rick White. It was Canada's answer to what in 2004 passed as an alternative indie supergroup. Then there's The Sadies with Mekon lead singer/songwriter, Jon Langford, who in 2002 released a record called "Mayors of the Moon" that featured some fine pedal steel fills by Blue Rodeo's Bob Egan. If a sampler of Blue Rodeo side projects is what you fancy, then disc two does work in that confined context. What would have made The Sadies In concert Volume One, a very good to almost great record was if The Sadies had let their relatives, The Good Brothers (terrific Canadian traditional country bluegrass band) take front and center stage and let fly, because those guys and gals can sure sing, strum and fiddle up a storm. Maybe they're saving that concept/concert (sons' band b/w fathers' band) for The Sadies In concert Volume Two...we can only hope! 3 1/2 Stars.