Customer Reviews

Live at the Agora Ballroom 1979

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recorded 4 months befor the band played the famous Reading Festival in England, here is a chance to hear the classic Molly Hatchet line up as you've always wanted, Live and Loud. Although the sound comes over a bit muddy on the opener "Bounty Hunter" things soon settle down as the band turn up the heat. Very much the same set list they played in England (The BBC have broadcast the set) this recording has some real gems for the long time fan in 3 previously unavaiable covers, Jimmy Rodgers' "T for Texas", Robert Johnsons' "Crossroads", done Cream style and a live favourite that never made it to album, the meet the band "The Harp Jam". At over 70 Minutes long this album is a fine testement to the original Molly Hatchet Band and the fine music they have made over the last 20 years.

While this does not have the polished mastering of a studio record, this is a great live album. Yes, the vocals are a little subdued at first, but they are not inaudible. Whoever mixed the recording realized after the first song the vocals were buried, so they turned 'em up a little. Keep in mind this record was mastered from TAPES of a LIVE recording that was never intended to be released to the general public. Throughout, however, the mixing is clean and balanced, the vocals are in front, as they should be, the bass and drums are present but not overpowering. The cymbals are crisp as are the guitar licks, however they are not clipping (exceeding the maximum volume input, causing square waves, basically fuzzy noise). Halfway through the album, the band is on fire, tight and firing on all cylinders. Hell, it DOES sound like a studio recording at points.

There are shades of the Allman brothers in certain passages and echoes of Skynyrd in the slide guitar. And, yes, that good ol' Northeastern Florida accent that we are all accustomed to hearing live from Donnie Van Zant, brother of Synyrd frontman and part-time frontman himself, from the band .38 Special. Also in common with frontman Don Barnes of .38 Special, Molly Hatchet doesn't have the crowd in the palm of their hand, they have their arm around the shoulder of the crowd, like an old drinkin' buddie.

As a performing and recording musician myself, a son of the South and a lover of the raw, blues-influenced spirit of Southern Rock bands, I would highly recommend this record to Molly Hatchet fans. It's also a great embarcation point for you younguns who are out there cuttin' your teeth in the smoky bars and keepin' it real.

Enjoy, and have fun.

~R

After listening to this live set of the original Molly Hatchet, I half expected a bar fight. This CD thunders from the git-go. With it`s 3 guitar attack laying waste to the country side, you can pretty much cause any annoying neighbors to beg for mercy. The opening shot, Bounty Hunter roars along with all the style of a freight train, T for Texas swings out of control, and their version of Crossroads would scare the devil hisself. It is not for the faint of heart, this is the epitomy of Southern Boogie.

Put this in the player, push back the tables, put up the chicken wire, and burn down the roadhouse. The 4 stars is only because the sound at first is rough, but kudos to Phoenix Gems for this piece of hell raising.

DON'T EXPECT AN AIR TIGHT RECORDING. EXPECT RAW, UNBRIDLED, UNINHIBITED, ENTERGETIC, TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS, SOUTHERN ROCK 'N' ROLL. IF YOU ENJOY STAYING UP LATE AND HAVING A FEW BEERS WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHILE LISTENING TO KICK ASS ROCKERS, THIS MAY BE JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

This was back when we would get our "Air Guitars" out and crank out "Bounter Hunter", "Gator Country", and "Dreams" ! I can still picture the 4 axman line up of Dave , Duane, Banner, and Steve, with Bruce on Drums and Danny Joe blasting out the vocals! THESE BOYS KICK A** !The added songs of "T for Texes" and "Crossroads" are also GREAT, makes me think of the Lynyrd Skynyrd "One more From the Road" LIVE release. Best listened with a small glass of Mr.Daniels on ice....Just to set the mood !

Danny Joe Brown's vocals are barely audible except between tracks when he's talking. Whoever remastered this should have turned up the vocals a tad. If they had done this, I think this would have been one of the greatest live Southern rock concerts ever recorded.

This archival show by Molly Hatchet is absolutely stupendous. It features the earliest known recordings of several songs bound for FLIRTIN' WITH DISASTER, including "Let The Good Times Roll", "One Man's Pleasure", and "Boogie No More." It also features the first live versions of some songs from the first album, plus the otherwise unrecorded "T For Texas", "Harp Jam", and "Crossroads." The centerpiece is the cautionary midtempo grinder "The Creeper." Overall, this CD belongs in any Southern rock record library

Some years ago I bought the MH Live Double CD, and got what I expected - the hits, but no surprises. Having been a MH fan since their first album, I thought I buy this new live CD out of loyalty to the band, if nothing else; expecting nothing much, just another live albúm. Man, was I wrong. Skynyrd's 'One more for the road', Outlaws 'Alive', 38. 'Live at Sturgis', you name them , and this here is better. Features a band hungry for success, three axemen who want show the world that they are at least as good as Skynyrd (well, while we talk about it, we are actually better, man), songs that come much more alive than on the studio albums (in fact I didn't remember them being so good and funky), additional lead guitar breaks all over the place (in 'T for Texas' they stumble over their own feet trying to launch yet another solo) - this here really is great, classic stuff. Production is very good, crisp and clean. Get it while you can.

I bought this when it first came out after reading a review in Goldmine. The concert was done after the first album, but before the 2nd album. Way too bad it is no longer in print. It is many times better than the official live album. The vocals are drowned out by the guitars at times, but not completely. This band is in full tilt mode from beginning to end. This needs to be back in print.

Yes, this is Awesome Molly Hatchet, yes this is the original band rocking out on most of the first album, 3 songs from the second (which hadn't come out yet), 2 great covers and one kick butt jam. But don't bother with this (now out of print) album, pick up the Louisville Gardens, Kentucky FM broadcast from the day before. It's the exact same set list, except that it adds Cheatin' Woman after T Is For Texas and is actually better sound quality!