Customer Reviews

Million Mile Club

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

 

 

The Paladins are (were?) a meat-n-potatoes, no-frills, gutbucket trio out of San Diego. Blues, Rootsy shuffles and basic Rock are the pallette they paint from, and "Million Mile Club" is an pretty fair document of their ability to burn up small joints live all over the place.

The recordings here are usually pretty good and often demonstrate expanded solo spots allowing guitarist Dave Gonzales to stretch out and wail. Examples that turn out much better than the studio counterparts given the additional room to move are "15 Days Under The Hood" and "Let's Buzz". "Years Since Yesterday" has sort of a Stevie Ray Vaughan element to it, and here the solo gets blasted through some kind of Univibe type of petal that is slightly reminiscent of a sound Hendrix used to get. Things start getting more carried away later in the disc, with a nearly 10 minute "Goin' Down To Big Mary's" and finally, a spot of overkill with an interminable "One Step" to end things up--sorry guys, but that's just way too long to jam on one chord.

Most of the proceedings are peppy and driven, though, and Dave and the boys manage to wrench a lot of great music out of this lively set culled from various live recordings/dates/venues. It's worth the minor annoyances of the two excessively long songs to take in the sounds (if not the smells) of acutal, sweaty, gritty Paladins live gigs. If you can't be there in person, this is certainly the next best thing.

This CD captures much of the essence of a Paladins concert. Captured in different sessions of a tour done a few short years ago, it includes many of their fan favorites. The sound they produce is simply amazing, considering that the band contains only three musicians. David Gonzales, on guitar, is perhaps the leading stage performer in roots or rockabilly guitar playing today. His range and technique are simply amazing. But, rather than simply perform as a virtuoso to show off his talent, he and the band play wondrous tunes that make you want to get on your feet and boogaloo. Being live performances, the recordings on this CD contain sessions on some of the tunes where the band members drift off into fantastic jam sessions, building upon a structure of the tune with layer upon layer of sound and a richness of sound that must be heard to believe. This devoted fan considers the Paladins the best Roots Rock band on the planet.

I wrote a review for "Let's Buzz" that is applicable here- both albums are less rockabilly than their other stuff, and more straight-ahead blues & roots-rock, which I like. To my mind, they're the best band in this genre out there, and this live CD captures their show really well.

There are two types of people: those who know The Paladins are the greatest rock 'n roll band in the USA, and those who live in the dark. This CD is proof positive. Better yet see them live! They're still playing 200 dates a year, all around the world but mostly in the USA and mostly in the West. If you love music, you owe it to yourself.

I remember thinking that Dave Gonzalez was every bit as good a guitarist as SRV after seeing the Paladins "live". This record definitely showcases Gonzalez's talents and sounds great for being recorded in what sounds like a small club. The Paladins play rockabilly, blues, country and western and Texas rock 'n roll, just the way you like it, hot and spicy!

This it what you have been waiting for.Great Jazzy sound,great drums,great bass and singing. This is the best Paladins cd yet, and i have to say buy it. I am 12 and trust me this cd is good ,really good and if you like non heavy rockabilly,blues,and a bit of jazz this is it. BUT IT