Way Live [LIVE]

The Waybacks

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 24, 2003)
• Original Release Date: April 24, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Waybacks
• ASIN: B00009VPGY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,184 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Dave Royko, Chicago Tribune, April 2003
...as a live act and as recording artists, (The Waybacks) engage on equal terms both our hearts and our minds.

Product Description
By popular demand!! A live recording by one of the hottest string bands in America! This third release by the popular San Francisco group captures the energy, enthusiasm, musical virtuosity and irreverent humor that have come to be the hallmarks of a Waybacks performance. Die-hard fans and virgin Backaroos alike will enjoy the mix of new originals (Let’s Eat, Monkey Pants), live versions of tunes from the first two CDs (Been Around, JNPT, Bright Place, Saltflat Rhapsody), and a few tunes that just need to be heard in a live setting (Hesitation, Swallowtail).

On-fire fiddling, jaw-dropping flatpicking, vocals your mother could love, classic flat-picked guitar, wonderfully unpredictable bass solos, and drumming that even the drum Nazis can appreciate – all this and more on a CD that will provide literally minutes of entertainment

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How can you not love the waybacks?, April 13, 2004

By	"ramseya" (TOLEDO, OH USA) - See all my reviews

I defy anyone to hear the Waybacks and not dig their music. Their death-defying improvisational excursions will appeal to Coltrane fans and Deadheads alike. Their musical diversity provides revved up bluegrass, country blues, bebop, gypsy jazz, celtic music, and rock - sometimes all in the same song.

The Waybacks handle every performance on this live disc with humor, originality, and jaw-dropping musicianship. In fact, the main difference between the performances on this live disc and their studio albums is that they play with more energy and a looser feel. The musicianship does not suffer a bit, and is always in service of the music. The quality of the recordings is also great.

How many cds have you listened to recently that feature:
- slide guitar and slide mandolin played in unison?
- great originals, traditional celtic songs, and inventive covers of John Fahey, Rev. Gary Davis, and Blind Blake tunes?
- a bizarre marriage of classic TV theme song and classic hard rock?
- the best guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and drums you're likely to hear anywhere?

Everyone I know who has heard this band has become a fan. Ages 2 to 92. Left-wing to right-wing and everything in between. Serious musicians to tone-deaf physicians.

Do yourself a favor and get this CD! Better yet, go and see the Waybacks when they come to your area. I promise you will not be disappointed, whoever you are.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How can something so acoustic be so electric?, July 28, 2003

By	C. Moya (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At last, the Live Album. Don't get me wrong - I loved Burger After Church and Devolver, but there was always that little piece missing without the audience. They have an astounding chemistry between themselves, and with the crowd. You'd almost believe in musical telepathy to see them play live, and hey, now you can hear them live, in the comfort of your living room. (Which is great for us since we live farther away from their musical epicenter than we used to.) The CD captures the band. They bounce the lead around like they're playing musical follow-the-leader. The harmonies are tight. Every song sizzles. On Swallowtail, Chojo's mandolin playing is so fast I think I saw smoke coming out of the CD player. Oh, and don't turn off the CD too soon or you'll miss the unlisted bonus track, which epitomizes the live Waybacks I know and love. You won't believe me until you hear it for yourself.

If you've never heard them before, I'd say start with this one. Then get Devolver so you can hear their incredible rendition of "Witch of the Westmereland", then go for a Burger. Like I said, they're all good, but you can't beat live. Way Live.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way happening!, June 21, 2003

By	S. Lewis (Silver City, NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've caught these virtuoso "psycho-grass" pickers at the Kerrville Folk Festival two years in a row now. The Waybacks always ignite the crowd and are an outstanding favorite among hundreds of artists in this 18-day festival.

OK. I admit it, I'm a deadhead. Back in those days, a four hour show with the "Dead" was a transformative musical journey. The Waybacks performance at Kerrville, though they only had an hour, seemed as satisfying as a dead show in it's own way.

I actually think that they do this by compressing all the notes of a four hour dead show (minus the off ones) into an hour! I shudder to think what a TWO HOUR show might be like!

Luckily, the "Way Live" CD is only an hour or so long. No extra training or conditioning will be required. But it's the Waybacks live and a great representation of their blazing performances that I have seen.

I could go into the songs and all that, but I'm too lazy to get particular. See them if you can and either way, hear them live on this CD!