Arc Angels Release Long Awaited Live Album

Texas blues rock band Arc Angels have released their long awaited live album Living In A Dream. It's a work that has been what, 5 years in the making?! The live portion of the CD/DVD combo was recorded primarily at Stubb's in Austin and is document of that which is, Arc Angels live.

Earlier this year, Doyle Bramhall II (lead guitar/lead vocals), Charlie Sexton (lead guitar/lead vocals) and Chris Layton (drums) reunited and hit the road minus original member Tommy Shannon (bass) whose work is documented on this effort. If you've seen any of these guys be it together or working with other artists or even solo, you know these cats are first rate musicians. They individually and collectively have a strong and loyal base of fans who have been eager to get their hands on this package. I myself was excited.

I got Living In A Dream in my quirky little hands and tossed it in my player. I sat back and I listened. The first time I listened to it I couldn't quite figure out why I couldn't fully wrap my head around the record. This puzzled me greatly. After all, these are high caliber musicians and the music and vocals are all very solid. Why wasn't it giving me some sort of guitar based musical orgasm?! So, I listened a second and third time. That's when it hit me. It was missing some fire. Ooh, did I just hear a round of boo hiss boo from my fellow Arc Angels fans?

Well, before I get hunted down and strung up by a bunch of pitchfork toting fellow fans I should point out something. I'm not so sure it's the recording so much as it's the fact that my memory of seeing them back in May is still reasonably fresh in my mind. When you've stood in front of Bramhall and his guitar listening to him blow your friggin' mind, anything less than standing right there in front him (and the rest of the Angels) just doesn't measure up. It wasn't until eight songs in when they got to "Crave and Wonder" that things kick in and made me say to myself, "yeah, these are the guys that blew my mind at Irving Plaza."

The package, in addition to containing both the audio and video of the concert at Stubb's, comes with a documentary and a bonus disc that includes three studio tracks, one each by Sexton and Bramhall ("Crave and Wonder" & "What I'm Looking For" respectively) as well as a cover of Paul McCartney's "Too Many People." Overall, this is a good record, one that fans I'm sure already have in their possession. No, I don't think it fully captures their fire. Would I recommend Living In A Dream? Yes. I'd recommend it for the casual fan and I'd recommend it to people who like good old fashioned blues based rock played by top notch musicians.

Track Listing

• Paradise Cafe
• Carry Me On
• The Famous Jane
• Good Time
• She's Alright
• Always Believed In You
• Sent By Angels
• Crave and Wonder
• Nadine
• See What Tomorrow Brings
• Shape I'm In
• Living In A Dream
• Too Many Ways To Fall

Bonus Disc Track Listing

• Crave and Wonder
• What I'm Looking For
• Too Many People
• Spanish Moon (Live At Antone's)

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Photos: Arc Angels At Irving Plaza

Arc Angels: May 8 @ Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

Last Friday, I went over to Irving Plaza to take in Arc Angels' show. I wrote about it HERE. Well, since then, I've had requests from Arc Angels fans for more photos. So, by popular demand, here are a few more photos from that wonderful show.www.myspace.com/arcangelsmusic

Arc Angels Take Flight At Irving Plaza

Arc Angels: May 8 @ Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza

I went down to the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza to catch the newly reunited Arc Angels. I don't know if this is something that happens to other people, but sometimes before a show I get roller coaster stomach. What's that you ask? It's that feeling you get when you reach the peak of a roller coaster ... that giddy excited feeling that builds up and then everything drops leaving you with the most exhilarating rush. That's how I felt. I stood there waiting for the show to start thinking, "this is going to be good."

A part of me wants to write "good gosh, have mercy!" and leave it at that. Those words really sum up last nights show. Doyle Bramhall II (lead guitar/lead vocals), Charlie Sexton (lead guitar/lead vocals), Chris Layton (drums) along with Mark Newmark (bass) took the stage and proceeded to take you through a mind blowing blues rock set. To call these men good musicians is an understatement. I knew walking in how good these guys were and was still blown away.

I'll be honest, I got so taken in by the music, I forgot that I was supposed to be thinking about a review! Perhaps that's for the best. After all, if the music is good why should you be thinking about anything else, right? The music was good, it was damn good. While both Bramhall and Sexton handled lead vocals and lead guitars, quiet well I must say, it was Bramhall who shined on guitar going from subtle to guitar god and back again in the blink of an eye. Sexton, who seemed to be in a particularly good mood, on the other hand was spot on vocally. He seemed more relaxed singing than Bramhall.

Drummer Layton held down the back beat like nobody's business. It was a bit odd not seeing Tommy Shannon as the other half of the rhythm section but Newmark showed that he's a stellar talent in his own right. The pair laid a groove so tight that you could bounce a quarter off of it. They kept you moving to the rhythm all night.

There was an interesting thing about the crowd; they didn't seem to care what was being played. Normally when you go to a show, people randomly yell out for the most known songs to be played. I didn't hear any of that. Everyone seemed happy to just enjoy the songs they were given. Sure, fans made a bit more noise when "Sent By Angels" and "Living In A Dream" were played but there wasn't a drastic difference in appreciation for those two songs compared to the others played. Everything seemed to be, for the most part, equally appreciated.

So, good gosh, have mercy, it was a good show! Arc Angels seemed to really enjoy themselves. It's good to see them back together and rockin' better than ever. They're off for a jaunt across the pond to open for Eric Clapton but, they'll be back on this side for a summer tour. I highly recommend catching them if they play in your area.

The photos ...

The Set List

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Arc Angels At Irving Plaza This Friday!

Arc Angels are making a stop in New York this Friday, May 8 at Fillmore Theater at Irving Plaza!

For those that aren't familiar, Arc Angels formed back in the early '90s, released a really good self-titled album, Arc Angels, in 1992 which drew critical acclaim and their live performances gained them a legion of devoted fans. In 1994 they split up. The members went their various ways working with a bevy of legendary artists (Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy etc.) as well as crafting some excellent solo works. This year, original members Doyle Bramhall II (lead guitar/lead vocals), Charlie Sexton (lead guitar/lead vocals), Chris Layton (drums) officially reunited at Austin's SXSW Festival.

Now that they've reunited, they're doing a U.S. tour this summer as well as recording new music. If that's not enough, they plan on releasing a live CD/DVD later this year as well. See there, lots of stuff to look forward to.

So, if you're in the NYC area, grab a ticket and check them out at Irving Plaza this Friday. I believe this is their only headlining gig outside of Austin before they take off to the UK for a string of shows opening for Clapton.

Click on the image to see video footage of Arc Angels.

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