ALBUM REVIEW

Mike Blakely
LIVE AT THE UPTOWN
©2007 Swing Rider Records
MTM104108
Review by Lucky Boyd
Co-founder, MyTexasMusic.com

Blakely and the Whiskey Traders received the Vocal Group of the Year award at the Texas Music Awards in 2005.  Here’s why.  This is a live performance recorded at the Uptown Marble Theater and there has never been a better way to enjoy Blakely and WT without paying a cover charge.  All your favorites are here; “In The Dust” and “Mejor Que Nada” done the way MB and WT do them live.  The studio versions of these songs are great so you should own those discs, but these live versions are a good way to feel the passion Blakely inserts into every performance.  Live albums allow the musicians to decide how a song is to be played rather than the producer.  Larry Nye is a great producer, but listen as Larry plays guitar on a live recording and you’ll hear the difference.  This is the best live album I’ve heard this year.  Like Blakely?  You’ll love this album.

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