Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters – Live In The UK (Crosscut Records).

This live recording made in Oxford, Swindon and Leicester during November 2004 is an excellent introduction to the world of Memo Gonzalez and his Bluescasters. First up is the standard, yet powerful, R&B of You Got Me Rollin’. Kai Strauss’ staccato guitar is the star of the show here. I’ve Been Thinking is a rolling blues much in the Kansas City style and this is top class fare with Memo throwing in a bit of Love Me Do during his harmonica piece. The band move it up a notch for the fast-paced R&B of What You’re Doing To Me before going off into the blues with Greyhound. This features Kai Strauss on guitar and he excels on this powerful crowd pleaser. Angel In High Heels could be nothing other than rock & roll and its fast paced, lively delivery keeps the crowd in good fettle and really gets them going. With the crowd now firmly on their side the Bluescasters trot out an Elvis cover in the shape of His Latest Flame. The shuffling beat is fine but, not surprisingly, not as good as the original. The guitar break does, however, add something that the original did not have.

Howlin’ Wolf meets Bo Diddley on I Wanna Ramble/Feelin’ Good and despite talking his way through some of the lyrics, Memo makes this a highlight with Strauss really stealing the show. Louisiana Lover Man is a lonesome sundown song, a Southern style boogie that gets the crowd on its feet again but You Got What You Wanted is standard fare and nothing else. Tell Me What’s The Reason is a swing blues that has Gonzalez urging the band for more and Strauss holding it all together as ever. The band keeps up the festivity with I Wanna Ask You Pretty Baby -- Texas party music – that sums it up pretty well. This is definitely music to have a good time to and the good time continues right to the end with Big Time Operator, one of the best songs on offer.

If you want a good night out you could do worse than popping in to see Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters.

http://www.memogonzalez.com/
http://www.crosscut.de/

David Blue.