Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher was in peak form when this energetic and highly entertaining set was recorded at the legendary Bottom Line club in New York City in the fall of 1978. Gallagher had been on the European music scene for nearly a decade (and a viable name in the U.S. for almost six years) when he blew into the Big Apple for his first NY show in almost two years.
Gallagher had returned to his power trio lineup of bass, drums and guitar for this tour, after several years of touring with a…entire summary
Rory Gallagher - vocals, guitars, harmonica
Gerry McAvoy - bass
Ted McKenna - drums, percussion
Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher was in peak form when this energetic and highly entertaining set was recorded at the legendary Bottom Line club in New York City in the fall of 1978. Gallagher had been on the European music scene for nearly a decade (and a viable name in the U.S. for almost six years) when he blew into the Big Apple for his first NY show in almost two years.
Gallagher had returned to his power trio lineup of bass, drums and guitar for this tour, after several years of touring with a keyboardist as well. Long time bassist Gerry McAvoy is still on board, and he and Gallagher are joined by drummer Ted McKenna, who had previously played with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
After a blistering performance during the show’s sound check, Gallagher launches into "Shin Kicker," a rhythmic romp that sets the tone (both figuratively and sonically) for what ends up to be an amazing set of British blues rock (even though Gallagher, being Irish, would likely take exception). Early in the show, Gallagher dives into the concert favorite "Garbage Man,” a slow blues number, which is a showcase for both his edgy vocals and biting guitar style. Up-tempo tracks like "Secret Agent” (not the same song made famous in the 1960s by Johnny Rivers) act like a speedball injection, giving the audience a reason to get up off their seats and cheer him on.
Gallagher switches to acoustic guitar for "Out On The Western Plain,” which allows him to sing a delta-blues styled tale of the Old West. Musically, it is right in the same league as something Leo Kottke or John Fahey might do. "Too Much Alcohol” is played in a similar style; it features Gallagher alone on dobro, performing with a bottle neck slide. For the end of the show, he reverts back to his better known blues rockers, such as "Tattoo’d Lady,” and his version of the Buddy Guy / Junior Wells classic, "Messin’ With The Kid.”
Gallagher made a name for himself in 1969 with the band Taste, who recorded three albums before splitting in 1971. Gallagher recorded several solo albums between 1971 and 1991, but also is noted for his session work on the legendary Muddy Waters - the London Sessions album, released on Chess Records. Sadly, he died after receiving a liver transplant in 1995 at the age of 47.
Not long after this show, Gallagher’s brand of blues rock fell out of favor with radio programmers, and like artists such as Robin Trower and Steve Marriott, he had to focus on a smaller, but fiercely loyal, following. Although he never received the worldwide recognition of Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, he certainly deserves to be remembered for the many excellent albums and tours he had during his career.
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