Niacin - Niacin Live! Blood, Sweat And Beers

Year of Release: 2003
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA-9063-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 75:51:00

Progressive music can lack the ability to rock or swing. Bands often just don't have that feel, and as good as they might be, rocking out just doesn't sound natural. Niacin boasts plenty of chops, the rock, the groove, the swing, you name it, they've got it. Live! Blood, Sweat, And Beers is a disc where the music just moves you. You can't sit still to this stuff, it comes blazing out of the speakers with power and finesse. When you hear the names in this band, you probably would think it is just another lofty group of musicians, but these guys are creating fun, rocking music. That is not to say the chops are not present, but the music stands out.

"Bullet Train Blues" gets the blood pumping, and John Novello is just amazing on the Hammond. If it is some smoldering blues you are looking for "I Miss You (Like I Miss The Sun)" should satisfy your thirst. As a guitarist, not once was I thinking about how a guitar would sound in this band, and that is the highest compliment I can give to this band. Novello's playing is mesmerizing, and his bandmates Billy Sheehan (bass) and Denis Chambers (drums), giants on their respective instruments, are equally impressive. The song "Niacin" has some amazing interplay between Sheehan and Novello, their intricate unison playing is astounding. Sheehan's bass has a growling tone, his furious slapping is matched with Novello's Hammond assaults. All the while, Chambers is propelling the band underneath. There is no need to go song by song in this review, the title says it all - this is great rocking music, meant to be played loud, and having a few beers to go along with it is icing on the cake.

Tracklisting:
Clean Up Crew (:29) / Do A Little Dirty Work (5:50) / Bullet Train Blues (4:48) / Hell To Pay (8:55) / Niacin (3:41) One Less Worry (7:28) / I Miss You (Like I Miss The Sun) (6:03) / Klaghorn (7:36) / Three Feet Back (5:07) / Purple Rain (4:32) / No Man's Land (4:51) / You Keep Me Hangin' On (6:14) / Front And Center (5:26) / Gelatin (4:55)

Musicians:
John Novello - keyboards
Billy Sheehan - bass
Dennis Chambers - drums

Discography:
Niacin (1996)
Live In Japan (1997)
High Bias (1998)
Deep (2000)
Time Crunch (2001)
Niacin Live! Blood, Sweat and Beers (2003)
Organik (2005)

Genre: Fusion-Jazz Fusion

Origin US

Added: August 6th 2006
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.niacinb3.com
Hits: 2826
Language: english