Live at the Agora Ballroom, Atlanta, GA. '79Molly Hatchet |
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Shortly after their self-titled debut set Southern spirits soaring, Jacksonville, Florida's own buried the hatchet deep into throngs of Georgian onlookers with this spirited '79 set compliments of the latest successful attempt by this new team of Phoenix gold-diggers. The biggest hits of their early days, featured on their first two releases, '78s self-titled and its little brother, perhaps their biggest claim to fame, "Flirtin' with Disaster," reveal the true nature of their high-powered stage play on the likes of "Bounty Hunter," "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Gator Country." At a time when Southern Rock and Country Blues was all the rage down highway 95, when The Allmans and Skynrd rested comfortably atop the roost of mainstream appeal, the hard-working sweat and sting of this South Florida powerhouse soon took Southern charm by the scruff of its neck and showed beyond doubt they were ready to rock and here to stay… Amazingly, Molly Hatchet's still rocking the road, albeit with a completely different lineup than first recorded this live piece but the sound is unquestionably the same as the vintage original. Danny Joe Brown's between song banter sets the crowd on fire often and even on their rambunctious love song "The Creeper," there's a swagger to the sound where you know their ready to blast out the second the song's last notes have echoed in the distance. Known by many, not only for their signature style but their creatively drawn album covers, it's terrific to step backward in time for a while to actually hear what they were like in their adolescent stages… The release, with written documentation and rags to almost riches storyline contribution, reveals the hardships overcome by a once struggling, determined rock band that continues to wave proudly alongside old glory… and cheers to those responsible for not only first capturing this performance at the time, but for having the guts to dig it up, dust it off and give it a justifiable release-it's timelessly flawless and a must for rock and roll outlaws everywhere. Released by Phoenix Gems Review by Vinnie Apicella |
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Kingdom of XII
Molly Hatchet |
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The veteran band of Southern Rockers returns with another bountiful harvest in the form of "Kingdom of XII," their twelfth record, now spanning an incredible three decades. A model of consistency and continual triumph, their "Beatin' The Odds" release from 1980 release couldn't have been more foretelling at the time, for twenty years and countless lineup changes later, this long standing legacy shows no signs of withering away in a graceful wind of fading glory. Contrarily, "Kingdom of XII" is another ambitious effort that embodies those traditional elements the bands' always been known for and proudly delivered since the beginning-Rugged, upbeat and anthemic staples - "Heart of the U.S.A." opens in tributary fashion, proudly proclaiming American made and Southern pride; "Cornbread Mafia," a catchy sing along standout recalling the memorable, sometimes vagabond days of a past; "One Last Ride" picks up in true epic style, recollective and recounting, structurally designed and similarly themed as the many past Hatchet staples - "Fall of the Peacemakers," "Dreams I'll Never See," with a gentle ballad-like beginning that soon roars into an edgy fret-blazing jam that carries it through to the end. And then there's "Why Won't You Take Me Home," which lets the true gator-country style shine through in what quickly becomes an obvious lead single and sure fire sing along Boogie-styled hit. "Gypsy Trail," which features the fiddle-flying contributions of one Charlie Daniels, "White Lightning," and a smokin' cover of the Stones' "Tumbling Dice" carry the action quite stealthily until the expected return of their closing epics, "Dreams of Life," and the soft spoken "Edge of Sundown," noteworthy for its earlier history from original front man Danny Joe Brown's Band, and his solo pause from back in '81. Molly Hatchet delivers the goods yet again with their long awaited and durable follow up to '98s "Silent Reign of Heroes." Little has changed in the Hatchet camp-core group still in tact, the Hard Rock and stomp, muddy Blues and soulful swagger that've been their calling card for more than twenty years now remains as strong as they, proud and united in their vision to keep the fire burning… Released by CMC International
Records. Review by Vinnie Apicella
[va85@columbia.edu] |