CD REVIEWS The set is spectacular. They begin with a
great cover of the old Buffalo Springfield chesnut, “For What it’s Worth,” with Bob Rumer putting his powerful vocal chops out front where they belong. Speaking of Rumer, the next song is a Rumer original called “Find Another Lover,” a song that, in a perfect world, would have been a radio hit. One of the sheer joys of the album is
Tommy Crain & The Crosstown Allstars Live in Macon (
cdbaby.com)
When drummer Towson Engsberg rolled
tape on his band’s show at Rivalry’s in Macon, Georgia in 2010 with intentions of putting out the band’s first live album, he had no way of knowing that when the album fi- nally saw the light of day, the band’s leader would no longer be with us. Tommy Crain, a 15-year veteran of The Charlie Daniels Band and a five-year member of The Crosstown All- stars passed away in January of 2011. During their short time together, The All-
stars became an extremely tight unit, whether they were playing their own original music or covers of well loved Southern rock and blues tunes. The band, which still performs to- gether, always paying tribute to their fallen leader, includes Towson on drums; Bob Rumer on guitar and vocals; Bob Jones on keys; and Jack Hall (Wet Willie) on bass. Engsberg told me that when he was mixing
the material for this album he decided to leave it “as is,” with occasional flaws - al- though I have yet to hear said flaws. He wanted to ‘keep it real,” just the way it sounded that night. I respect that. No over- dubs. What you see is what you get.
Tommy’s little speech about The Allman Brothers Band just prior to the Allstars cook- ing rendition of “Hot ‘Lanta.” It’s hot, man. And just when you think you have the band all figured out, they toss out a super funky cover of The Temptations’ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” So good. Also of interest is the band’s original “Give
it to Ya,” and a fine reading of Lowell George’s “Spanish Moon.” “Everything That You Do” and “The Very Thing That Makes You Rich” are both equally compelling, but to me the standout track is the extended jam on Dickey Betts’ “Jessica,” featuring fine guitar from Crain and some mighty good piano from “Mr. Natural,” Bob Jones. Of course, the set closer, Albert King’s timeless “Born Under a Bad Sign” is an exercise in guitar blues per- fection, and both Crain and Rumer put their mojo all over it. Live in Macon is more than just a tribute to
Tommy Crain. It’s a great album that show- cases five great musicians doing what they do best. It’s just Tommy Crain & The Crosstown Allstars, captured live, just the way it went down that night in Macon. No fixes in the mix, no overdubs, just honest, smokin’ South- ern Rock and blues from one of the finest bands out of the South, led by a friend I will never, ever forget.
- Michael Buffalo Smith 58
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