GREAT SHOW !
craig_paul | Pittsburgh, PA | 02/11/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Steve Forbert in concert with only his guitar and harmonica is a great experience. Witness BE HERE NOW or BE HERE AGAIN. Better yet, see one of his shows. Forbert with a solid backing band is equally entertaining, as this recording proves.Recorded in 1982, this album provides an earful of songs from Forbert's first four releases, as well as excellent covers of the Troggs' "Love Is All Around" and Chuck Berry's "Too Much Monkey Business" and "Little Queenie." The liner notes quote Forbert as saying this show was performed the night he met his wife. I've always wondered if they met before or after the concert. His singing would suggest the former, as youthful exuberance and a huge dose of energy are evident throughout, although I have seen Steve play to a crowd of literally 25 people, and he still played his heart out.Forbert and his band "The Flying Squirrels" rock their way through "Ya Ya (Next To Me)", "He's Gotta Live Up To His Shoes," the wonderfully twisted "Complications," the singer's top 20 hit "Romeo's Tune," and most of the other tracks. They slow down just a bit on "Love Is All Around" and "It Isn't Gonna Be That Way," a great song from the artist's classic debut album.Perhaps the best thing about this recording is that songs such as "Say Goodbye To Little Jo" and "School Girl," which flat-lined on the studio albums, sound terrific here due to Forbert's enthusiasm and the punch delivered by the band.Overall, this is a wonderful snapshot of very talented young singer/songwriter having a lot of fun, and treating the audience to a great show. I wish I'd been there."
What kinda guy?...The kind that delivers!
David Kinney | San Francisco, Ca. United States | 01/27/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This live CD neatly encapsulates the first half of Steve Forbert's impressive career.Recorded in 1982 it finds a young,fun loving, and enthusiastic Forbert leading a road tested band through the best of his original songs to date ,as well as some well chosen covers.The emphasis here is on the fun side of Steve Forbert.The more sobering and reflective type of songs he would record in the late 80's and the 90's were left behind at the bar on this night. Highlights? Hey there all hot here, but, "Ya Ya","Midsummer..", a particularly lovely version of "Katrina", and the Forbert signature tune "It Isn't Going To Be That Way"' will please even the most discriminating Forbert fan and impress upon newcomers to the music of this great underrated talent just how much they've been missing. Hey, he's still out there working hard you know. Treat yourself to the music of Steve Forbert and give yourself a well deserved smile."