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Walter Trout and the Free Radicals
Live Trout
(Ruf Records 1051)
 So I'm listening to Live Trout for the first time, and about 3 cuts into the CD, I'm wondering, does this guy ever let up? A couple more cuts and I realize that Walter Trout is a man on a mission.
Through both CDs (Live Trout is a 2 CD set), Walter Trout and company blister their way
through every cut, possessed by some
rockin' blues demon that is definitely rearing it's ugly head in a big way. Recorded live at the Tampa Bay
Blues Fest in March 2000, Live Trout is a prime example of a live recording that really captures all the energy and emotion of the performance from the musicians as well as the audience.
Moving through variations of the rockin' blues style, Walter Trout and the Free Radicals (cool name!) put their hard driving stamp on everything they do. Kicking off the set with a guitar solo that cascades note after note, it's obvious that Walter Trout is a guitar player to be reckoned with. Moving into an
upbeat shuffle, "I Can Tell" sets the stage for what is to follow.
Always keeping things right in your face, the band shows off their dynamics by bringing things down then raising the intensity to showcase Trout's considerable bag of guitar tricks.
Next up is "Walkin' In The Rain" a driving slow blues number (a la Red House) with Trout wailing on vocals to match his guitar.
"Say What You Mean" puts a little funk into the mix and is highlighted by Paul Kallestad's excellent B3 organ backing and solos. "The Reason I'm Gone" takes things way down low and gritty in a classic 'Texas Blues' style that has emotion and mood to match. Another stand out cut is Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" on disc 2. Talking to the audience, Trout sites Bob Dylan as one of his original inspirations to play music as well as being a bluesman in his own right. Showing a very
emotional and sublime side to his music on this track, Walter Trout plays using a volume control technique that is soft and totally in control. As the CDs progress, all of the tracks move from one to the next with minimal editing and keep the feel of
the live show intact.
Through the whole performance, the band stays right on the mark moving from one groove to another, up and down in dynamics, never missing a step. James Trapp on bass, Bernard Pershey on drums, and Paul Kallestad on organ are a perfect compliment to Walter Trout's totally out front style of performing. Produced by Jim Gaines, everything is caught live on tape with balance and clarity and makes the listener feel like they are right there with the band.
Walter Trout and the Free Radicals play extensively in Europe as well as the U.S.,
maintaining a rigorous schedule. You can bet that after experiencing Live Trout, I'll be in the audience the next time they swing through anywhere near where I can catch them.
Pete "Bootlegger" Barbeck
December 2000 Southwest Blues
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