Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3
Live At Big Mama

I love Steve Wynn; and his Music, all of it.

A deep admiration I’ve had since his beginnings in the early eighties with that unforgettable band, the Dream Syndicate; and I’ve continued in the same way, following him in his multiple subsequent musical projects. So much esteem and admiration for the singer-songwriter from Los Angeles; anyone who knows me certainly isn’t finding that out from this review.

Today I focus on one of his concerts with the Miracle 3 recorded in Rome on November 3, 2001; published as an attachment to Mucchio Extra magazine in the spring of 2002. It’s Steve’s words that introduce this performance of his: "During my career with the Dream Syndicate, I many times performed in Italy, unfortunately without ever having the chance to play in its capital. In 1990, I finally arrived in Rome with my new band and took the stage at the legendary Big Mama for the first time; since then, I’ve played in that small basement at least twenty times, more than any other venue in the world." It’s clear that Steve feels at home and what follows is an excellent show, where a perfect blend is created between power, intimacy, lyricism, and improvisation.

Joining Steve on stage are his partner Linda Pitmon on drums, Scott Yoder on bass, and a young Jason Victor on guitar; with the added special guest for the night, the keyboard sounds of friend Chris Cacavas. A seasoned band, well-willing to follow their leader in a series of songs that are nothing short of overwhelming. It’s the tour of the double album "Here Come The Miracles," one of the best of the Californian’s solo career, and many tracks are taken precisely from this record; but there’s also room for some songs recorded with the Syndicate. Those who appreciate that Psychedelic Rock of which the Dream Syndicate were among the most famous exponents still feel the need for it.

A awaited roar and warm applause welcome the first notes of the long "Halloween"; with its insistent and hypnotic riff that then gives way to an already rather eloquent finale in terms of distortion and noisy acidity. An absolutely prized start that continues in the same manner with the electric lash of "Something To Remember Me By," which gives us the certainty that it will be a memorable concert.

The first ten minutes have passed and it’s time to catch your breath, to soften the immediately electrifying tones: "Good And Bad" is a twilight ballad of gentle movements and a rarefied atmosphere. But the five guys want to have fun and so they resume stepping on the accelerator, choosing to again rely on a classic from Steve's first band; a song with a short title is "Burn" but with an incalculable scope, also because it was part of that masterpiece that was, and is still without doubt, "The Medicine Show" (but let’s write for the umpteenth time Dream Syndicate which gives me so much joy!). The beginning of the track is sad and slow; far too restrained. But it’s just an illusion because suddenly you enter much more electric territories, with an abrasive finale where Steve and Jason's two guitars always stand as the undisputed protagonists.

The whole concert is a continuous succession of electric outbursts, of acid and explosive instrumental digressions. The Rock-Blues of "Weathered And Torn," the raw and furious Punk-like assault of "Crawling Misanthropic Blues," the light and sunny Pop of "There Will Come A Day"; and in a moment, we are at the end.

Those who, like me, are connoisseurs of Steve know very well that it’s practically always up to "The Days Of Wine And Roses" to close the evenings; a song played hundreds of times in every corner of the Earth. A sort of call to arms, with the solid rhythm section dictating the pace to the combined movement of the guitars, which ultimately produce a dynamite and distorted solo. It’s the singer's voice that infinitely repeats the concluding chorus, as if in a final collective catharsis with the entire ecstatic audience at the Big Mama swaying beneath the stage.

The days of wine and roses are over; and they were beautiful days.

Ad Maiora.