Yardbirds
Live at B.B. King Blues Club

THE REVIEW

What a great band, these Uccelli di Cortile (?), sometimes found as Backyardbirds in some Italian reissue, rummaged from the shelves of a flea market. I could start this review with a nice "they were the training ground for guitarists like Clapton, Beck, Page," the problem is that this far from negligible characteristic is now more than well-known (at least I hope so...).

Nostalgically interesting is the very brief presentation of on-stage and behind-the-scenes photographs in the scant booklet, with the former minor idols of the beat, now, obviously, turned into old men pre-retirement. Just one of the guitarists is a new entry, probably the son of one of them, or at most the grandson of the waiter who used to bring them coffee from the bar downstairs while they recorded "For Your Love", forty years earlier.

Recorded in 2006 at the B.B. King Blues Club in the heart of New York City, this electrifying live performance is a good example of how to play blues rock without appearing excessively old-fashioned or nostalgic. Released quietly, probably without particular ambitions, this LP also has a modest and essential graphic design: the historic logo on the cover with a motion photo of nighttime New York behind it, framing this performance.

The band starts with the famous "Train Kept A Rollin'", and immediately one notices a clean production and a lead voice that, without ever being a top of the genre, doesn't show the passing years, appearing warm and present. The setlist, without great surprises, features great tracks like "Heart Full Of Soul", a little masterpiece from days gone by, "Shapes Of Things", the mini-hit "For Your Love, a Page-like "Dazed And Confused" until the conclusion of "Happening Ten Years Time Ago", and many greetings.

We agree, the few who have had the chance to listen to this live might agree that we are not talking about "Irish Tour" or "Wheels Of Fire," the one just passed is an honest commemorative LP, without particular flair but without evident moments of boredom. And the group? Good instrumentalists, maybe a bit weak in the rhythm section, with a fairly ordinary drum and a diligent bass without virtuosities.

Surely the work serves to remember a band, now gone, particularly "full of soul", historically important but rediscovered only by enthusiasts (fanatics?) of the genre.