Search - Molly Hatchet :: Live at the Agora Ballroom 1979

An Excellent Snapshot of a Raw and Hungry Band

John Kenneth Smith | 06/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While this does not have the polished mastering of a studio record, this is a great live album. Yes, the vocals are a little subdued at first, but they are not inaudible. Whoever mixed the recording realized after the first song the vocals were buried, so they turned 'em up a little. Keep in mind this record was mastered from TAPES of a LIVE recording that was never intended to be released to the general public. Throughout, however, the mixing is clean and balanced, the vocals are in front, as they should be, the bass and drums are present but not overpowering. The cymbals are crisp as are the guitar licks, however they are not clipping (exceeding the maximum volume input, causing square waves, basically fuzzy noise). Halfway through the album, the band is on fire, tight and firing on all cylinders. Hell, it DOES sound like a studio recording at points.There are shades of the Allman brothers in certain passages and echoes of Skynyrd in the slide guitar. And, yes, that good ol' Northeastern Florida accent that we are all accustomed to hearing live from Donnie Van Zant, brother of Synyrd frontman and part-time frontman himself, from the band .38 Special. Also in common with frontman Don Barnes of .38 Special, Molly Hatchet doesn't have the crowd in the palm of their hand, they have their arm around the shoulder of the crowd, like an old drinkin' buddie.As a performing and recording musician myself, a son of the South and a lover of the raw, blues-influenced spirit of Southern Rock bands, I would highly recommend this record to Molly Hatchet fans. It's also a great embarcation point for you younguns who are out there cuttin' your teeth in the smoky bars and keepin' it real.Enjoy, and have fun.~R"

A Great Live Artifact From A Great Band

J. Baratti | 09/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This archival show by Molly Hatchet is absolutely stupendous. It features the earliest known recordings of several songs bound for FLIRTIN' WITH DISASTER, including "Let The Good Times Roll", "One Man's Pleasure", and "Boogie No More." It also features the first live versions of some songs from the first album, plus the otherwise unrecorded "T For Texas", "Harp Jam", and "Crossroads." The centerpiece is the cautionary midtempo grinder "The Creeper." Overall, this CD belongs in any Southern rock record library"

This CD would have been incredible...IF............

J. Baratti | tulsa, OK | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Danny Joe Brown's vocals are barely audible except between tracks when he's talking. Whoever remastered this should have turned up the vocals a tad. If they had done this, I think this would have been one of the greatest live Southern rock concerts ever recorded."