REVIEW: Jason & the Scorchers, Midnight Roads & Stages
Seen
- Rey Roldan
As a studio band, Jason & the Scorchers are a really good band. With releases like their fascinating debut Fervor to A Blazing Grace, their first for their current label Mammoth Records, Jason and his Scorchers have led the cowpunk revolution from the 80s straight through the 90s without a sacrificing any of their fiery fervor. While their recorded energy always seemed at just one inch short of blistering, their live performances were always, well, scorching. So, it only seemed appropriate and necessary that Jason & the Scorchers release a live record, and with Midnight Roads & Stages Seen, they do just that and demonstrate what really makes them probably one of the most entertaining live acts. Brimming with stage charisma that transcends imageless audio, Jason Ringenberg leads his three-piece band through a 23-track tour de force recorded over two shows last November in Nashville.
Starting with nary a pause, Jason launches into "Self Sabotage", a heated send-up from their recent bag of newly penned tracks, and keeps going without filler to be found. Their take on Bob Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie" turns the otherwise harmless tune into a pubhouse anthem with Perry Baggs' drums anchoring Warner Hodges' searing slide guitar and Kenny Ames' nimble bass. A favorite at live shows, this recorded version lacks none of the verve that Jason is famous for. Their re-rendering of "Pray for Me Momma (I'm a Gypsy Now)" (from their debut EP Reckless Country Soul) bottles all the charm of the original and instead of updating it for the 90s, plays it straight and faithful to the 1982 version. It is this reverence to the belief "If it ain't broke..." that makes Jason still endearing after all these years. Unlike other bands who have reformed from the 80s to the tune of nostalgia, Jason & the Scorchers don't so much pander to his faithful audience as he plays for himself with them in mind. Instead of smirking their way through hits and trademark tunes, they present an honesty that really comes through, giving you a "gosh darn, they're just such nice guys" sentiment that renders all other reunions fraudulent and insincere.
While disc one pulls out the a wide smattering that spans their 15+ years, disc two is largely populated with songs from their early years, including the catchy twang of "Harvest Moon" and the perennial favorite "If You've Got the Love (I've Got the Time)". Although most live sets are used to fulfill contractual obligations and are nothing more than a less-than-stellar rehashing of album cuts, Midnight Road... stands as a worthy testament to the widely held notion (mainly of those who have witnessed their live gigs) that Jason & the Scorchers are one of the best live bands. It doesn't take a lot to make a live record, but to make it memorable is something that's innate in Jason Ringenberg - and he's got it in spades.
