There’s a couple of categories that super-groups fall into: Not particularly good, uninspired, or the ‘Decent, but I was expecting more’ thought. The latter of which most groups fall into with the exception of Velvet Revolver. The other exception to that rule is The Winery Dogs. When I first heard that Eddie Trunk had gotten Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan and Mike Portnoy together in a group I was cautiously excited. They are three of my absolute favorite musicians after all. But I couldn’t help being causious due to super-groups like Audioslave. Rage Against the Machine with Chris Cornell fronting?! Must be amazing! But alas, Audioslave were simply a mediocre band. So I thought was going to be the way of the Winery Dogs.
But I was proven very very wrong in the best of ways. The band is amazing and the boys mesh together as if they’ve been together since the 80’s. Their debut album was really good. But nothing prepared me for the strength and quality of their second album ‘Hot Streak’. It’s a perfect record straight through top to bottom. The debut is strong, but there’s a couple of tracks that I could leave. Which is common for most albums. But ‘Hot Streak’ is a non skip record. Something super-groups rarely deliver. In fact, I was inspired to see them on the tour when they came to the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills. The show itself was great. The audience? Quite bizarre actually. I remember several fights breaking out. At a fucking Winery Dogs concert? It was strange.
Either way, the band sounded amazing. The set was long and complete. And their tone was full and tight. Now, that energy has been captured on ‘Dog Years: Live In Santiago’. I gotta say, it’s one hell of a live album. The crowd is loud and together. It sounds like they’re playing an arena! Which is the best way to listen to a band like this. They’re with the band all they way through the set list. Which also features Mike Portnoy’s best recorded drum solo. He was never much of a drum solo guy. But he’s figured out how to capture his intense technicality and musical feel within a three and a half minute time mark. Just perfect! Richie Kotzen’s playing is superb as usual. And Billy Sheehan seems to simply get better and better as the years go by. Opening the show with ‘Oblivion’, ‘Captain Love’ and ‘We Are One’. It’ just like, that’s how you open a show right there. And the band keeps that energy alive for a full two hours. And again, it’s live in Chile. The best audiences are in South America. Live albums suck if the audience isn’t excited and invested. You never have to worry about that in South America. They love their hard rock and heavy metal.
All in all this is a live album worth picking up without a doubt. And honestly, if you’re new to the band this is a good place to start. Because they only have two albums out and they really did choose the strongest songs from both records to play live. It’s really the consummate live album right now. It’s not just another live record. This is a five star live album folks. Usually I would never suggest starting with a live album. But this time around the band is just too good. You gotta hear them live. No gimmicks, just raw talent. Please keep going guys. I don’t want this live album to be the end!
No gimmicks.
