Darrell Mansfield Blues Band
Live on Tour
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
Anyone who's seen Darrell Mansfield live knows that the concert stage is his element. Always surrounding himself with capable musicians who understand groove, boogie, 'n' blues, this harmonica ace tears it up. Like many prolific artists of this genre, their forte comes more in performance than song writing. Thus, you will come across albums in their catalog that are time stamps of their live repertoire. More simply put, some of the same songs will pop up again and again. Those that have been gobbling up any recent Mansfield recordings available will recognize the familiar "Boom Boom," "Stand By Me," and "People Get Ready." While not the be all, end all blues educational resource, this album is a good start to begin an understanding of rock and roll's foundation (and a great place to learn about vibe, solo-ing in context, and making a 7-minute song sound short). Darrell's great voice, his tight band, and the energy captured live here comes alive with some of the purest Gospel blues worship music you'll hear anywhere. I just wish I had the resources to book 'em for a week of shows at Austin's 6th Street collection of clubs. This guy is legit.