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...from the "Music For Ranch & Town" 2007.
As good as they are, neither of the Hacienda Brothers' two studio albums quite captures the band's charismatic stage presence. Much tougher and more twang oriented live, the forum also allows guitarist Dave Gonzalez, one of Americana's most talented and underrated six-stringers, to strut his stuff without the confines of keeping the songs short and tight. Like the best bands, HB albums are just blueprints for the concert experience, caught here in a single Oslo show with no overdubs or post-gig sweetening. The opening six-minute instrumental "Railed" kicks the gig off with sparks flying. Gonzalez and pedal steel whiz David Berzansky trade licks as the energy keeps mounting on the rollicking country/surf barn burning track; and that's just the introduction to this hour-and-ten-minute performance. After the next 14 tracks you'll be convinced this is the finest country-rock band since the Flying Burrito Brothers in their prime. Along with Gonzalez's hot strings and subtle reverb, he boasts a terrific low-key voice that harmonizes perfectly with Chris Gaffney's more weathered, soulful approach. Together they connect on a set that's as convincing on a weepy honky tonk like the George Jones-styled "Seven Little Numbers" and the devastating torchy blues of "Walkin' on My Dreams" as it is on the more upbeat scorchers. Gaffney's occasional accordion brings in the Tex Mex and when Berzansky lets fly on the pedal steel on the closing "Gone," backed by a rhythm section that's as in the pocket as they come, it's clear that these guys could be the saviors of classic country, a style that seems to have withered away over the decades. Soul drenched covers of "Cry Like a Baby," a showstopping 12-minute version of Ivory Joe Hunter's "Since I Met You Baby," and a pre-encore set closing "Cowboys to Girls" (with a detour into the Temptations' "Just My Imagination") further define the R&B impulses that distinguish the Hacienda Brothers from other rootsy country acts without half of this group's talent. This terrific disc is only available at the band's shows and on their web page and isn't considered an official release. But it's the finest item in its rather meager catalog, a must for established fans and arguably the best way to get acquainted with the Hacienda Brothers' substantial charms for newcomers.

AllMusic Review by Hal Horowitz

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