Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsPaul Rodgers holds it together
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013
The positives: Paul Rodgers is amazing, as one expects, as one of the greatest vocalists in rock history. Mick Ralphs, who shakes off the dust to put on a credible performance, with superb backing musicianship from Howard Leese (from girl rockers Heart), and a strong technical bass effort from Lynn Sorensen. The song-list is extensive, with all the hits. Addressing the dark side: the crowd: they seem to have never seen the boys in the 'glory days', which happened to be around 1975. And, sheer *age* has stifled things quite a bit (except for Paul Rodgers, who is the ultimate showman throughout). I love Mick Ralphs...he has never been a virtuoso, no, but his contributions to the totally unique Mott the Hoople (before Bad Co.) are legendary. Here, he is around 62, and it is quite impressive he agreed to attempt to replicate the old show. He seems to perk-up when Rodgers plays 'Seagull' with him on acoustic guitar (quite heartening). Ralphs is again young on the 'tribute-to-the late Boz Burrell' called 'Gone, Gone, Gone' (Sorensen shines, as you might expect). The finale is impressive 'Deal With the Preacher', where Mick lets it 'all hang out'. This is worth viewing if you heard the band when they were superstars (mid-70's), and love em'. Otherwise, you might not 'get it', like the crowd apparently didn't that night. *Three-stars* because you can't really bring back what you were when you were a young lion, sadly for us all. Thank you, though, Paul, you brought it all back as best you could.
