Don Ray Band "Live In Nashville" (DVD)

 

 

I don't get very many DVD's in the mail, maybe 2 or 3 a year, but I sure enjoy them, especially if the DVD is a band that I am very familiar with. The Don Ray Band is such an Band. The Don Ray Band first caught my attention in 2009 with Don Ray's first solo release, "On Top Of The Heap" which I liked so much that I not only gave it a 5***** rating, but I also chose it as the "Best USA Blues Album" in my 2009 Year End Review, and I also picked it as the #2 Album in my Top 25 for 2009, in that review, as well. (https://bluesundergroundnetwork.com/2009_Year_End_Review.html) Another accolade of note for that Album, is the fact that it reached the #1 Spot "on Real Blues Magazine's "Top 100 Must Purchase Blues Albums" chart". Don Ray's 2010 release, "Lonesome Rider" was also a very strong release, garnering another 5***** Rating. Now with the Don Ray Bands first Live Concert DVD release, we all, not only get a chance to hear this amazing band, but we also get to see them in action, as well.

 

The Don Ray Band call Nashville their home, so the title of this DVD should come as no surprise. It was recorded at The Rutledge, Nashville, TN, on October 17th, 2010 and has a run-time of 84 minutes. The DVD was Directed and Co-produced by Don Ray. Performers on "Live In Nashville", included the Don Ray Band consisting of Don Ray (Vocals/Percussion), Jonathan Armstrong (Keyboards/Vocals), Donnie Lee Clark (Electric Guitar/Vocals), Curtis Jay (Bass Guitar), and Scott Thompson (Drums). Special guests on "Live In Nashville", included Shaun Murphy, Curt Ryle, Tim Beattie, Trez Gregory, and Laura Vida.

 

"Live In Nashville" consists of a 16 song set list and includes a good mix of their most popular songs, with the majority of them, 12 in total, coming from their second Album, "Lonesome Rider".

 

The Don Ray Band start off this DVD pretty strong with a tune from their second CD called "In Your Eyes", and was a great opening song to start off the concert, especially with Don Ray's vocals in top form, as well as his playing the Cow Bell. Additionally one cannot help but notice the amazing guitar work of Donnie Lee Clark, which is dominate throughout all the performances.

 

After three more nicely done songs, we get to the first round of Special Guests, which Don Ray introduces as the Raylettes, Trez Gregory, and Laura Vida, and Guitarist Curt Ryle, whom Don Ray worked with extensively on "Lonesome Rider". The song "Boom Chika Wah Wah", is one off their first Album, and starts off with Jonathan Armstrong on Keyboards and Don Ray hitting a single drum before they really get into it. I have always liked the background vocal singers on the bands Albums and it was nice to see them performing Live on this DVD. "Boom Chika Wah Wah" will remind a few of you of music by Lynyrd Sknyrd. It was really fine to see the two guitarist on stage complimenting each other with their playing. Also really neat was when Don Ray went over and starting to play a double set of Drums a few times throughout the song. Boom Chika Wah Wah" was certainly one of the highlights of this DVD, at least for me.

 

After two more songs the Raylettes bid adou, but Curt Ryle stays on for one more song "Victim Of Passion", a song that Don Ray and Curt wrote for the "Lonesome Rider Album.

 

After another song with just the band, Don Ray introduces, Harp Player Extraordinaire and co-writer of the song they perform,
"Gone Nowhere", Tim Beattie. Lovers of great Blues Harp will certainly enjoy that performance.

 

After two more fine performances, Don Ray introduces Shaun Murphy, for the song "Love Is". "Shaun joined Little Feat as a full time member in 1993 for the recording of Ain’t Had Enough Fun. Whether she was belting out the blues or softly singing a ballad the listener is in for the treat of an emotional roller coaster ride. In addition to her extensive work with Little Feat, Shaun’s voice has graced the recordings of such luminaries as Eric Clapton, the Moody Blues, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Meat Loaf (as part of the duo Stoney & Meatloaf) and Bob Seger." Shaun was a member of Little feat until January 2009. Shaun and Don Ray give a very memorable performance as they duel back and forth on this great soulful blues song.

 

After "Love Is", the Don Ray Band finish off the DVD in fine style with 3 more performances which end with "Lonesome Rider", the title track of their second Album.

 

Fans of the Don Ray Band are really going to enjoy this latest offering. It was not only a DVD chalked full of really good performances, but also a well produced DVD. Beyond that, I kind of wished they would have included a booklet, but what the hell, who has time to read when the Don Ray Band are up on stage.

 

"Live In Nashville" has no problem getting my recommendation as a really decent Concert DVD. Nothing overly fancy, but sometimes that can be a good thing.

 

Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)

Additional Info

 

Tracklist

01. In Your Eyes
02. A Woman Becomes The Blues
03. Monday Morning Blues
04. So Far Away
05. Boom Chika Wah Wah
06. So Wicked
07. I Cant' Find My Angel
08. Victim Of Passion
09. The Trigger
10. Gone Nowhere
11. Ball and Chain
12. The Ruckus Room
13. Love Is
14. Barbecue and Beans
15. Poison
16. Lonesome Rider

 

View A Video Here...

 

Websites:

 

http://www.donrayband.com/