“This is a song with a message,” cries Walter Trout as he steams into a pulsating rendition of Luther Allison’s I’m Back during this electrifying, and fittingly titled, live record. The subtext isn’t complicated, it merely signifies what the Dutch crowd, and all those who attended his 2015 comeback concerts, witnessed first hand: Trout’s resurrection from seemingly doomed rock ‘n’ roll casualty to roaring, blues-rock powerhouse is complete.
Even before a liver transplant saved his life in 2014, the guitarist wasn’t exactly sleepwalking towards retirement like Eric Clapton. As evidenced on past gems like ‘Live Trout’ and ‘No More Fish Jokes’, the veteran bluesman and his band are a wonderful live outfit who never give anything less than a 100%. On ‘Alive In Amsterdam’ they somehow exceed that figure with an incendiary performance powered by the turmoil and triumph of the last few years.
The lion’s share of the set features material from Trout’s masterful ‘Battle Scars’ and leaves us in no doubt how precarious his situation was. The slugging groove and desperate harmonies of Almost Gone, the painfully poignant Please Take Me Home and Haunted By The Night’s ghostly reaper tones are brutally revealing but, given the fact Trout is here to play them, also inspirational.
From a heart-stopping rendition of John Mayall’s Help Me – Trout made his name with the Bluesbreakers - to closing communal singalong The Love That We Once Knew, the joie de vivre of the band’s kinetic performance, and audience’s boisterous ovations, are fuelled by his against-the-odds recovery and what his dice with death represents: life is precious, so treasure every moment and don’t sweat the small stuff.
That’s reinforced by an emotionally stunning rendition of Goodbye To The Blues. Dedicated to BB King, it’s both a tribute to Trout’s hero and a message that, having seen the other side, he believes death isn’t something to fear. It also highlights how that ordeal has taken his artistry to another level, with his exceptional fretwork and renewed vocal prowess having returned more passionate and expressive than ever.
There’s nothing worse than live bands who recreate their albums note for note, and here songs are expanded, solos last as long as they need to and Trout’s generosity as a band leader gifts everyone time to shine. The setlist is equally relaxed, with the band slipping into an impossibly sumptuous rendition of instrumental bijou Marie’s Mood after a fan’s request.
Given the family atmosphere it’s fitting that fellow members of the Trout clan participate, with Walter’s wife Marie – whose moving blog on his failing health touched many a heart - introducing the band and son John adding extra six-string drive to Tomorrow Seems So Far Away, Playin’ Hideaway and Fly Away. The good-natured duel betwixt father and son on blues standard Rock Me Baby proves that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Everyone at Amsterdam’s Royal Theatre Carre is acutely aware of how lucky they are to witness this show. Trout’s appreciation for their support and their delight at seeing him again forges an unspoken bond between both parties, turning this gig into a life affirming celebration. ‘Alive In Amsterdam’ joins ‘Battle Scars’ as another first rate addition to Trout’s seemingly unstoppable second act.
Walter Trout Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Tue July 19 2016 - ST ALBANS Alban Arena
Wed July 20 2016 - WOLVERHAMPTON Robin
Fri July 22 2016 - CHESTER Live Rooms
Sat July 23 2016 - BURY ST EDMUNDS Apex Arts Centre
Mon October 17 2016 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
Tue October 18 2016 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy 2
Wed October 19 2016 - GATESHEAD Sage Gateshead
Fri October 21 2016 - ABERDEEN Lemon Tree
Sat October 22 2016 - EDINBURGH Edinburgh Queens Hall
Sun October 23 2016 - HOLMFIRTH Holmfirth Picturedrome
Tue October 25 2016 - SOUTHAMPTON Brook
Thu October 27 2016 - CARDIFF THE TRAMSHED
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