When you listen and watch Rory Gallagher, it’s difficult to not get
swept away by the raw sweat and emotion he pores into every song. Not many
performers do it like that any more. Gallagher’s untimely death from
complications associated with a liver transplant in 1995 cut short the potential
of guitar master whose light continues to shine. On the heels of an already
generous amount of material sprung from the vault by Eagle Rock come two new
releases that capture the essence of one of Ireland’s reigning musical
icons — Ghost Blues, a double DVD and its salty companion,
The Beat Club Sessions CD.
If you ever wanted to see, hear and learn everything that matters about Rory
Gallagher, the two DVDs have it covered. Ghost Blues, the
first disc, is a complete, authorized and definitive documentary of Gallagher’s
life. Everyone from his brother Donal and band mates Ted McKenna and Gerry
McAvo to Bob Geldof, U2’s The Edge, Slash, Cameron Crowe, Slash, Johnny
Marr of the Smiths and even Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones (whom Gallagher
almost joined) has their say about the guitarist.
The second disc comprises Gallagher’s appearances on the Beat Club
in 1971 and 1972. The video features 16 songs, while the CD has 12. Here are
performances where the guitarist lays down the law on no-nonsense blues-rockers
like “Laundromat,” “Hands Up” and “Sinnerboy.”
He easily switches over to the acoustic for the strident “Just The Smile.”
But then the bark and balls on “Used To Be” amd “In Your
Town” reminds you of Gallagher with his hell-bent, beat-up sunburst
1961 Stratocaster — you can only stand to the side and hold your breath.
Even the slow simmering blues of “Should’ve Learned My Lesson,”
“I Could’ve Had Religion” or “Hoodoo Man” can’t
contain the inferno burning between Gallagher and his band. They easily stack
up with the top power trios of the day, including American groups like Mountain
and Grand Funk Railroad. Add the Dylanesque ruminations of “I Don’t
Know Where I’m Going” or “Going To My Hometown” to
the mix, and you can see why Rory Gallagher appeals to a wide cross-section
of blues aficionados, folkies, hard knockin’ rockers and everything
in between. His story is beautifully documented for all on Ghost Blues
and The Beat Club Sessions.
~ Shawn Perry
