One of the great tragedies in blues and rock history is that Albert Collins,
the famed “Master of the Telecaster,” whose wry songwriting and biting guitar
attack inspired a legion of rock players in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, died just
as his career was hitting its stride. Though he had been performing and recording
since the late 50s, Collins’ commercial success didn’t start clicking until
nearly 30 years later, and just as he was starting to reap the rewards of three
decades worth of work, he was struck down by liver cancer in 1993 at the age
of 61. For fans of the blues legend, it comes as a pleasant surprise that the
German label Inakustik should be releasing In Concert, a DVD
of Collins’ 1985 appearance on the German music show Ohne Filter. A
chance to see the “Iceman” in his prime seems too good to be true. In spite
of a rather rough presentation, it manages to avoid living up to this billing.
On the positive side, viewers are given the chance to see a truly unique musician
and get a closeup encounter with his homespun technique. Unlike most guitarists,
Collins tuned his instrument to the key of F minor and choked up on the neck
with a capo — something more akin to Joni Mitchell than your run of the
mill blues guitarist. The sounds he produces, however, are unmistakably tough
and stinging, as he plays with his thumb and forefinger; another trademark of
his style. Furthermore, Collins is backed by a solid band. Abb Locke plays a
satisfactorily greasy saxophone and backup guitarist Rob Noll plays well enough
in his own right. The rhythm section of Johnny B. Gayden on bass and Casey Jones
on drums are rock solid. The Icebreakers lay a foundation somewhere between
roadhouse blues and R&B funk and compliments Albert’s frosty tones like grits
with gravy.
Special guest Southside Johnny makes a lackluster appearance on “Brick,” blowing
an uninspired harp that lets the air out of an otherwise excellent tune. And
to further lament, the set was fairly lean on the humor that Collins applied
liberally to his songwriting. Songs like “Too Many Dirty Dishes,” “I Ain’t Drunk
(I’m just Drinkin’)”, and “Don’t Go Reachin’ Across My Plate” — tunes
that showcase his wit as well as the wicked guitar playing — are staples
of the Collins catalog. It’s too bad that this performance left these selections
out. The DVD package itself also leaves much to be desired. Complete with typos
in the captions and looking as though it was videotaped in a high school gymnasium
(loved the dry ice effect), the DVD doesn’t offer much for fans other than a
solid performance by Collins and the Icebreakers. The “extras” on this DVD include
a written Albert Collins biography and an interview with the producer. Pretty
tepid stuff. In the end, though, it’s the performance that makes the DVD worth
viewing and — for blues fans — owning. Watching the infectious Collins
perform is its own reward, and sadly, makes us miss him even more so many years
after his death.
~ Andrew Todd
