SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RIVAL SONS – A PAIR OF ACES: LIVE FROM SANTA CATALINA ISLAND (PART 1)

RIVAL SONS
A PAIR OF ACES: LIVE FROM SANTA CATALINA ISLAND (PART 1)
SACRED TONGUE RECORDINGS

In 2021, Rival Sons traveled to Catalina Island, California to record a pair of performances entirely live off the floor. The first of these, A Pair Of Aces, Pt. 1 was recorded in the historic ballroom of the casino and sees the band perform their 2009 debut album, Before The Fire, in its entirety.

Opening with the sound of the tide coming in set against church bells, Rival Sons set the scene before kicking down the door with the fiery riff of “Tell Me Something”. Immediately, it becomes clear that the band absolutely thrives in the live context as the band rolls with ease through the shifting pulse and grooves of the song. Followed by “Lucky Girl” and “Memphis Sun” – the former of which is another driving rocker accented by a catchy vocal melody, and the latter of which is a slowly sauntering blues number – Rival Sons demonstrate a level of chemistry as a unit, alongside a conviction to their early work that remains as strong today as it was back in 2009.

A Pair Of Aces, Pt. 1 effectively captures Rival Sons in their natural element. Their performance is stellar and ultimately breathes a new sense of life into Before The Fire. In addition to a fantastic vocal delivery from Jay Buchanan, Scott Holiday continues to prove himself as a modern guitar hero as he seamlessly covers both lead and rhythm parts with exceptionally curated tones and Mike Miley stands as a driving force behind the kit with a subtle feel and larger than life fills at crucial moments. In addition to the three-punch knockout that opens the album, highlights include “Pocket Full Of Stones”, “I Want More”, and “Flames Of Lanka”.

Fifteen years later, the music of Before The Fire remains impressively powerful, demonstrating exactly why Rival Sons, almost immediately, became among the most thrilling new bands of the last decade. By revisiting this album, the band is able to add a level of refinement to their performance which seeks to elevate their classic material. There is something indescribably nostalgic for the live performances of both Zeppelin and the Stones, likely from the raw and combustible energy that emerges from the grit you can only get from a live performance without any overdubs. As a result, A Pair Of Aces, Pt. 1 is a stellar live album that should revitalize the role of the live album for modern rock. At the very least, this is more than enough to stoke the excitement ahead of A Pair Of Aces, Pt. 2, set for release on December 13, 2024.

SPILL FEATURE: AS AUTHENTIC AS WE CAN BE – A CONVERSATION WITH RIVAL SONS’ SCOTT HOLIDAY

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