Live From The Middle East

Sound DNA

• Reggae
• Ska

• raw
• rowdy
• punky

About

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ end-of-the-year hometown concerts had been a tradition since 1994, but the band had never had as much to celebrate as they did during their five sold-out shows at the Middle East, in Cambridge, Mass., at the end of 1997. <i>Let’s Face It</i> had just gone platinum, and “The Impression That I Get” was one of the year's most-played songs. The band appeared ferociously amped-up on early tunes like “Hope I Never Lose My Wallet,” “Do Something Crazy," and “Devil’s Night Out,” both of which had been fan favorites since the group’s early days. But what makes the album great is how well the more recent material fares. “Royal Oil,” “Let’s Face It,” and “The Rascal Oil”—all from <i>Let’s Face It</i>—are some of the group’s most purposeful songs, adding tragic themes and poignant undertones to the band’s bouncy attack. The Bosstones’ longstanding ability to rile a crowd comes into play at the set's end, and the crowd’s unconstrained zeal becomes audible on “Dr. D.,” “Where’d You Go?," and “The Impression That I Get.”

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits