Blue Öyster Cult - 2023 - 50th Anniversary Live. First Night [mini-review]

(111:00; Frontiers Music)



















US band Blue Öyster Cult are out with the CD and DVD "50th Anniversary Live. First Night", and hard rock is the style explored on this production. This veteran band is one that comes with a distinct art rock flavor of course, and the fact that they celebrated 50 years as an active band this year will probably make some people feel old. On this first of three nights in a row the band performed their debut album in full, and then added various bits and pieces of their legacy from the earliest days all the way until their most recent production for the rest of the show, concluding this first of three concerts a few minutes shy of the two hour mark. The most impressive bit here is that these veterans managed to provide a two hour show in the first place, closely followed by the fact that the band comes across as tight and smooth throughout. The vocals aren't quite what they used to be of course, and the drama and grandiosity of some of the tracks have been replaced with a bit more subtle nuance, in part to adapt to the vocals I'd imagine, but everything flows fine throughout and the band obviously have a lot of experience when it comes to providing the audience with an entertaining show: Even the newest members have been with the band for just about two decades. While I wouldn't describe this as an essential live album, those who tend to enjoy hearing this band performing live will get a good quality experience with this one, and with a unique set list too: I don't know how often the band have played through their whole first album in order and if any of the previous occasions have been released as official live albums, hence this is a special live album for that reason alone. An obvious album to buy for fans of course, and a good manner in which to become familiar with these elder statesmen of progressive rock flavored hard rock for those who have yet to become familiar with this band.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, December 2023

Links:
http://blueoystercult.com/
https://www.frontiers.it/

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