Back in the '70s, both
Pat Travers and
Carmine Appice were responsible for laying down the boogie --
Travers as a leader of the
Pat Travers Band, and
Appice as a member of
Cactus and Beck Bogert & Appice. Fast forward three decades later, and the duo has decided to combine their talents (along with session pro bassist
T.M. Stevens), as
Travers & Appice. Touring in support of a debut album with the title of It Takes a Lot of Balls, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that their shows were rift with testosterone-heavy rock (but with a bluesy feel). Less than a year after the arrival of their debut comes a concert set, 2005's
Live at the House of Blues. With
Travers & Appice splitting the vocal duties, the group harks back to the days when power trios ruled the earth. Focusing primarily on tracks from their debut, selections such as "Taken," "Better From a Distance," and "Keep on Rockin'" benefit from a live setting, as their bluesy swagger is even more overstated. Also included are winks to both player's pasts --
Travers with "Boom, Boom" and
Appice with a re-worked, rockin' version of
Rod Stewart's disco hit, "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." Admittedly however, the lyrics are moronic in spots, with the usual hard livin'/roadside bar fare. But if tough blues-rock is your thing, it's best to experience it in a live setting, and
Live at the House of Blues delivers. ~ Greg Prato