Live Monsters by Big Head Todd & The Monsters (1998) - Live

Few modern rockers have managed to capture the ephemeral combination of sloppy and serious that earmarked the Band in its prime. That vibe--sounding four-beers casual during a soberly determined performance--accounts for the success of bluesy Big Head Todd & The Monsters; this Boulder, Colorado, group's jammy mix is simultaneously dirty and clean, offhanded and acute, backwoods and scholarly. It's nothing new, as these so-so concert-tracked numbers attest. But there's something there in the performance, a faint glimmer of bygone Band brilliance, that breathes life into pedestrian BHT standards such as "Tangerine," "It's Alright," and the breakthrough hit "Bittersweet." The crowd dutifully goes wild over every muddled note, however, picking up on that sloppy/serious thing more immediately in the flesh. As a live document, even a case for fame, Live Monsters will leave many scratching their befuddled noggins. Why these guys? And did we remember to turn the porch light on before we left for the show tonight? There are no clear-cut answers. Just a lot of jamming and that weird vintage vibe. --Tom Lanham