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Non-Prog Concert Reviews

Drunken Prayer

Live in Portland, Oregon, July 2012

Review by Larry Toering

A night with such a band as this had been long awaited. I couldn't have made a better choice for first time seeing this act, because they brought the house down! It was a spectacular night of music and great vibes all over the place.
Front man, Morgan Geer is a sight to behold, but if you know his studio work and haven't seen him perform with his band, you're in for quite a surprise.  It's a whole different ball game, and not necessarily better, just more than what his recorded music lets on. Man, did he bring the fire along with a killer line-up that obviously featured some guests I've seen perform around town in what is a crop of some of the best musicians Portland has to offer. I've only been tapped into Americana for a couple of years and it actually started with Drunken Prayer, but in the last year I have been exposed to so many of them and can't find one that I don't like. This band is one of them, and it was great to finally see how the music translates in a live setting. 

Larry Toering
 
Larry Toering
   

The show featured plenty of their latest CD supported, combined with tracks from the first release and more. This great band played a burning set of their best work and delivered it with pure ferocity. I was impressed mostly because I expected something more mellow and just overall less intense. But it was more like a statement, like a homecoming should be. Geer has roots on the east coast but has been in the NW for a while now and really seems to be enjoying a productive phase in his musical career. There were several highlights during the performance, in fact the whole thing was a highlight to me, with new tracks like “The Missionfield,” “Mary Jane” and “Take A Walk,” along with “Saw It With My Own Two Eyes,” and “Beachcomber.”

It was all topped off with the killer “Ain't No Grave” and even a Beatles cut that they ripped through with ease before calling it a night. This is one band not to be missed. It really was a spectacular showing of first class songs and musicianship to back it all the way. Now that I've seen them I can not only say that they're great, but recommend them to anyone who likes real music that is full of emotion and passion, combined with playful seriousness. We have a review of their latest CD here at MSJ, which provides no better place to start when it comes to them. If you get out to see anyone the remainder of this year, make sure to put the Prayer at the top of you list, as they put on nothing short of a blistering show that will move you, as it did me.


Larry Toering
 
Larry Toering
   
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 4 at lulu.com/strangesound.
You'll find concert pics of this artist in the Music Street Journal members area.
 
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