CHAD SMITH'S BOMBASTIC MEATBATS
''LIVE MEAT AND POTATOES, DISC TWO''
MAY 22, 2012
106:59
DISC ONE
1 - Opps!i Spilled My Beer/6:30
2 - Passing The Ace/6:37
3 - Mountain Of Meat/5:12
4 - The Gunboat Is On!/4:31
5 - Nightsweats/8:01
6 - Topps Off/9:24
7 - Pigsfeet/8:11
8 - Need Strange/7:26
All Tracks By The Bombastic Meatbats
DISC TWO
1 - Deathmatch/6:20
2 - Battle For Ventura Blvd/6:44
3 - Moby Dick/John Baldwin, John Bonham, James P. Page/3:13
4 - Shilo's Forbidden City Blues/6:06
5 - Breadballs/9:07
6 - Lobster Legs/5:23
7 - Into The Floyd/14:06
Tracks By The Bombastic Meatbats, Except 3
Kevin Chown /Bass
Jeff Kollman /Guitar
Ed Roth /Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Organ
Chad Smith /Drums
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
Album number three from Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer Chad Smith's jazz side project is probably too early for Smith to go the double-disc live route. That's because nearly all of the tunes are included in his band's two studio sets. This show, recorded at a North Hollywood club in 2009, finally saw release three years later, perhaps to keep the band's name alive while Smith was busy with his full-time Peppers gig. Regardless, the foursome is revved up, and these 15 concert versions are slightly more energized than the previously recorded ones, which were already pretty zippy. Many are extended with longer jams, which push both "Breadballs" and "Into the Floyd" to twice their studio lengths. Considering the live presentation and the group's predilection for '70-styled electric jazz-rock, these performances feature particularly tasty and remarkably restrained playing, even with their longer lengths. Some of the ballads, like the bluesy "Shilo's Forbidden City Blues" and the comparatively delicate "Nightsweats," display the four members' chops and assured sense of dynamics. It's that cohesive interaction that separates these players from similarly oriented outfits who play fast and furious, as if they are paid by the note. Kudos to drummer Smith, one of the rare non-singing bandleaders of his instrument, to refrain from taking an extended drum solo, although he does a short but intense guitar/drum conversation on "Need Strange." That's unusual, particularly when the group kicks into Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick," always a spotlight for John Bonham's skin work. Smith really seems like just one of the guys and even though his percussive work serves as the motor behind the group, and provides the carrot to bring Chili Pepper indie rock and funk fans into the club, he never hogs attention. He doesn't need to, with the quality of the guitar, bass, and keyboard musicians who make this often complex music click so effortlessly with communal playing that remains gripping despite the length of the pieces. Casual listeners might find this an extraneous release, but fans will appreciate the different solos, and new ones can start here to enjoy one of contemporary jazz fusion's tightest and most rugged ensembles.
BIOGRAPHY
by Greg Prato
In 2009, drummer Chad Smith was certainly one busy gentleman. It was during this year that Smith manned the drums for supergroup Chickenfoot and closed out the year with work on the Red Hot Chili Pepper's tenth studio album overall. And between the two, he somehow also found the time to launch another project, the all-instrumental Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats. The genesis of the band can be traced back to Smith's friendship with former Trapeze/Deep Purple bassist/singer Glenn Hughes. Through jamming with Hughes, Smith befriended several musicians who often play in Hughes' solo band -- guitarist Jeff Kollman and keyboardist Ed Roth. After they played together, they soon decided to record their efforts -- with bassist Kevin Chown assuming the spot of Hughes. The debut Meatbats recording, Meet the Meatbats, was issued in September 2009 via Warrior Records, and is comprised of vintage-sounding Billy Preston meets Return to Forever funk-jazz-fusion. In late October 2009, the quartet launched a multi-date Japanese tour, but further dates seemed few and far between due to Smith's commitments to the Chili Peppers. However, Smith reassembled the Meatbats for 2010's More Meat and offered up a 2009 live performance, Live Meat and Potatoes in 2012.
''LIVE MEAT AND POTATOES, DISC TWO''
MAY 22, 2012
106:59
DISC ONE
1 - Opps!i Spilled My Beer/6:30
2 - Passing The Ace/6:37
3 - Mountain Of Meat/5:12
4 - The Gunboat Is On!/4:31
5 - Nightsweats/8:01
6 - Topps Off/9:24
7 - Pigsfeet/8:11
8 - Need Strange/7:26
All Tracks By The Bombastic Meatbats
DISC TWO
1 - Deathmatch/6:20
2 - Battle For Ventura Blvd/6:44
3 - Moby Dick/John Baldwin, John Bonham, James P. Page/3:13
4 - Shilo's Forbidden City Blues/6:06
5 - Breadballs/9:07
6 - Lobster Legs/5:23
7 - Into The Floyd/14:06
Tracks By The Bombastic Meatbats, Except 3
Kevin Chown /Bass
Jeff Kollman /Guitar
Ed Roth /Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Organ
Chad Smith /Drums
REVIEW
by Hal Horowitz
Album number three from Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer Chad Smith's jazz side project is probably too early for Smith to go the double-disc live route. That's because nearly all of the tunes are included in his band's two studio sets. This show, recorded at a North Hollywood club in 2009, finally saw release three years later, perhaps to keep the band's name alive while Smith was busy with his full-time Peppers gig. Regardless, the foursome is revved up, and these 15 concert versions are slightly more energized than the previously recorded ones, which were already pretty zippy. Many are extended with longer jams, which push both "Breadballs" and "Into the Floyd" to twice their studio lengths. Considering the live presentation and the group's predilection for '70-styled electric jazz-rock, these performances feature particularly tasty and remarkably restrained playing, even with their longer lengths. Some of the ballads, like the bluesy "Shilo's Forbidden City Blues" and the comparatively delicate "Nightsweats," display the four members' chops and assured sense of dynamics. It's that cohesive interaction that separates these players from similarly oriented outfits who play fast and furious, as if they are paid by the note. Kudos to drummer Smith, one of the rare non-singing bandleaders of his instrument, to refrain from taking an extended drum solo, although he does a short but intense guitar/drum conversation on "Need Strange." That's unusual, particularly when the group kicks into Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick," always a spotlight for John Bonham's skin work. Smith really seems like just one of the guys and even though his percussive work serves as the motor behind the group, and provides the carrot to bring Chili Pepper indie rock and funk fans into the club, he never hogs attention. He doesn't need to, with the quality of the guitar, bass, and keyboard musicians who make this often complex music click so effortlessly with communal playing that remains gripping despite the length of the pieces. Casual listeners might find this an extraneous release, but fans will appreciate the different solos, and new ones can start here to enjoy one of contemporary jazz fusion's tightest and most rugged ensembles.
BIOGRAPHY
by Greg Prato
In 2009, drummer Chad Smith was certainly one busy gentleman. It was during this year that Smith manned the drums for supergroup Chickenfoot and closed out the year with work on the Red Hot Chili Pepper's tenth studio album overall. And between the two, he somehow also found the time to launch another project, the all-instrumental Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats. The genesis of the band can be traced back to Smith's friendship with former Trapeze/Deep Purple bassist/singer Glenn Hughes. Through jamming with Hughes, Smith befriended several musicians who often play in Hughes' solo band -- guitarist Jeff Kollman and keyboardist Ed Roth. After they played together, they soon decided to record their efforts -- with bassist Kevin Chown assuming the spot of Hughes. The debut Meatbats recording, Meet the Meatbats, was issued in September 2009 via Warrior Records, and is comprised of vintage-sounding Billy Preston meets Return to Forever funk-jazz-fusion. In late October 2009, the quartet launched a multi-date Japanese tour, but further dates seemed few and far between due to Smith's commitments to the Chili Peppers. However, Smith reassembled the Meatbats for 2010's More Meat and offered up a 2009 live performance, Live Meat and Potatoes in 2012.
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