SEAN COSTELLO
AT HIS BEST—LIVE
LANDSLIDE RECORDS LD CD 1040
SAN-HO-ZAY–BLUES SHADOWS–T-BONE BOOGIE–ALL YOUR LOVE–I GET A FEELING–CHECK IT OUT–CAN I CHANGE MY MIND?–YOU’RE KILLING MY LOVE–RECONSIDER BABY–DOING MY OWN THING–THE HUCKLEBUCK–MOTOR HEAD BABY–HOLD ON THIS TIME–THE BATTLE IS OVER BUT THE WAR GOES ON–PEACE OF MIND–LUCILLE
Many pundits declare that the best way blues should be heard is in a live setting. If so, then Sean Costello certainly has a case for one of the most incendiary talents ever. His fans can attest to the power he put into all his shows, giving them the consummate performance every time out. Also, his time on this earth was woefully short, taken from us one day shy of his 29th birthday in April, 2008. As a fitting tribute, Landslide Records has just released “At His Best–Live,” featuring seventeen smokin’ cuts recorded at various venues from 2000-2007 in both the U.S. and Europe, taking an intimate snapshot of a young man on top of the blues world.
From the opening bounce of “San-Ho-Zay” to the last frenetic lines of “Lucille”, these cuts show why Sean Costello was such a dynamite performer. Aside from the stellar guitar chops, he had an earthy vocal delivery that made the audience feel his blues as he was pounding them out. And, he was versed not only in blues, but, rock, soul, and jazz as well, and we get a little tast of them all on this set. “Peace Of Mind” and “Can I Change My Mind” conjure up vintage soul, while “T-Bone Boogie” and “The Hucklebuck” swings from the first note. Sean’s affinity for classic blues shows in blistering takes of “All Your Love,” “Reconsider Baby,” and “Blue Shadows.”
We had two favorites, too. His vocal delivery is spot on in “Doing My Own Thing,” while his guitar pyrotechnics take center stage in Johnny Guitar Watson’s “Motor Head Baby.”
Sean Costello left a void in the blues world that will be impossible to fill. Those who were not fortunate to see him perform live can enjoy his classic moments with “At His Best–Live.”
Until next time… Sheryl and Don Crow, Nashville Blues Society.
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