For the record, I was born and raised in Oregon and my formative years contained equal parts Dukes Of Hazzard and Hee Haw, along with steady exposure to Willie and Waylon (R.I.P.). Then, when I was 12, I discovered The Ramones and I never looked back. Now, as I've grown older, I realize nothing warms my heart like the sound of a steel guitar and it's good to know I'm not the only one who feels that way. The self-proclaimed Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band in the World also has a soft spot for a good ol' country classic. In 1997, the Supersuckers recorded Must've Been High, an album chock full of their own brand of country songs, and ever since then their releases have included gems like Willie Nelson's Bloody Mary Morning and Merle Haggard's I Can't Hold Myself In Line.

Five years and hundreds of live performances later, the Supersuckers are ready to alter people's definition of country with Must've Been Live. From the opening twang of Dead In The Water this could easily be labeled "country", but I've never understood why the music industry needs to put everything into tidy categories. Artists such as The Knitters and Country Dick Montana have attempted similarly styled projects, and I only hope that more musicians will be inspired to adopt broader outlooks and varied influences. Great music isn't about genres, it's about talent and well crafted songs, a concept that seems to be lost on the masses.

With a mixture of covers and original material ranging from Rex Allen Jones' melancholy Cowpoke, to the free-spirited Roamin' 'Round, this live recording is rich with acoustic guitar and harmonica and has a more reverent tone than most of their previous work. However, there are enough digressions to prove the boys aren't taking themselves too seriously either. From blazing guitar rifts, to the broken-hearted drinking anthems like Drivin' Nails In My Coffin, everything you expect from the Supersuckers is here in spades and the special musical guests only serve to heighten the overall experience. As a fan of their raucous live shows, I particularly fancy the rollicking foot-stompers Alabama, Louisian Or Maybe Tennessee, Hangin' Out With Me and Blow You Away, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a tender ballad (albeit one loaded with references to the Devil) like Don't Go Blue, and there is something sweetly touching about Hungover Together, a duet with Amy Nelson.

Footnote: On February 7th, Supersuckers guitarist Ron Heathman and his wife Dawn became proud parents. Unfortunately, their daughter Ruby was born with a rare heart defect and will require several operations. During these trying times he has decided not to tour with the band. His close friend Martin "Metal Marty" Chandler (Hog Molly) will take his place on the spring tour. We wish him and his family the best.

Poizen Ivy

(all MP3 files are 48k for easy download)