VARIOUS ARTISTS
Wintertime Blues: The Benefit Concert (Evil Teen Records)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Wintertime Blues is an annual Habitat for Humanity benefit concert arranged by Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes. This two-disc set captures the 1999 holiday show which featured a jam-band who's who including Gov't Mule, Cry of Love, Edwin McCain, Johnny Neel, and a few other surprises. The Derek Trucks Band rocks with "Rastaman Chant" and sits in with Susan Tedeschi on a simmering "Just Won't Burn." Tedeschi's version of "Angel From Montgomery" is as inspired a version of that John Prine nugget as any that has been recorded over the past 25 years, including Bonnie Raitt's or Bonnie Koloc's. Fans of jam-bands like String Cheese Incident or Phish will appreciate the extended jams on this 2-disc set as long as they don't mind the band getting a little bit country in an Allman Brothers vein. Blues legend Little Milton helps out with "When the Blues Come Knockin" and the closing song "Merry Christmas Baby" will be one of the first cuts I'll play next Christmas Eve. A truly wonderful holiday tradition that should be played throughout the year.

Track List

Disc One

Beautiful Life - Edwin McCain * Alive - Edwin McCain and Warren Haynes * Rastaman Chant - Derek Trucks Band * Chicken Strut - Derek Trucks Band * 555 Lake - Derek Trucks Band * Yield Not To Temptation - Derek Trucks Band, with Col. Bruce Hampton and Jimmy Herring * Turn On Your Lovelight - Derek Trucks Band with Susan Tedeschi, Col. Bruce Hampton and Jimmy Herring * Ain't That Lovin' You - Derek Trucks Band * Don't Change Horses - Derek Trucks Band, Edwin McCain and Jimmy Herring * Just Won't Burn - Derek Trucks Band with Susan Tedeschi

Disc Two

Angel From Montgomery - Susan Tedeschi * Pretty As You Please - Cry of Love * Peace Pipe - Cry of Love * Bad Little Doggie - Gov't Mule * Lay Your Burden Down - Gov't Mule and Johnny Neel * Fallen Down - Gov't Mule and Johnny Neel * Devil Like It Slow - Gov't Mule and Johnny Neel * Spoonful - Gov't Mule and Guests * When the Blues Come Knockin' - Gov't Mule, Little Milton and Johnny Neel * Finale: Merry Christmas Baby

© 2000 - Eric Steiner