DVD: The Marshall Tucker Band
Live From the Garden State 1981 (Shout!)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Although they got lumped in the boogie-band school of Southern rock by most, there was always a little more than that to The Marshall Tucker Band. Maybe it was the flute, maybe it was Toy Caldwell's affinity for jazz, maybe those and something more or something else altogether, but they broke stereotypes and played interesting, affecting music.

If you missed the era, this DVD is a good way to catch up. Filmed for an MTV broadcast in 1981, the band features all the original players except Toy's brother, Tommy, who died in a traffic accident the year before. The fifteen song set includes the hits, of course, and more, and gives the band plenty of room to stretch out and display the kind of chops that allowed them to explore new musical territory from a familiar foundation.

The concert is augmented by a short feature, "Which One Is Marshall Tucker?," which chronicles the history of the band through interviews and archival footage. The whole package is a must have for a Southern rock shelf.

© 2005 - Shaun Dale