Search - Cactus :: Fully Unleashed: The Live Gigs, Vol. 2

Even Better Than the 1st "Live Gigs"

Kevin G. | La Porte, IN | 02/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having previously purchased the first "Live Gigs," I pondered long and hard whether "Live Gigs II" would offer enough different variety of performance to merit paying the big money for it. It absolutely does.

It features tunes like Mellow Down Easy, Feel So Bad, Walkin' Blues, and Token Chokin' which weren't on Gigs I; and add to that slightly-to-greatly different versions of Long Tall Sally, Parchman Farm, Oleo, Bro. Bill, and even a different version of the 20 min.+ No Need to Worry (Slow Blues on Gigs II.) Also included is a much clearer, more vibrant version of One Way Or Another than the version on Gigs I, which is taken from the 12:30 a.m. performance, as opposed to this concert, which is the 10:30 p.m. show. In fact, the sound quality of this entire recording is astounding, considering it's 37 years old.

A previous reviewer mentioned that his only beefs were; 1.Ron Leejack's guitar solos buried in the mix, and 2. Rusty Day's harmonica playing. He must have gotten a bad copy. I've listened to this CD on a state-of-the-art system, as well as a cheap boombox and, in both cases, Leejack's guitar was easily discernable. As for Rusty's harp playing, he's a serviceable blues /boogie harp player. He's no Magic Dick (who is?), but he beats the hell out of Bob Dylan and others.

One big difference in this concert is the addition of Leejack, giving the great Jim McCarty a baseline rhythm from which to soar as well as a nice counter to his leads. Leejack gets in a couple decent leads himself; in particular, a nice slide guitar lead on Walkin' Blues.

I have thouroughly enjoyed this CD and am very glad I decided to take a gamble on it."

Excellent Live CD

Mark A. Cartier | Portland, Or. USA | 10/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great two disc set from the original lineup (with Ron Leejack added).



This is a great show from 6/26/71 at Gilligans in Upstate NY (near Buffalo). The songs are excellent, the band is having fun and they do a number of killer versions from their studio LPs.



My only issues (and the reason for the four stars) is someone apparently forgot to tell Eddie Kramer the engineer about Leejack. He solos in spots and he's so far down in the mix you can't hear him. In a couple of songs it's hard not to notice. I suspect this is one reason why the show was never released until now.



With that minor complaint (and some of Rusty's harp playing), if you want killer versions of Oleo, Parchman Farm, One Way or Another, Feel So Bad, Bro. Bill etc. this is something to get. Before you have to pay an arm or a leg for this - (see the prices on the first live selection) - get it from Rhino. It's a limited pressing but they are still available."

Absolutely Crushing Live CACTUS from Buffalo, NY 1971!!!

T. Kasuboski | Winneconne, Wisconsin United States | 09/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Praise the hard rockin' gods that Rhino Handmade decided to put out a second volume of CACTUS-Fully Unleashed!!! This was sure worth the wait and being that there are only 5000 copies it's worth whatever price you have to pay! Recorded live by legendary producer/engineer Eddie Kramer (Hendrix, Kiss, etc., etc.), CACTUS-Fully Unleashed Vol. 2 captures the band on fire in Buffalo, 1971. Unlike Vol. 1 which featured songs from multiple performances, Vol. 2 is just one singe show. One night with a band that could out-boogie anyone. CACTUS should have been as big as Led Zeppelin, but due to lack of band ego cohesion and over the top drug use, CACTUS never reached the mass audience they deserved. At any rate, this 2 CD set of almost 110 minutes of total balls out, hard rockin', proto-metal, post-blues, stoner boogie rock at its most intense, is another step towards finally giving CACTUS the recognition they deserve. And furthermore, it stands as a testament to one of the greatest blues/rock singers of all time, Rusty Day, who sadly departed earth for a better party many years ago now. Man could that guy sing/scream! Jim McCarty's guitar leads are absolutely savage as usual, and Ronnie Leejack's rhythm guitar (as well as a few killer leads of his own) just adds more power to the already overblown rhythm combo of Tim Bogart (one of the fattest bass sounds ever) and Carmine Appice's drum assault. There is not one single dull second in this show. This makes sense being that CACTUS lived and played hard to fight the dull moments. If only they could've kept it together longer. Thank god for this killer vault release! Perfect sound quality for the times, great packaging, and an unbelievably rockin' show in Buffalo! Rusty Day (R.I.P.)"