Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

You Asked For It . . . Live!

Alligator Records

If there is any one way you can describe Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, it would have to be it’s time for some fun so let’s get this party started! And you get exactly that whenever you attend one of their performances. It’s no wonder why so many people have begged for a live recording over the years. In fact, that is just what they decided to name the new album, too, You Asked For It . . . Live!

This isn’t the first time that Estrin has been involved with the release of a live album. But it has been more than twenty years since that last one he did when the band was still known as Little Charlie & The Nightcats. And overall in the band’s time frame under that name, that live disc was one of legends, displaying all the good times to be had at one of their shows.

You Asked For It . . . Live! has all of those same qualities. Recorded in San Francisco at Biscuits and Blues, it is filled with the humorous stories and the knock-out playing of every one of the band members. Estrin is a Blues Music Award winning harmonica player and songwriter, who has quite the glib turn of the phrase. This live show features many of his best-known and most loved songs, including “My Next Ex-Wife,” “Dump That Chump,” “Smart Like Einstein,” “That’s Big” and “Don’t Do It.”

Little Charlie Baty was renowned for his extraordinary guitar work and when he retired it was questioned whether the band could survive. With the addition of Kid Andersen it was proven right away that there was no need for worry. After first cutting his teeth in America playing with Charlie Musselwhite, Andersen has become the perfect foil for Estrin with his imaginative and tuneful string work. And during this show he was really allowed to stretch out with some over the top runs and solos.

Filling out the band are two long-time cohorts of Estrin. Bass and keyboard player Lorenzo Farrell and drummer J. Hansen who also takes his turn on vocals on “Baker Man Blues.”

If you have the opportunity to catch Rick Estrin & The Nightcats live on stage, make every effort to do so. In the meantime, pick up a copy of You Asked For It . . . Live! It’s the next best thing to being at a club watching them, and you can relive it over and over again.

Total Time: 75:31

Handle With Care / Clothes Line / New Old Lady / My Next Ex-Wife / Baker Man Blues / Keep Your Big Mouth Shut / Smart Like Einstein / That’s Big / You Gonna Lie / Never Trust A Woman / Dump That Chump / Don’t Do It / Too Close Together