Mavis Staples
'Zoo Twilights'
Melbourne Zoo
Melbourne, Australia

Saturday 7 March 2020

Recorded by eckythump from lawn
Source: Nokia Lumia 930 (called Lumia Icon in North America) w/built-in HAAC mics > Audio Recorder Pro app > 16bit/48 KHz PCM/WAV
Encoding: Trader's Little Helper > FLAC (Level 8)

Mastered by audiowhore

Track List:

00 - Intro
01 - If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)
02 - Take Us Back
03 - Slippery People (Talking Heads cover)
04 - Mavis talks
05 - Build A Bridge
06 - Who Told You That
07 - Brothers and Sisters
08 - Eyes on the Prize
09 - Mavis talks
10 - You Are Not Alone
11 - Mavis talks
12 - Stronger
13 - Anytime
14 - Change
15 - Respect Yourself
16 - I'll Take You There

Mavis Staples - vocals
Rick Holmstrom - guitar, background vocals
Jeff Turmes - bass, background vocals
Stephen Hodges - drums
Donny Gerrard - background vocals
Vicki Randle - background vocals

Show notes: Mavis and band put on a tremendous show to close out the Zoo Twilights series for 2020. It was a little shorter than I was expecting to be honest, and there was no encore, but what we get was excellent. At 79 years old at the time, Mavis can still belt out those amazing tunes, along with her excellent band.

As it turned out this was the last show I saw prior to the Covid 19 pandemic that swept the world - less than 2 weeks later Australia, and the world, was shutting down in response to the most serious world health crisis in 100 years. I think that's why I was reluctant to share this recording until now, because it depressed the hell out of me this could be the last live show I would see in over a year. As it has transpired, Australia has done extremely well in eliminating the virus for the most part from society, and we're taking baby steps in having live music resuming. I still haven't been to a show yet at time of writing (6 December 2020) as Melbourne had a second wave to deal with the rest of the country didn't, but I have a few shows lined up over the next month, and I'm hopeful for a brighter 2021. Thinking of all my live music compatriots around the world who aren't so fortunate. Let's hope 2021 will offer us all some more hope.

Recording notes: The Zoo Twilight shows are pretty relaxed, with people bringing in blankets, drinks and snacks and watching the performance in a large open grassed area of the zoo. I placed the recorder on a bag and sat back and watched the show. A little while back I sent my recording over to my friend audiowhore who has done an excellent job mastering it, saving me some time! If you're a Mavis fan this is a great recording of what is still her second to last show pre pandemic at time of writing. Enjoy!