Max Webster
Hamilton, ON, Canada
Hamilton Place
January 1, 1979
This is the second gig on a two show day, where they debut some material that will be heard on A Million Vacations a few months later. Rascal Houdi would be tracked in the studio a couple weeks after this show with this exact same arrangement, but the album arrangement would be a bit more refined.
Taped from the eighth row, the sound on this audience tape is good and stable, aside from some slight bass distortion at times. The first half of Sun Voices is missing, but the show is otherwise pretty much complete (it just takes a couple minutes for the taper to get settled at the beginning of the show).
It's a very dynamic and energetic show from the band, showcasing a good depth of all colours of their material. And since it is only four months since their previous appearances at this theatre, they shuffle the setlist quite a bit, even moving Oh War! (which was usually the second song of the set) to the encore.
Interesting how the ending of Astonish Me (that fades out on the album) is what would become the ending of Charmonium on their next album.
Kim throws a bit of a familiar Rush tune into Toronto Tontos.
The impromptu Girl From Ipanema at the beginning of Hangover really showcases what a phenomenal musician Kim Mitchell is. That he has those jazz licks in his back pocket *and can write left of centre yet accessible music* really sets him apart from the rest. It is criminal that the world does not know his name (and that those who do know him usually only associate him with his 80s hits) - he is one of the best.
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Lineup:
Kim Mitchell - guitar & lead vocals
Terry Watkinson - keyboards & vocals
Gary McCracken - drums
Dave Myles - bass
More info on this show here:
http://www.maxwebsterlive.ca/1979-01-01-hamilton
1) Charmonium (tape) [cut]
2) Coming Off The Moon [cut]
3) Let Your Man Fly (Terry vocal)
4) Gravity
5) Sun Voices [cut]
6) Astonish Me
7) Rascal Houdi
8) Lip Service
9) Beyond The Moon (with country intro)
10) Diamonds Diamonds
11) In Context Of The Moon
12) Words To Words
13) Toronto Tontos
14) High Class In Borrowed Shoes
15) Waterline [cut]
16) Girl From Ipanema / Hangover
17) The Party
18) Oh War!
Enjoy, and keep it lossless !