MOXY - Raw
July 3, 2002, 21 years ago
(Bullseye)
Here’s a collection of 17 live tracks from the rejuvenated Moxy, captured in what has always been the Toronto band’s hottest market, San Antonio, Texas, at a big classic rock fest that included performances by Saxon and U.D.O. You couldn’t have asked for better sound and better performances from the band. The rhythm section is hot and perfectly rendered, the guitars chunky, and new vocalist Brian Maxim loud and clear, although his vibrato’ed vocals take a little getting used to. As well, the guy is saddled with a batch of churlish lyrics that don’t exactly stand up well after all these years. Musically, this is old school hard rock, a little boogie woogie but quite heavy, highlights being ‘Rock Baby’, ‘Sweet Reputatio’n, ‘Can’t You See I’m A Star’ and swinging, slashing closer ‘Ridin’ High’. Material from the comeback studio album, 5, is also included, dovetailing nicely with its meat and potatoes power chord stance. Major crowd action though, turning this into a killer party from wily, road-tested veterans effortlessly cranking basic, somewhat dated hard rock in the vein of early Kiss, early Riot, Triumph or Legs Diamond (am I making myself clear?). See www.bullseyecanada.com for more info.
