Prior to downloading this show, the best sounding complete live Mescaleros set I had heard was the famous Benefit Concert (Firefighters) at Acton Town Hall in London, from November 2002. In fact it originally featured as the second post on the blog in 2011. It was then removed with some others, during a restructuring of those that had been officially released during the blog's lifetime. It's now available as a digital download from Hellcat Records and also on a limited Record Day vinyl release.
Joe Strummer, former frontman of the Clash, took to the road with his band the Mescaleros, for promotional work and live dates to publicise the release of their second album 'Global A Go-Go'. The album was released by Hellcat Records/Epitaph on July 24, 2001.
After a set of in-store appearances and a one-off show in Los Angeles on August 4, the Mescaleros returned to North America in October 2001 for a limited set of shows. The North American tour was followed quickly by a short five-date UK tour, during November 2001. I was fortunate to be present for one of those shows. It was the second time I had seen the Mescaleros and when Joe took to the stage, he strode on wearing a suit, earning immense cheers and surprise at his attire. The set list was similar to this earlier show from the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington on October 17, 2001.
Where this live recording has been previously posted, the lack of source details must surely have caused many to overlook it, believing it to be an audience recording. It is either a soundboard or FM recording and has an excellent mix. I have seen it noted as an FM broadcast on old trader's lists and some compression is noticeable on the louder uptempo numbers. Limited quality recordings are available from this tour and for those reasons I recommend it to any Clash fan.
The radio interview is a bonus track and was broadcast by the BBC earlier in the year on May 24, 2001. Joe can be heard discussing Bob Dylan's 60th birthday, along with Stevie Wonder and a rather snobbish BBC presenter, who allows Joe to sing brief snatches of 'Blowin' In The Wind' and 'Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues'
Interviews with ex members of the band mention they had misgivings over the quantity of Clash songs included in the set lists of this tour. Here there are only three Strummer/Jones compositions. The new Mescaleros album has eight of its eleven songs performed live. Most of the 'Clash' songs were actually covers of some of Joe's favourite reggae tunes.
JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS
Key Arena, Seattle, WA.
October 17, 2001
Soundboard / FM
Lineage: Trade > CDR > EAC > WAV > Traders Little Helper > FLAC
CD1:
01. Cool 'N' Out
02. Global-a-Go-Go
03. Rudy Can't Fail
04. Bhindi Bhagee
05. Armagideon Time (Willi Williams)
06. Shaktar Donetsk
07. Mega Bottle Ride
08. Tony Adams
09. Police And Thieves (Junior Murvin/Lee Perry)
10. Mondo Bongo
11. Johnny Appleseed
12. Bummed Out City
CD2:
01. Police On My Back (Eddy Grant)
02. The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff)
03. Pressure Drop (Toots Hibberts)
04. I Fought The Law (Sonny Curtis)
05. Bankrobber
06. Yalla Yalla
07. A Message To You Rudy (Dandy Livingstone)
08. London's Burning
09. Blitzkrieg Bop (Ramones)
10. Radio Interview
LINK
Thanks! This looks great!
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