This performance always gives me chills.
I know not all live DVDs (or blu-rays) are essential. Some shows don’t translate well to the home theater. But there are a few that are absolutely indispensable for any music fan’s collection, and this is one of them. There are a couple of other live DVDs available from the band, but this is the one that combines a flawless performance, the energy of a band that’s breaking big, and a the power and intimacy of a small club show.
Live at El Mocambo is a live DVD recorded in 1983 by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble during their tour for their first album Texas Flood.
I listened to SRV a lot in the 1980s – he was my first real step toward an obsession with blues. To me, SRV is still that perfect combination of ripping blues and a touch of rock, but I never would’ve dug into Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Howlin’ Wolf and others without him.
The thing is, I haven’t listened to his music much in the past 10-15 years, but I’m dipping back into it recently and I’m instantly carried away by the incredible musicianship and underrated writing. Songs like “Pride and Joy,” “Love Struck Baby,” and “Crossfire,” are blues/rock classics.
His death in 1990 was one of the first musician deaths that really impacted me, and it’s painful to look back now and wonder how much great music we’ve missed out on.
“Texas Flood” is the undisputed highlight of this show, but this performance of Jimi Hendrix’ “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” also smokes. Nobody else could inhabit this iconic song like SRV, and he just blasts through it with no hesitation. SRV covered few rock songs (Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is another gem) so it’s nice to see him rip on a heavy rock classic..
