Doug Prescott Band - Hot Night in November (2012)

Tracklist

01. Happy Enough Song (Live)
02. Hideaway (Live)
03. Patience (Live)
04. Oh Maggie (Live)
05. Let's Get Wide Open (Live)
06. Whatever (Live)
07. Savannah Wind (Live)
08. Beach Wedding (Live)
09. Silence Speaks Volumes (Live)
10. Dinosaur (Live)
11. Kingdom Come (Live)
12. Right Time, Right Place (Live)
13. Little Elvis & Fat Cat Eddie (Live)


Less than a year after his last full-length, Doug Prescott is back with the Doug Prescott Band’s new live release “Hot Night in November”. Produced by Tony Bowman and Doug Prescott, and featuring a similarly impressive group of musicians, this release is a moving and memorable listen.

Last time around we reviewed Doug Prescott’s CD “The Journey & the Deep Blue Sea” featuring an all-star band that included Craig Fuller (Pure Prairie League, Little Feat), Will McFarlane (Bonnie Raitt’s former guitarist), Allyn Love (played with Steve Wariner and Patti Lovelace), Tony Bowman (Edgar Winters), and Martin Parker (played with Vince Gill).

As you all remember, Doug Prescott is an Americana/Blues/Alt Country artist from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His music is “truly American”, with influences such as Little Feat, The Neville Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel and Jimmy Buffet. From love ballads to political rockers, the common thread in Prescott’s song writing is honesty.

“Hot Night In November” contains 13 tracks and features all of Doug Prescott’s classics. Apart from the more well known tracks off the “The Journey & The Deep Blue Sea” album, this live set also includes “Kingdom Come” and “Whatever” from Doug’s 1996 album release, “Chummin In Waters of Love.”

Over and above Doug Prescott’s gritty gravely Americana voice, his backing band carries the torch on each and every track. From the kick-off classic, “Happy Enough Song,” the boys rock, rollick and groove for eleven tracks non-stop, without once slipping a beat or showing any intention of letting up, until “Right Time Right Place” the penultimate song on the album, where the band slide into a gentle waltzing swing and then roll out on a fanfare with “Little Elvis And Fat Cat Eddie.”

In between, a load full of highlights fill the album. “Patience,” “Oh Maggie,” “Beach Wedding,” “Hideway” and “Silence Speak Volumes” probably being the best of the pick for me. But I could easily continue adding album strong points, like “Dinosaur” or the strumming acoustic “Savannah Wind.”

If you like the Americana sound, it’s difficult not to appreciate this album. Doug Prescott and his band, play it like it is. No frills, hyper electronics or gadget wizardry, just good old American tunes played on real instruments, straight from the heart.

Don’t expect long jams or reinterpretations of classic songs here, but fairly straightforward, more energetic and fun versions than the studio recordings of everything Doug Prescott does best.

All along Doug and the band sound like they’re having the time of their lives while playing these songs. This is a great CD to pick up as an introduction to The Doug Prescott Band’s music, just be prepared to smile and sing along, you wont be able to help it.

DOWNLOAD ALBUM [flac]