If anyone can cut it live then it would be Bluesbunny favourite Nell Bryden. Showing the resolve that we have come to expect (and love - yes, there are Bluesbunnies who are in love with Nell Bryden), the tracks on this album came from a tour of Iraq. Nothing like a war zone to sharpen up those chord changes…
There's a crowd pleasing selection of covers in this set including "Tuesday's Gone" and "House of the Rising Sun". Got to keep the audience happy after all as they have access to guns. Ms Bryden manages to squeeze in a good few of her own songs as well and, judging by the audience reaction, they went down pretty damn well too. What shows through most - and this is commendable given the where and when the album was recorded - is Ms Bryden's poise and confidence. If you hadn't known the album title, then you wouldn't have known where it was recorded.
The track order does seem a bit random interrupting the flow of the album but apart from that, this is an enjoyable and interesting listen (especially on a decent hi-fi). Ms Bryden continues her progress towards the "hardest working woman in show business" title.
Available from CD Baby.