Alive In The New World, Alastair Greene, album cover

Alastair Greene, Alive In The New World

By Martine Ehrenclou

Acclaimed blues rocker Alastair Greene returns with a compelling live album Alive In The New World, out January 20, 2023, produced by Tab Benoit and released on Benoit’s Whiskey Bayou label.

Some live albums are electrifying, while others don’t do justice to the band. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Alastair Greene seems to have his finger on the pulse of live albums, having released the critically acclaimed–Live From The 805 (2018) and now Alive In the New World. Both are excellent, but his new live effort is a standout, flush with high-energy guitar riffs, powerful vocals and songs, and the fuel of a livewire trio performing before audiences at the City Winery in Chicago over a period of six sold-out nights in 2021.

If you’re new to Alastair Greene, this is one helluva introduction. A guitar player’s guitar player, he rips time and time again on each of the riveting songs, and rips with soulfulness, slamming when necessary, but always with great Les Paul tone.

A rocker at heart, each of the ten songs are blues infused with the exception of one rock ballad. Greene’s Alive In The New World draws from a deep well of rock, blues and funk. Joined by Tab Benoit on drums and Corey Duplechin on bass, Alastair has a dream team of a power trio.

The songs are from Greene’s New World Blues record released in 2020 but after touring, many evolved, and he hand-picked the best of the live versions. This is what I mean about Greene’s live albums—he’s outstanding live obviously but he also knows how to choose the best live version of each song. The songs are written by Greene with three co-writes with Benoit.

Kicking off Alive In The New World is a funked up rocking instrumental with Greene digging deep into the rhythm laid down by Benoit and Duplechin. “Back at the Poor House” is a kick a** tune that demands to be played loud, Greene’s guitar chops are fluid, and downright superb. The applause heard briefly at the end makes you feel like you’re there front and center.

If you’re at all into top-tier guitar, you’ve come to the right place. Greene’s riffs are beefy and raw, soulful and sinewy.

Southern California native Greene spent eight years touring internationally as lead guitarist and vocalist with the Alan Parsons Project, major dates with Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, guitarist/singer with Sugar Ray Rayford’s band, and in support of Tab Benoit with his own power trio The Alastair Greene Band.

Greene gets down on the rockabilly flavored “When You Don’t Know What To Do.” With strong vocals he sings ‘When you don’t know what to do, try to do something to make it right” and follows with a stellar guitar solo. It’s about finding one’s moral compass and helping others out. And he sings it with soul.

“Wontcha Tell Me”

 
“Wontcha Tell Me’ is a funky groove that serves all involved here. Alastair and the band are more alive than ever. Alastair says, “I love this live version of ‘Wontcha Tell Me!’ You can really hear Tab, Corey, and me going for it and stretching out on this one. It definitely rocks harder than the studio version and is a testament to how excited we were to get out on tour and play the songs off the studio album.”

A soulful rock ballad “Heroes” is about a loved one who has passed on. A thoughtful songwriter, Greene co-wrote this with Benoit. “Find Your Way Back Home”, a blues rocker with funky groove, refers to finding your way after losing your center.

Don’t miss the swampy “Bayou Mile” (an ode to Louisiana) and album closer “The New World Blues,” a blues rock stomp with Alastair on slide guitar that brings down the house.

Pre-order Alive In The New World Here 

Alastair Greene website