Track Listing

1. Introduction
2. Kentucky Borderline
3. Drivin' Nails in My Coffin
4. Missouri Moon
5. Me Too
6. One Step Ahead of the Blues
7. Jolene
8. Heartbreakin' Old Achin' Blues
9. Road Rage
10. Cheatin' Kind of Life
11. You Can't Take It With You When You Go
12. So Happy I'll Be
13. Son Drop In
14. The Martha White Theme
15. Frankie Belle
16. I've Forgotten You
17. Ghost of a Chance
18. The Last Best Place
19. Bluegrass Express
20. Muleskinner Blues
21. Homecoming

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19523 in Music
• Brand: VINCENT,RHONDA
• Released on: 2005-03-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Album Description
Recorded before a rapturous audience at The Sheldon Concert Hall in her native state of Missouri, Ragin' Live captures Grammy® nominated bluegrass sensation Rhonda Vincent and her band The Rage at their dynamic, full-throttle best. The recipient of an unprecedented five consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, Vincent makes music sparkling with hard-driving instrumental breaks, soaring vocal harmonies, and a heartfelt intensity that is entirely her own. Featured throughout, the members of The Rage prove themselves to be one of the best supporting bands in bluegrass, matching Rhonda's vigor and pushing her to dazzling new heights.

Amazon.com
With a generous selection of 20 songs spanning almost 70 minutes, this live album celebrates the energy and range of Rhonda Vincent's brand of progressive bluegrass. It also suggest the parallels and differences between Vincent's career and that of her friend Alison Krauss. Both Midwesterners were preteen musical prodigies, both have used bluegrass as a base to explore a variety of musical styles, both owe a vocal debt to Dolly Parton (whose "Jolene" receives an uptempo transformation here), and both lead virtuosic string bands capable of playing just about anything. The difference is that Krauss has continued to extend beyond her bluegrass base--and expand her audience in the process--while multi-instrumentalist Vincent has made a prodigal return to a rootsier brand of bluegrass, after some attempts at crossover country. This concert covers a lot of musical ground, from standards such as "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin" and "Muleskinner Blues" and bittersweet ballads like "Missouri Moon" and "You Can't Take It with You When You Go" to the spiritual strains of "So Happy I'll Be" and "Homecoming" and instrumentals that spotlight the dexterity of her band, the Rage. The crowd loves it all. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

+ 1/2 stars...Powerful Live Album!
Having attended numerous bluegrass festivals over the years--most recently to hear the Del McCroury Band--it has been my experience that bluegrass music is best experienced live, and this live concert from Rhonda Vincent & the Rage only serves to drive that point home. This is a breathtaking experience. Following the introduction by WGTY DJ Hank Janney, Vincent and her band tear through a powerful rendition of "Kentucky Borderline" (one of five songs from 2003's ONE STEP AHEAD). And they maintain that level of energy throughout the entire concert, whether on uptempo songs like "Drivin' Nails in My Coffin" or the mournful "Missouri Moon." If you're new to the music of Rhonda Vincent, this is a great place to start; If you're a longtime fan, this is a must-have purchase. [Running Time - 71:38] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Breathtaking bluegrass
At the risk of committing critical hyperbole, it's almost impossible to heap too much praise on "Ragin' Live," the superb concert recording from bluegrass icons Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. Vincent's vocals are sublime, the harmonies blend gloriously, the musicianship is top-notch, and the repertoire of songs reflects a sound grasp of what it takes to thrill an audience. The synthesis of these elements is nothing short of breathtaking.

The performers get things started energetically with "Kentucky Borderline," the International Bluegrass Association's song of the year for 2004, which Vincent co-wrote. Right out of the gate, Vincent and her band showcase their considerable talents, as voices and instruments soar with grace and power. Either by accident or design, the lyrics, which speak of a locomotive barreling through the Kentucky countryside, provide a metaphor for what's happening on stage and what is to come - "Movin' through the darkness like a hurricane... pounding out a rhythm... heading for that bluegrass state of mind..."

The disc's 20 cuts are a collection of up-tempo scorchers, gentle ballads, and outstanding instrumentals. All are characterized by a degree of precision rare to a live recording. Voices and instruments intertwine flawlessly. Even when locked in fast-moving turns and flourishes, the elements move together with the exactitude of jet pilots performing tight formations at an air show. Different venues, to be sure, but with the same result: an audience spellbound by the performance.

It's hardly fair to choose favorites from the set, as every offering is praiseworthy, but a few earn special admiration. "I've Forgotten You" is a medium-tempo heartbreaker with clever lyrics that speak of lost love and self-denial. The tune shines on the strength of Josh Williams' superb mandolin contribution and some beautifully delicate harmonies. "One Step Ahead of the Blues" is a fun bluegrass frolicker, heavy of banjo and fiddles. Of particular note is the harmony provided by Vincent's eldest daughter, Sally. It's done so well that the audience erupts with spontaneous applause at the end of the first chorus. "Son Drop In" is a two-person instrumental showcasing Hunter Berry on fiddle and Williams again on mandolin. As the two torridly pass lead and accompaniment back and forth, the listener is amazed at how well both can play either roll so well and at how much music two people can make with 12 strings.

Listeners who already know Vincent's music and her stature in the bluegrass genre will come to this CD with high expectations, and they will not be disappointed. But "Ragin' Live" will also please newcomers to bluegrass. I can think of no other entrée for the uninitiated that would better represent this style of music, nor one that stands a better chance at wowing the newcomer and claiming a convert.

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Just Gotta Love It!
This LIVE cd is a very exceptional one, possibly the best one I've bought all year. While Rhonda Vincent does bluegrass and a wonderful job too, never once did I find the music cloying. It's traditional bluegrass, most definitely, but "above the crowd." The way it's presented makes you feel like you're involved with the performance.