It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. The Dexateens have been around since 1998. Okay, that requires a bit of a disclaimer since the band took a hiatus from 2010 to 2013. Still, the band has been rocking for a long time, and their fans are probably happy that they are about to release a new live album.
That’s right. A live album. In just a few months of quarantine, the concept of a live album has already become something that might be unearthed in a time capsule. Perhaps that’s being dramatic, but let’s face it, new live albums will be a rarity for the foreseeable future, and a lot of people miss the experience of going to see their favorite bands in loud and crowded clubs. That makes Live from Athens, GA – Heathens Homecoming 2020 something to celebrate.
One great achievement of this album can be found in “Settle Down”. About two-thirds of the way through this song, you hear something that sounds vaguely familiar. At some point you realize that the guitarist is having some fun with the theme to The Andy Griffith Show. Only it sounds like that familiar television theme were played by Angus Young.
Every song makes you realize just how much you miss everything about live music, from the loud guitars to the pounding rhythms to the people around you singing every word. Not to mention the group’s harmony vocals that sometimes bring acts like The Jayhawks to mind.
There are some truly great things about this album. First, while a live recording isn’t as good as seeing a show, this album gives you the feel of being there, from the introduction by the Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood to the furious closing notes of “Teenager”. You can feel the energy of the band and hear the hollers of the audience members that were clearly happy to be there. Another great thing about this album is that there is no mystery about it. It is 14 songs of straightforward rock and roll. There is some boogie in the sound, similar to southern bands like Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet. However, you don’t need to classify this as southern rock just because this band is from Tuscaloosa. It would rock just as hard if the band were from Fargo. That being the case, make sure you listen to this album at an appropriately loud volume. This album isn’t as good as going to a show, but for the moment, it will have to do.
