CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN'

I enjoy this album much more than the previous live Dixie Dregs album, "Bring 'Em Back Alive", despite the fact that the other has my two favorite Dregs songs on it. One reason, this one has Andy West. Anyone who saw the Dregs in thier heyday (I saw them many times) could see that West was the heart of the band. Dave LaRue, as good as he is, just doesn't add the same punch on bass. And on this one, the recoring quality is much better.

The selections highlight all of the different facets of the Dregs music, the majestic ballads, the fast fusion, and the insanely fast country breakdowns. And as usual, the band just cooks on every song. The covers are surprising, and extremely well done. Dweezil Zappa gets on stage to help out on his dad's "Peaches En Regalia", and the Allman Brothers' "Jessica" is just beautiful.

I wish this big band version of the Dregs had toured in my area.