NIGHT OF THE LIVING DREGS

The Dregs liked to open up their albums with straightforward rock tunes. The 3 minute "Punk Sandwich" is a decent tune with a groovy riff, but it's nothing compared to what follows. The band always masquaraded as a jazz/fusion band, but they they had a better sense of humor and more varied music than most fusion bands of the era. The real opener of the album is "Country House Shuffle" which starts with loads of percussion, and continues with a lydian melody played over a shuffle rhythm (duh!). It has to be known that Steve Morse was at this time the greatest rock guitarist, not to be dethroned until Steve Vai had really hit the scene. Morse was in top shape, I mean his subsequent were good, but sometimes I feel he didn't keep his chops as much as he should have. The third tune REALLY shows Morse's versatility as a composer and a player. It is a guitar/violin duo, written using what sounds like early 20th century compositional techniques (think Ravel). It is here where you can hear Steve's skill on the nylon string guitar. Man, this album just keeps getting better! The next tune starts with a piano intro and continues with nice guitar and violin melodies. It is quite obvious that this tune was inspired by the slower side of Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Here comes the live side of the album, and this is the side that really shines! "The Night of the Living Dregs" has a country groove. Boy Steve sure loved extended dominant sequences! The tune has a nice lighthearted feel. Now to the famous "The Bash". If you like fast bluegrass licks traded between twangy guitar and fiddle over a humppa rhythm then look here! This was a great showcase piece. Just listen to the audience going crazy! "The Leprechaun Promenade" was initially released on the Dregs' first album, I believe. And then it was remade on Steve Morse Band's album High Tension Wires, in fact this is where I got to know the tune from. It was years before I got to know this album, but when I first heard this version, the modern one soured up on me. This one has so much great interplay, there is even a whole freely improvised section in it! The closing track "Patchwork" is another twangy style tune after the relief that "Leprechaun Promenade" provided for us New Englanders. But damn is this a hot jam? If you want some light melodic yet sophisticated fusion, then look into this album. You won't be dissapointed!