WIGWAM PLAYS WIGWAM LIVE

This is my first Wigwam-review. There has been already so many in progarchives specially from those albums I love, so I haven´t seen any reason to make any of them. Svart records released a three vinyl version of this and I noticed there is no review here, so I decided to make a one. This live album came quite straight after Wigwam´s second comeback. Line-up was almost same as in the nineties, drummer Jari Kettunen had just joined before disbanding in the nineties. Esa Kotilainen, who played keyboards in legendary "Nuclear Nightclub", joined in band. The main reason to start again was the gig in the Ruisrock festival, but when everybody enjoyed playing again and also there was interest of prog music in Finland that time, they decided to continue.

Almost a year after their comeback they recorded two gigs from Tavastia Club, Helsinki and released best parts as two CD. This album represents quite typical Wigwam gig after their comeback in nineties with almost whole Nuclear Nightclub played. First song "Friend From the Fields" is the only piece from the albums before Nuclear. They made a longer studio version in their "Light Ages"-album, but this is the shorter version from "Being". "Absalom" is another piece from "Light Ages", this live version is as great as that highlight of the album. In "Kite" Kotilainen´s moog sounds just great! "Tramdriver" is one of my favourites from Wigwam´s 1975-78 period. It´s little bit longer here and has great solo from Rekku. "Save My Money & Name" comes straight after and is played very same way as the studio version. There are an ambient intro in the beginning of "Colossus", that´s also my big Wigwam favourites. This is the first song where Kettunen´s simplier drumstyle little bit irritates. Pembroke had told he tried to make a song where he needed all the piano keys and result was "Simple Human Kindness". Kettunen succeeds in this very complex piece well. But again he´s little bit clumsy in the next "Lucky Golden Stripes And Starpose" in it´s solo part.

The second vinyl starts with 12 minutes version of "Do Or Die" where both Kotilainen and Rekku play great solos. In "Nuclear Nightclub" Kotilainen plays accordion really great way. "Bless Your Lucky Stars" is really intensive with dramatic solo from Rekku. "Bertha Come Back" is one of my big favourites from Pembroke´s solo albums. Unfortunately this version is quite horrible with slower tempo and really "stadium rock" drumbeat. "No New Games" is also originally Pembroke´s solo piece, but Wigwam made it version in the "Light Ages". This is again really good, intensive version. "Freddie Are You Ready" is played like it should, Kotilainen`s moog sounding just great! "Eddie And the Boys" is longer with more vocals and two solos. "The Vegetable Rumble" is only piece from "Dark Album" and has always been my least favourite from that album. But I like much more that rocking studio version as this slower, again "stadium rock" version. I believe "Grass For Blades" has played in every Wigwam gig since 1973, but it sounds just fine here too.

You can hear in this album, how they really love to play together after some years hiatus. This album is also really good recorded, sounds are modern but still great! So if 60/70 seventies Wigwam has sounded you too oldfashioned, this album is for you, because those great songs are here in 2000`s sounds! I gave this originally three stars. Although I still think "Twilight Zone" greater live album, I have to give this also four stars. I think Kettunen is the worst Wigwam drummer, but not even his drumming can´t make this great music bad.