new live pistols

I think anyone who loves the live Who as captured notably on Live at Leeds
would very much enjoy hearing the new live Sex Pistols CD from the third
show of the current tour, recorded in Finsbury Park London in early July.
While the Pistol's performance does not equal the Who's in terms of
virtuosity it has tremendous dynamism, so in spirit is akin to LAL. In fact
I believe in time it will be regarded as a major live album in the rock
annals. It's well produced (by Chris Thomas) and the band play very well:
hard, tight, with everyone on key and in synch. It's all the more remarkable
for having no additional musicians yet having a very full sound (like LAL).
Lydon does an amazing series of vocal performances, better than on Bollocks
- - more assured and stretched out as it were. Although not of course sounding
like Daltrey, the assuredness and effortless power of his vocals recall Rog
at his peak. With Steve Jones, there's a closer link to the Who. His triple
strummed power chording is reminiscent of Townshend's and one of the songs
ends in stacato feedback a la Anyway Anyhow Anywhere. The other resemblance
I noticed to PT is the way Jones mixes powerful, up-front rhythm playing
with short snaky leads, the way Pete did in the mid-60's (eg. on Run, Run,
Run). As for Matlock, I've got to listen to the album further as so far I've
concentrated on Lydon and Jones, but initial impressions are good. The songs
are all from Bollocks except for the Monkees' Stepping Stone. Altogether a
very fine live record squarely in the spirit of the live Who at their peak.
It makes one realise that the Pistols could have probably made some great
albums in the 80's and 90's had their career not been abruptly foreshortened
after the Bollocks album. My friend Larry Herman suggests that the Pistols
should open for the Who for the upcoming fall shows and I can only
agree....Gary M.