Way back in 1988 was the first time that Cinderella, who were promoting their second album Long Cold Winter, played my home country of Scotland and I was one of the many who were disappointed with what seemed like a remarkably flat show that lacked any sort of spark. Three years and one blues infused album later it was a different band that turned up with a horn section and tore the Livingston Forum apart with a performance that was every bit as vibrant as the previous one was listless.
So would the real Cinderella please stand up? Well judging by Live At The Mohegan Sun the stories of the band suffering from jet lag for that first show that I witnessed would appear to have way more credence than I gave them 21 years ago.
Recorded on the 2005 "Rock Never Stops" tour and sounding like a real proper live show in the way that the Steve Harris produced Iron Maiden live albums are. This album has that rough and ready unpolished almost bootleg like authenticity about it that really gives the feeling of standing in the hall on the night, instead of being one of those pristine over produced and touched up releases that could just be another studio album with some crowd noise dubbed on top.
Drummer Fred Coury is rock solid, Eric Brittingham keeps everything nailed down with his steady bass playing and Jeff LaBar puts in a fine performance on guitar. With all the vocal problems that Tom Keifer has had in the past, the fact that he is singing at all is quite remarkable, however there's little doubt that the power and gravely tone he possessed is no longer the considerable weapon it once was. He's still an experienced frontman and there's no question that he gives his all it's just at times that he falls a little short.
It's hard to complain though when the band can reel off classic tracks like "Push Push", "Gypsy Road" or the simply stunning "Heartbreak Station", although anyone who already owns the 1998 release Live At The Key Club may be slightly disappointed to find that "Still Climbing", the only inclusion from the album of the same name, is the only track not on both albums.
As with many live discs these days it's hard to suggest that Live At The Mohegan Sun is an essential purchase, however it's an engaging listen that stands up to repeated plays.
Track list:
1. Intro
2. Night Songs
3. The Last Mile
4. Somebody Save Me
5. Heartbreak Station
6. Coming Home
7. Shelter Me
8. Nobody's Fool
9. Gypsy Road
10. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)
11. Shake Me
12. Falling Apart At The Seams
13. Push Push
14. Still Climbing
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