Short Reviews [Blue Oyster Cult - 2024 - "50th Anniversary Live. Second Night"]

In September 2022, Blue Oyster Cult played a unique trilogy of sold-out shows, each dedicated to one of their first three albums, and here we have the second night which kicked off with them playing 'Tyranny and Mutation' performed back-to-back. There is an argument to be had that the first side of that album is their most consistent, given it goes from “The Red & The Black” to “O.D.’d On Life Itself”, “Hot Rails To Hell” and “Seven Screaming Dizbusters”. The guys sound really at home with this older material, and the performances certainly stand up against those on their classic live album, ‘On Your Feet Or On Your Knees’. Of course, they were playing an extended set, which is more than 100 minutes long on this double CD set, so there is plenty more material to be heard. The second half finds the band relaxing into the likes of “Godzilla”, “E.T.I (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)”, “(Don't Fear) The Reaper” and “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll” but unlike some other live albums I have heard from them in recent years, here they are really on point and it genuinely sounds as if they are having fun and playing hard as opposed to just going through the motions. The reaction of the crowd to the classics obviously lit a fire under them as this is the best I have heard them in years and even Buck Dharma’s intro to THAT song feels inspired. This is a nice fun set which fans of the band will definitely enjoy.