Blues/rock guitarists Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia‘s energetic Blood Brothers tour has been recreated on their latest album, Blood Brothers Live in Canada. It’s a heated, smoldering, and occasionally fully-ignited event. The duo is supported by a collection of equally committed players. The album’s musicians are: Mike Zito – vocals/guitars; Albert Castiglia – vocals/guitars; Doug Byrkit – bass guitar; Matt Johnson – drums/percussion; Ephraim Lowell – drums/percussion; and Lewis Stephens – piano/organ.

The disc was recorded masterfully (with mastering by Kid Andersen) in an ideal space, Blue Frog Studios in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, which was snug enough to convey all of the nuance of these fine performances, capturing every dynamic strum. The acoustics must have been perfect in the space because they certainly sound as if they were on the recording.

The album achieves the ideal of every attempted “live” album. It perfectly captures the feeling, the energy, the zenith agreed upon experience of an ensemble giving as much as they are taking. The music has an infinity-like figure eight structure to it, meaning that there is no clear beginning nor end, no one only leading and no one only following. It’s about as “live” as recorded music can get… and definitely as enjoyable.