Over the years, releasing a live album has been a bit of a double-edged sword. Back in the day it gave bands who excelled in front of an audience a chance to show that off. Unfortunately, the sound quality coming off the sound boards back then was suspect, and sometimes just plain bad. Technology has now solved that issue, but if you use too many studio techniques the crowd ambience gets lost. Austinite Tony Kamel fixed that by inviting the crowd to come into the studio with him for his latest album, Live at The Bunker. Recorded direct to analog tape at Bruce Robison’s The Bunker production facility in front of 30 guests, it’s as close as you can get to being there.
Although he may have used a couple of different acoustic guitars, there are just 4 instruments on the record; Tony’s guitar, banjo, harmonica, and vocals. Without the layers of a band behind him there’s an intimacy to the songs that matches the stories Kamel is known for. Who Am I Kidding is an admission that, despite the frequent thoughts he should find a different, better paying, career, he is at his best as a musician. That theme also comes out in a Dan Reeder cover, I Don’t Really Want To Talk To You. It’s a similarly styled folk ballad that corresponds to a sales job Kamel once had where he loved the job, except the selling part. John is another singer-songwriter tale, this time about a childhood friend with similar perspectives. Or as Kamel puts it, “most folks aren’t wired like John and me.” The Surfer is a true-to-life story about an old surfer who couldn’t physically ride the waves anymore despite the emotional reward of “that dirty old water sure makes a man clean.”
Kamel’s family figures heavily in the influences that made the biggest impact on him. Damn Good Ride is a plaintive-sounding ode to his grandmother who “saddled up this big old world and took it for a spin.” It’s followed by Just Don’t Make ‘Em, this time a tribute to his grandfather and uncle, who were steadfast believers in doing things yourself without relying on new-fangled technology. Both show off Kamel’s banjo picking skills. Let It Slide isn’t about his daughter, but her imminent birth has him considering growing up and being more responsible, but instead “I think I’ll try tomorrow and let it slide tonight.” Sharon Rae, a Johnny Paycheck-penned number about the strength of love, gives Kamel the chance to talk about his guitar, inherited from his mother, and how it led him into music albeit figuring out Nine Inch Nails songs.
If you’ve ever had the privilege of attending a house concert you know how it allows the artist to really play off the listeners mood, and conversely gives fans a chance to interact with their musical heroes. If you haven’t, you’re missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. Either way, Tony Kamel captures the spirit of one of those performance on Live at The Bunker.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.