In the realm of “two lead guitar” bands, Thin Lizzy is always one of the top picks. Led by Irish bassist/singer Phil Lynott (1949-86), he is still revered in Ireland as one of the most distinct musical voices in the rock field. This concert back in 1978 has him with his successful team of six stringers Gary Moore & Scott Gorham along with drummer Mark Nauseef tearing through a set that includes hits from their most recent album Bad Reputation and also including energetic takes of their big hits “Jailbreak”, “Cowboy Song” and “The Boys Are Back In Town”, which is possibly the best song that Bruce Springsteen never sang. What’s hard to appreciate about this band is that they were one of the few who were able to still keep faithful to the essence of rock, fighting the Philistines of disco on the left and the Barbarians of punk rock on the right.
The guitar gents swing like a horn section, gloriously in swinging sync on pieces like “Cowboy Song” and still showing their ideas with some fiery solos on “Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed” and “Me and The Boys”. Lynott sings with verve and conviction, and in retrospect you can feel his ambition, knowing that he was going to leave the band in order to go solo for awhile before writing some poetry and eventually starting a new band before his sad and untimely death in 1986.
The DVD of the band glistens with metallic spark, with Nauseef linking with Lynott to form a formidable rhythm section playing before a highly enthused band.. Also included is a documentary on Lynott by Emer Reynolds that gives you a glimpse into the restless mind and soul of the musician who still has a mural at the Temple Bar in Dublin. Worth a second and third look.