The Billy Talbot Band

Billy Talbot, regarded as the technically challenged, yet sensitively brilliant bass player for Neil Young &Crazy Horse, has been playing live music as long as his legendary boss. As Young’s unbridled rhythm partner, a musician that allows the music to transcend to eccentric angles, there is an addictive quality to his sound that has Young continually returning to his Crazy Horse cohorts, much to Steven Stills &David Crosby’s chagrin.

Well, who would have thought that Talbot would eventually be a band-leader of his own, with an aptly titled outfit of course, the Billy Talbot Band. Actually formed back in 1999, the band is built around the same rugged Crazy Horse sound that Talbot’s lent rhythmic efforts towards for the past 30 plus years. A voice well worn, dirty, and at times a tough listen, it’s hard to imagine this shaggy haired guy was actually a do-wop singer back in the 60’s.Alive In The Spirit World, the band’s debut, personifies a spirited effort, with plenty of shoddy songwriting and off key vocals. But then again, who would expect the Billy Talbot band to be polished? Neil Young himself would have nothing to do with such fanciness.

It begins on a familiar note with the upbeat “The Way Life Is,” full of rather hum-drum observations and a familiar harmonica lead, courtesy of Erik Pearson. Though the craggy and rugged music contains an epic quality, as a number of songs hit the seven minute plus mark. “Security Girl” and “Dreamer” are standouts, paralleling the mystical garage jam dwelling sound of the Young &Crazy Horse 1996 release Broken Arrow. Talbot ads a majority of the vocal and various guitar space, leaving bass chores to Jeff Chase. Crazy Horse cohort Matt Piucci handles the guitar chores, bridging the jamming with experimental haze, allowing the compositions to sound well travelled, despite their short lives. There is both some interesting and sour material here for Rusties, but those non-Neil Young collectors would be better off hearing The Billy Talbot Band served live and raw.