I started a side project, for my amusement, during a season of life that was painful and
uncertain. A man of faith, would gain wisdom, direction and comfort from the sacred text and
close friends to aid in the next steps of life. The message, loud and clear, was to get back on the
horse. Keeping busy was helpful, be it puttering around the house and yard, while blasting
music I knew and loved. It was during this activity I rediscovered how much I enjoy live music.
The purity, unpredictability and the revelation of the joy from the musicians performing it for
people like me, who listened with joy. That's when I took it upon myself to start a music page on
a social media site, that I titled Live Album Review. I figured I knew just as much as the next guy
and certainly was around and remember when most of the music was being created. I had
many arguments about bands, singers and musicians. My stance always rested on who I
preferred and why. IMHO would be my motto and I tried to bring that attitude to the Live Album
Review. Sure, I went off the reservation, at times, but that was in a humorous vein.
After a few years of cranking reviews out, friends of the page suggested I put them in book
form. A book? How many people would care? Early on, some reviews would get under a
thousand reads, so I put that idea on the shelf. It was when some reviews started attracting
tens- of-thousands of readers that I gave the book idea some thought. That thought is what you
are now reading. I have written over three hundred live album reviews, over the years, and have
selected a few of those for this book. I still stand on the foundation that it's my humble opinion
and if the book does well, there might be another one in the future.
