Steve Miller Band - 'Live From Chicago'

I don't think it was by chance that the venue for Steve Miller Band's first ever live performance DVD was in Chicago.

Chicago is where, as Miller tells us in the "autobiomentary" that is part of this set, he got his "masters and doctorate degrees in bluesology" as he was developing his musical chops back in the '60s.

Miller's musical education started a long before he made his pilgrimage to Chicago. He got his first guitar lessons at the age of five from no less a figure than Les Paul, a family friend and, oh yeah, the father of the electric guitar.

Having spent countless hours in the seedy South Side bars where blues giants like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter played, Chicago has special meaning for Miller. So it was fitting that Steve Miller Band's first live performance DVD was shot at the 2007 Rivinia Festival, just a couple of blocks from Lake Michigan in the Highland Park area.

The performance opens with the band's signature song, "Fly Like An Eagle," made especially interesting with extended instrumental bridges (more like some good old fashioned blues jamming) and an unexpected rap version of the lyrics by keyboardist Joseph Wooten. It caught me a little off guard, but the crowd immediately warmed up to it.

Other Miller standards like "The Stake," "Rock'n Me," "Take The Money And Run" and "The Joker" get the more traditional treatment, with some subtle but effective electronic enhancements that weren't available when the songs were first recorded.

The live performance disc has 20 songs in all, recorded during two shows. Miller and Band (guitarist/vocalist Kenny Lee Lewis, bassist/vocalist Billy Peterson, Norton Buffalo on harmonica and vocals, drummer Gordy Knudtson, and the aforementioned keys man/rapper Wooten) are a close knit group musically, and that appears to carry over to their personal interaction as well.

The second DVD in the set features an interview with Miller shot while driving around the streets of the South Side between performances. Few of the places where he spent time are still there, but there are enough still photos and archival film footage to fill in the gaps. This is an interesting piece, in spite of having way too many sound bites from inebriated festival-goers slurring their praise for Mr. Miller. Not only were they out of context, they really distracted from Miller's remeniscing.

The "bonus" CD contains 12 of Miller's personal favorites from the Rivinia performances. It is a nice addition to the package.

Miller's guitar work is as smooth and precise as ever. His voice has aged well. Although it's a little harder to hit the high notes now, the years have added more richness and control to his vocals.

Steve Miller. The city of Chicago. Blues rock. If you are fan of one or more of these, you should add Live From Chicago to your collection. As of fan of all three, I have to say that this one is definitely a keeper.