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The Yardbirds - House Of Blues, Hollywood June 25, 2003 (2003)

Track listing:
CD1
  1. I'm Not Talkin' 3:10
  2. Over Under Sideways Down 3:03
  3. Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout The News 4:14
  4. Crying Out For Love 4:38
  5. Train Kept A'Rollin' 3:36
  6. Dream Within A Dream 5:28
  7. I Ain't Got You 2:23
  8. Mister, You're A Better Man Than I 4:21
  9. The Nazz Are Blue 5:32
  10. Heart Full Of Soul 3:00
  11. Little Games 5:39
  12. Shapes Of Things 4:13
  13. Happenings 10 Years Time Ago 4:15
CD2
  1. Shapes In My Mind 7:57
  2. Mr Saboteur 4:24
  3. band intros 1:17
  4. For Your Love 3:45
  5. Still I'm Sad 1:34
  6. Dazed & Confused 5:58
  7. I'm A Man 8:23
  8. Smokestack Lightnin' 19:14

Notes

House Of Blues, Hollywood
June 25, 2003

Chris Dreja - rhythm
Jim McCarty - drums

Gypie Mayo - vocals
Alan Glen - harmonica
John Idan - bass, vocals

guests
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter
Steve Lukather
Steve Vai

The Yardbirds always were a band of intriguing contradictions: A launching pad for a holy trinity of guitar gods, whose finest originals were co-written by their drummer. Ace instrumentalists, famous for extended live jams, whose flair for sonic experimentation flowered most effectively in the context of two-and-a-half-minute pop singles. Earnest students of the blues, whose radical, high-energy approach to the idiom spawned both the MC5s and the Blues Hammers of the world.

All aspects were present and accounted for at this, the Yardbirds’ first Sunset Strip gig in 35 years. The band — featuring original members Jim McCarty (drums) and Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar), as well as bassist-vocalist John Idan, lead guitarist Gypie Mayo and harmonica player Alan Glen — tore enthusiastically through a 19-song set that touched on everything from their blues-wailin’ early days to tracks from their new Birdland album. If some tempos seemed a bit soggy (“Heart Full of Soul,” “For Your Love”), the old Yardbirds magic was in full effect on searing renditions of “I’m a Man,” “Train Kept A-Rollin’” and “Rack My Mind.” Mayo, formerly of British pub-rock legends Dr. Feelgood, totally held his own with the ghosts of Yardbirds guitarists past; his playing generally combined the best of Clapton and Beck, but he also served up some serious Page-style cosmic slop on the dramatic, set-closing cover of Jake Holmes’ “Dazed and Confused.”

Alas, had it only ended there. Special guests Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Steve Lukather and Steve Vai all plugged in for the encore, a shred-happy “Smokestack Lightning” that must have had Howlin’ Wolf turning in his grave like a rotisserie chicken. The impromptu GIT workshop ground mercifully to a halt after about 20 agonizing minutes, but the elegant spirit of the original Yardbirds had long since flown the coop, taking much of the evening’s audience with it.