this review was published in the latest BluesLetter of the Washington Blues Society:
Doug MacLeod’s latest release on the Netherlands- based Black and Tan label captures the two-time Blues Music Award-winning acoustic bluesman live in 2006. While his most recent release on California-based Reference Recordings have certainly garnered “Dubb” some well-deserved recognition, Live in Europe features 11 songs from an out-of-print DVD, The Blues In Me. This is the first digital-only release I have reviewed in the Bluesletter, and while I miss holding a CD in my hands and reading the liner notes and story behind the production of this release, I think that Live in Europe represents the future. A future that distributes music on a number of digital platforms, such as Amazon Music, iTunes and Spotify. There is over 72 minutes of music on this release; while I’ve heard many of these songs on disc or live, it’s always a treat to hear classics like “The New Panama Limited,” with a nod to Tom Rush’s update of Bukka White’s original “Panama Limited” and “Big City Woman” again This year, Doug MacLeod is nominated for three Blues Music Awards: Acoustic Album (for Exactly Like This on Reference Records; Acoustic Artist and Song of the Year, for “You Got It Good (and That Ain’t Bad).” Live in Europe is a must for fans of acoustic blues: I hope it draws listeners to Doug MacLeod’s Black and Tan CDs as well as his more recent releases on Reference Recordings. Doug MacLeod is a gifted storyteller and exceptional songwriter; Live in Europe provides an opportunity to hear “Dubb” interact with a live audience as he works through an entertaining 11-song set. Eric Steiner