Continuing the
Fat Wreck Chords label's fine tradition of bringing fans their best bands live, this sizzling set was recorded on St. Patrick's Day, 2004 at the
Opera House in Toronto, Canada, before a thousand sweating, enthusiastic
Mad Caddies' fans. Nine-years old now,
the Caddies have honed their skills on the road (and in the studio too, as their albums well prove), but it's on-stage that the band's exuberant sound is best experienced. And so, the group let loose with 18 crowd-pleasing faves, old and new, showcasing their kaleidoscope of styles. The
ska-crazed skankers inevitably send the fans into feverish dancing, as do the head-banging hardcore numbers, of which many are represented here. But
the Caddies can create equal mayhem with their mind-blowing warp-speed take on
Dixie, satisfy the coolest cat with their
swing, reel in the Rastas with their roots, and send lighter flames leaping with their bluesy
jazz, while they're past masters at melodic
punk. And those are just some of the genres
the Caddies' careen through, if you spent your time identifying them all, never mind tagging the hybrids, you wouldn't have time to dance, nor sing along to the songs' anthemic choruses. And what fun would that be?
A grand gala of a show from one of America's most exciting and innovative bands, all captured to perfection on CD. As its highly unlikely
the Caddies will be performing in your living room, what more could you possibly ask for? ~ Jo-Ann Greene
