Gotthard – Homegrown: Live In Lugano

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Homegrown: Live In Lugano is, somewhat sadly, more than just another live album for Switzerland’s biggest rock exports Gotthard. It represents the last hometown show the band would play with founding singer Steve Lee, and indeed one of the last shows ever with the charasimatic front-man. Lee tragically died in a freak road accident in America last year while on a dream cross-country motorcycling holiday with friends and band members and before the band continue with a new singer, they thought it appropriate to cap Lee’s time in the band with this live recording. Having not released a live recording since 2006′s Made In Switzerland the band were able to play an up to date setlist, thereby compiling a set which would contain several songs never released as live versions before, mostly from intervening studio albums Domino Effect and Need To Believe. Indeed tracks duplicating with Made In Switzerland are kept to a minimum, with an extra treat around the middle of the set in the shape of a full acoustic rendition of Unconditional Faith followed by an acoustic medley of Sweet Little Rock ‘n’ Roller, Angel, and One Life, One Soul. The sound quality of the recording is excellent throughout, and to top off the whole set the band have included the last song ever recored with Lee, intended for the band’s next album. The Train is a typically heartfelt acoustic ballad which really underlines Lee’s time in the band, and stories of fans being brought to tears by it, and it’s chorus lyric “sometimes it’s tough, don’t you feel the same, but I won’t ever miss that train” after listening to this album are likely to be commonplace. Lee will be missed, regardless of the prowess of his replacement, and as a final send-off, this is an absolutely essential, indespensible purchase for all Gotthard fans.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2011, Hard Rock, Live Albums, Quick.Play Reviews, Gotthard