AMG Review of CBGB OMFUG Masters

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

Ever since their early days, Living Colour and ~CBGB's have gone hand in hand. It was at this venue that the group woodshedded and perfected their all-encompassing stylistic sound with numerous early shows. And it was also at this site that Mick Jagger spotted the band and took them under his wing, and after their split in 1995, it was an impromptu performance at ~CBGB's that got Living Colour back together again (in 2000). So when the venue was in danger of closing for good due to escalating rent (which unfortunately, they would eventually succumb to in 2006), various bands put on "Save ~CBGB's" benefit shows. And Living Colour was one such band, who played the venue once more on August 19, 2005, documented on the 2008 release, CBGB Omfug Masters. Wisely, the set list is mostly comprised of tracks from their first three studio albums, with selections from their inconsistent reunion album (2003's Collideøscope) kept to a minimum. What you'll find are simply explosive versions of "Type," "Funny Vibe," and "Time's Up," as well as "Open Letter to a Landlord" (which takes on a whole new meaning played at the venue on the verge of being shut down), and a best-skipped over new tune ("Terrorism"). And of course, no Living Colour set would be complete without a set-closing rendition of their breakthrough hit anthem, "Cult of Personality." While not the best Living Colour live album of the bunch (and there are quite a few to choose from), CBGB Omfug Masters certainly contains some great performances of Living Colour classics.