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Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul were joined throughout the Summer of Sorcery tour by an array of legendary friends and family. Summer of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre is highlighted by a surprise appearance by the one and only Peter Wolf, who lends his inimitable vocals to powerhouse versions of J Geils Band’s “Freeze Frame” and Artists United Against Apartheid’s landmark protest anthem, “Sun City.”

Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre is rounded out with nearly an extra hour of live music featuring seven previously unreleased bonus performances recorded throughout 2017-2019, including with such superstar special guests as Australian music legends Jimmy Barnes and Peter Garrett, longtime friend and E Street Band bandmate Nils Lofgren, and the legendary Nick Gravenites, who joins Van Zandt for a spectacular rendition of the Electric Flag’s “Groovin’ Is Easy.” In addition, Peter Wolf returns for an explosive cover of The Showstoppers’ hit, “(Ain’t Nothin’ But A) Houseparty,” recorded during the Soulfire Tour but, according to Van Zandt, “too good to leave on the shelf.” The festivities come to a rousing conclusion with a star-studded version of “Sun City,” which edits together performances with Jimmy Barnes, Jake Clemons, Sam Fender, Peter Garrett, Courtney Hadwin, Garland Jeffreys and Bruce Springsteen.

“We were born freaks, misfits, and outcasts,” Van Zandt writes in the album’s liner notes, which also include personal comments about each performance. “We got into this business because no other would have us. While we were here we figured we might as well create a world of our own, because we didn’t fit in the one we were being offered. Being on the road with a band is the ultimate manifestation of that fantasy. Together you travel, you perform, you dispense joy, and you get to see the world while avoiding it at the same time.

“Such was the case with the troubadour missionaries and part-time exorcists known as the Disciples of Soul as they sprinkled enlightenment to a dark world from May 27, 2017 to November 6, 2019. First as the Soulfire was lit in the overture and finally as the Summer of Sorcery played out its magical denouement. Herein embodies the still sparkling evidence of the latter, that which began as stranger’s prayers imagined and ended as a family’s promise fulfilled. Enjoy it at as much as we did at whatever volume is required to force your neighbors to call the cops.”

Arranged and produced by Van Zandt, with production assistance by GRAMMY® Award-winner Geoff Sanoff (Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Colbert). Summer of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre kicks off with a very special introduction from counterculture icon Wavy Gravy and from there traverses across Little Steven’s genre-smashing body of work, from Summer of Sorcery and 2017’s acclaimed solo return, Soulfire through classic songs and fan favorites from the songwriter, guitarist and band leader’s illustrious career, including an incendiary three-song salvo celebrating his work with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (“Little Girl So Fine,” “Trapped Again,” and “Love On The Wrong Side Of Town”). Further highlights include spectacular covers of The Youngbloods’ “On Sir Francis Drake,” The Dovells’ “Bristol Stomp,” The Animals’ “Club-A-Go-Go,” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Tucson Train.”

Summer of Sorcery arrived in May 2019 and was immediately greeted by worldwide critical applause with Rolling Stone exclaiming, “it largely dispenses with protest songs and revels in the rock, soul and R&B of his Sixties youth,” adding it’s “the most eclectic record he’s ever made.” Van Zandt and his collaborators “pull out all the stops to make this sonic smorgasbord explode out of the speakers with passion and clout,” wrote American Songwriter. “Few artists have the artistic vision to pull off a thunderous production like this which is impressive in its scope and sheer booming audio audacity.” “A happy return for the Jersey Shore prince,” declared MOJO, while Classic Rock raved, “(Van Zandt’s) tangible labour of love defiantly captures old-school New York’s cross-pollinating melting pot with rich infusions of Latin (‘Party Mambo!’), blues (‘I Visit The Blues’), blaxploitation (‘Vortex’), classic rock ‘n’ roll (‘Superfly Terraplane’), Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (‘Soul Power Twistin’’) and still making a social point on ‘Education,’” adding, “This unashamed celebration of endangered music and city life also makes a great party soundtrack.” “It’s all but impossible not to be impressed by the scope of Little Steven’s vision,” wrote All Music, “and the skill with which he and his collaborators bring it to fruition…Imagine Asbury Park, New Jersey encompassing an entire musical planet and you’ll have an idea of what Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul are doing on Summer of Sorcery, and if you dig rockin’ soul, this should be right up your alley.”

Little Steven, The Disciples Of Soul - Summer Of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre [3CD]

Little Steven - Summer of Sorcery Live! At The Beacon Theatre (CD)