Album Notes

Packaged in an environmentally friendly 5" cardboard jacket.

From Voltaire:

"For years people have told me, "your live shows are hilarious! Why don't you put the monologues you do on stage on a CD?" A few years ago I kind of tested the waters by putting together a CD that had some live tracks including monologues. That CD was sold exclusively at a couple of conventions that year (ICON and DRAGONCON). I only made a couple hundred copies. They went FAST and only increased the demand for a full-length live CD.

Well, after many years of trying to make this happen, I have FINALLY recorded a full LIVE show and I'm releasing it on CD! I was playing a show in Austin, Texas and as it happens, my good friend Marc Gunn of the Brobdignagian Bards (who played that night and organized the event) happened to have a digital recorder. I asked, "What are the chances of recording this show?"

Well, the result was an absolutely amazing recording!!! The audio quality is EXCELLENT! The audience was AMAZING! And I ALMOST didn't forget any of my lyrics! ; )

Check out the track listing on this CD! There's over one hour of music and monologues!"

A review from Liar Society:
As I've said here before, I'm not much of a fan of live albums. Still, every once and a while I hear a live album that reminds me that they're not all rubbish. Voltaire's aptly titled Live! does the trick nicely. Recorded at Austin, this album features a good selection of tracks from Voltaire's full-length albums and (of course) from his sci-fi filk excursions. It should be noted that this is Voltaire solo; no backing band here. Voltaire's voice is in good form, even when he forgets the lyrics to his own songs, and there is something to be said for a performer who can keep your attention with stripped-down versions of his material. It's the "Unplugged effect" for a nerdy, Goth crowd.

The recording is decent and the show sounds like it was a blast to be at. Of course, the "Voltaire live experience" isn't really complete without his between-song banter, which has been preserved here for posterity. (Do I really mean posterity? I don't know; maybe you won't be telling your grandkids jokes about Worf from Star Trek taking a poop.) Don't expect droll political ironies, expect jokes about sodomy and Myspace. Also, expect to laugh wildly. -Jack