The Last of the Best

These new live recordings by the Paul deLay Band capture the Northwest harmonica legend at the peak of his power as a live performer, and a great band at the top of its game. Released only weeks after deLay’s untimely death at age 55, the CD features 15 tracks from three different venues: the Untapped Blues Festival and the Sunbanks Festival in 2004, and a sold-out concert at Seattle’s Triple Door in 2006, where the band earned several standing ovations. DeLay sidekick and co-frontman David Vest, who wrote most of the band’s new material in later years, is featured on piano throughout and sings lead on four tracks, including the housewrecking Try Not To Kill Me, which had become the band’s traditional closer.