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 Dragoncon in Atlanta, 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.

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