Four decades into his solo career, it’s incredible to think that Peter Case has never released a live album before now. But My Life To Live: At McCabe’s, recorded in the intimate setting of Santa Monica’s legendary guitar shop, is the ideal backdrop for a live retrospective of Case’s career.
The record opens with an inspired cover of the traditional “Flying Crow Blues,” but for the remaining dozen-plus tracks, Case digs deep into his extensive solo catalogue, recasting many of these songs in a new light. The latest arrangements are usually stripped down, with little more than Case on guitar, piano, or harmonica (though occasionally someone joins to provide harmony, pedal steel, or electric guitar to fill out the sound). One of the strongest moments here is his laid-back, contemplative take on his Plimsouls hit “A Million Miles Away.” Stripped down, with most of the focus now on the lyrics, the song hits harder than ever. The same can be said of “Have You Ever Been in Trouble,” which sounds even starker with just Case’s voice and a piano.
Between many of these songs, Case regales the sold-out audience with stories ranging from seeing Memphis Slim at the venue to staying at a house filled with pigs after a gig one night. The set closes with a beautiful rendition of “Ain’t Gonna Worry No More,” from his 2007 album, serving as a fitting, understated coda to a quietly powerful collection.
