Review: The Stimulators – Unplugged (Live At Kunstsalon)
The Stimulators – Unplugged (Live At Kunstsalon)
Format: 180 gram Audiophile Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: United Sounds Records
Release: 2025
Text: Tom Wouters
The 2017 unplugged live album from the Munich-based band The Stimulators (‘Unplugged – Live At Kunstsalon’) has seen a reissue on high quality vinyl in 2025. On four drawn out tracks the album gives a fine impression of the quality of The Stimulators’ live performances and musical craftmanship. The band, in 2017 consisted of Peter Schneider on lead guitar, Oliver Stephan on lead vocals and guitar, Florian Sagner on trumpet and percussion, Uli Lehmann on upright bass and Oskar Pöhnl on drums. Drummer Oskar Pöhnl retired from duty in 2018 (and eventually died in 2020) and was replaced by Hans Mühlegg. Later on the line up of the band was expanded with Brasilian saxofonist Màrcio Turbino.
The album opens with the epic Schneider/Stephan written New Year’s Eve At The Waterfront, a jazzy piece starring the band’s two stand out musicians, Schneider laying down a formidable contribution on acoustic as well as electric guitar and Sagner excelling on trumpet. The other song on the A-side of the album is Quitate Tu (Get Out Of Here), a Cuban Son-song with Afro-Cuban rhythms that are perfectly delivered by Sagner’s congas.
Side B opens with the jazz-traditional St. James Infirmary, which came to fame by Louis Armstrong’s 1928 recording. In the version of The Stimulators it has a fabulous trumpet intro by Sagner and is followed by Schneider at his jazzy best. The other song on this side is the cheerful Latin pop of San Pedro, again featuring Sagner’s conga playing.
‘Unplugged (Live At Kunstsalon)’ shows us the great musical craftmanship and versatility of The Stimulators, which is confirmed by the eight high resolution download files that are included with the album.
Tracks:
Side A
New Year`s Eve On The Waterfront
Quitate Tu
Side B
St. James Infirmary Blues
San Pedro
Digital High Resolution Downloads:
New Year`s Eve On The Waterfront
Quitate Tu
This Guitar Is Loaded
Things About Love
St. James Infirmary Blues
Johnny To Bad
San Pedro
Listen Here ( previously unreleased)