In the good ol' U.S. of A., the British metallic power trio Budgie were never more than a cult attraction -- actually best known for their songs being covered by other bands. But the group always seemed to have a stronghold in Texas, which served as the site for a 2002 live album, Life in San Antonio. For many years by this point, singer/bassist Burke Shelley was the lone original member left in attendance -- joined on this night (August 2, 2002, to be exact) by guitarist Andy Hart and drummer Steve Williams. Highlights include two nearly eight-minute medleys of Budgie classics -- "In for the Kill"/"Rape of the Locks"/"Guts" and the set-closing "Breadfan"/"Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman" -- as well as another early nugget, "Zoom Club." Sadly, the greatest song title in the history of recorded music, "Hot as a Docker's Armpit," was not performed on this fateful evening. No matter -- Shelley's unmistakable banshee wail has never sounded sweeter, and the boys in the band can still churn out Sabbathy metallic slabs with the greatest of ease. ~ Greg Prato