Arc Angels

Despite having the cachet of an already well-known rhythm section — Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble — and a couple of hotshot guitar slinging front-men (Charlie Sexton and Doyle Bramhall II), the Arc Angels never took flight after the initial hype surrounding their 1992 self-titled debut cooled down. A lot has happened since then; Sexton has played a significant role in Bob Dylan's rejuvenation, while Bramhall has found a niche as a sideman for Eric Clapton and Roger Waters. With those experiences under their belts, they've tentatively brought Arc Angels back with Living In A Dream, recorded live at their home base: Stubb's in Austin, TX. The album is essentially an update of the '92 debut, although the interplay between Sexton and Bramhall is a bit looser and more self-assured thanks to the years spent in the shadows of legends. An added bonus for fans from back in the day is the inclusion of three brand new studio tracks, all of which display a similar swampy, psychedelic vibe that, like the Arc Angels in general, are proudly out of step with the times.