The Fabulous Thunderbirds: “Live In Houston” (2025) Blu-ray Review

When The Fabulous Thunderbirds cracked the top ten with their single “Tuff Enuff” in 1986, it was such a breath of fresh air. I was fourteen years old, and was generally frustrated with what became hits that year. For example, that same week in July saw songs like Billy Ocean’s “There’ll Be Sad Songs,” Janet Jackson’s “Nasty,” “Who’s Johnny” by El Debarge, and “Invisible Touch” from Genesis all in the top ten. Are you kidding me? I didn’t bother buying the single, because I wanted the full album in my collection. I bought it on cassette, because that was what we were doing in 1986, and I played that cassette a lot. Twenty years later, the band played a show in Houston, Texas that is now being released on Blu-ray as Live In Houston. This concert features “Tuff Enuff” and also “Wrap It Up” from that same album (but not “Look At That, Look At That,” which was my personal favorite song from that cassette). The set also features several songs from Painted On, which at the time was the band’s most recent album. By the way, a bit of “Tuff Enuff” plays over the disc’s menu.

This disc gets right into the music. There is no introduction, no shots of the audience entering the venue, no shots of the band taking the stage or anything like that. Vocalist Kim Wilson asks, “How are you all doing?” and even then the band has already started its first song, “Slow Down.” It’s a fun song to set things in motion, and it features some good work on both keys and guitar. In a wide shot during that first great guitar lead, we can see keyboardist Eugene Taylor lighting (or re-lighting) his cigar. This is Texas, after all. They probably had no rules about smoking indoors. And then he’s rocking those keys again. The band gives us a good little jam here at the start, both guitarists getting a chance to deliver some excellent work. The band at this point is made up of Kim Wilson on vocals and harmonica, Kirk Eli Fletcher on guitar, Nick Curran on guitar and backing vocals, Ronnie Weber on bass, Eugene Taylor on keyboards, and Jimi Bott on drums.

They follow “Slow Down” with “Postman,” quickly establishing a cool blues groove. “I’m your postman, baby/I bring it to you, rain or shine.” Oh yes. This is an original number from Painted On, and it too features some impressive work by Kirk Eli Fletcher on guitar. That guitar lead is really what makes this song stand out. And wait, am I seeing the audience seated? Weird. Then Kim gets out his harmonica for “Rock With  Me,” a fun blues number with something of a classic vibe. So now he means business. This one was on the band’s first album, released in 1979. It’s an original number, written by Kim Wilson. And now we get a shot of folks in the audience dancing. Good. This song features some great stuff on keys. And the band is rocking during that harmonica lead. If there was any banter or tuning between songs, it has been cut from the Blu-ray. This release is all about the music.

The band then goes into “Got To Get Out,” with Kim singing “I’ve got to get out of what I got into,” a good line. This is another song from Painted On. The audience is now grooving, and Kim is blowing that harmonica again. The band goes straight into “Painted On,” that album’s title track, which has a catchy groove. More people are dancing. I wonder what it will take to get the rest of them up off their seats. What more do they want? The band is jamming here, taking on a heavier vibe. Things then get even more fun with “Two-Time Fool,” which was also included on Painted On. There is a shot of the kick drum, and the head has not only the band’s name, but, in Roman numerals, indicates the band had been going for thirty years at that point.

I love the guitar work at the beginning of “Wait On Time,” an original number from the first album. And Kim delivers a strong vocal performance. “I know someday, baby, my bad luck has got to end.” Is that a positive outlook? Or wishful thinking? Either way, this song features more excellent stuff on guitar. That’s followed by “Wrap It Up,” which was a hit for the band. I remember this one getting a lot of airplay in Massachusetts. And, yeah, it’s getting more people on their feet. There is a cool and groovy lead on bass, and Kim adds some good stuff on harmonica, one of my favorite moments. And there is a short drum solo at the end, which also makes this a highlight of the show.

The band delivers a really good rendition of “Pretty Baby,” Kim Wilson delighting the crowd with his work on harmonica. This band can certainly deliver the goods. That is followed by “Tuff Enuff,” and while the band gets into the song’s groove, Kim talks a bit to the crowd. “You all are very generous people here in Houston, Texas,” he tells the audience. He thanks them for their part in helping make the band successful, and then says, “We want to thank you all for what you’ve already done for the people of New Orleans, taking the people in like that.” Remember, this show was less than a year after Hurricane Katrina. Kim then introduces the band before beginning the song’s lyrics. And, yes, if you’re wondering, it looks like most people are on their feet now. Funny how people wait like that. After all, this is the final song of the set. It’s a good version. And at the end, we see Kim sign a record for someone in the audience. During the credits, “Marked Deck” plays. No footage of that song is included. The disc contains no special features.

Blu-ray Track List

1. Slow Down
2. Postman
3. Rock With Me
4. Got To Get out
5. Painted On
6. Two-Time Fool
7. Wait On Time
8. Wrap It Up
9. Pretty Baby
10. Tuff Enuff
11. Marked Deck

Live In Houston is scheduled to be released on January 17, 2025.