Alive and Lickin'. (Carousel Corner).

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Alive and Lickin' (Surfdog Records)

Even though beset with dizzying personnel changes, the flavor of Dan Hicks' all-acoustic lineup has seldom wavered over the years: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, string bass, two violins, and percussion -- never a drummer or an amplifier. An odder twist is that the second violin and percussionist are invariably women who also provide harmony vocals. The band features Susan Rabin (percussion, vocals), Annabelle Cruz (vocals, violin), Brian Godchaux (violin), Tom Mitchell (lead guitar), and Steve Alcott (string bass).

Hicks' breezy, energetic swing and laconic humor dominate as the band serves up and eclectic mix of oldies ("Where's the Money"), crowd favorites ("How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?") and standards ("Caravan"). Like the best bands, the Hot Licks perform their best under a stage's hot lights, deftly nailing every change, every bridge, and most importantly, every ending. Hicks' studio discs are recorded live to two-track, so the ambiance of this date is a familiar one, made more compelling by the reaction of the very appreciative crowd. Hicks, with the Charlatans, was there at the beginning of San Francisco's musical explosion in the '60s, so he occupies a special niche in my personal pantheon. This delightful date is no less special.