Cosmosquad "Lights... Camera... SQUAD!" (2008)

Instrumental rock bands live or die on their musicianship. There's no singer to carry the show, no lyrics to fall back on - just players who'd better be able to deliver. Cosmosquad delivers, and "Lights... Camera... SQUAD!" finally gives fans the live concert film they've been waiting for. Recorded on the band's home turf in Hollywood, California, the trio of Jeff Kollman on guitar, Christopher Maloney on bass and Shane Gaalaas on drums plays a bone-crushing set for students at the world-renowned Musicians Institute. That's about as tough an audience as you'll find, a room full of serious young players watching every move, and the band clearly rises to the challenge. The setlist draws from all three Cosmosquad studio albums along with material from Kollman's solo record "Shedding Skin," giving you a well-rounded look at what makes this group so exciting. You'll hear tight, hard-hitting interplay, inventive arrangements and the kind of chops that only come from years of dedication. Every member pulls his weight, and the chemistry among them is obvious from the opening notes. Respect from an audience of fellow musicians has to be earned, and Cosmosquad earns it here. For anyone who loves instrumental rock played at the highest level, this one hits hard.