Eye of the Eagle DVD (06)
The original CD of The Eye of the Eagle is a worthy purchase that features
Celtic Christian author and mystic David Adam doing voice-overs over a lush bed
of complex and contemplative textures from Iona founders Dave Bainbridge and
David Fitzgerald, creatively mixing acoustic and electric guitars, ambient
keyboards, and woodwinds.
Mellower than Iona, it is still meaty and creative enough to keep you awake (see
full album review
here). The DVD is a very well done documentary of a special Eye of the Eagle concert
performance from 1999 at beautiful Norwich
Cathedral. It features concert footage, interviews, and fantastic scenery,
all mixed into an interesting 50 minute collage. The show was originally filmed for
Anglia TV and released on video, but the DVD features more extensive interviews
and the concert's encore performance in the special features. With excellent
camera work, fantastic sound, and of course, the stellar musicianship of the two Davids, the viewer is quickly absorbed into the sight
and sounds of David Adam's Celtic Christianity. The music and narrative
poetically explores man's purpose, his relationship with God, and his role in his
environment, with added scriptures and prayers. Breathtakingly beautiful, it is a very moving spiritual experience.
Fitzgerald left Iona several years back, and it is a pleasure seeing him and
Dave Bainbridge performing together again. I had forgotten how much I love Fitzgerald's
expressive woodwind
playing and it is a pleasure to watch him perform along with Bainbridge's
deft touches on both ambient keyboards and lush guitars. Tim Oliver steps in and
plays additional keyboards, and the show also features an angelic boys choir and
some amazing female vocalists which add rich texture and emotion. David
Shaw steps in wonderfully with the occasional poetic neo-liturgical narration.
It's an inspiring performance, and watching it I began to feel the thin veil between the
physical and spiritual realms wavering. It's a rare thing to
find haunting music that tantalizes both your ears and your spirit. This is a DVD that should very much be an essential part of your Iona
collection. Highly recommended. [DT]
Score - The 20th Anniversary World Tour DVD (06)
Score – the 20 year celebration double DVD - includes concert footage of Dream Theater at Radio City Music Hall and does not disappoint. It clocks in at over 2 hours, including a long set which includes the Octavarium Orchestra. The repertoire covers every album since the band’s inception and the sound is exceptional. But the unique part of the gig is definitely the 2nd set, which includes the orchestra. It is well-scored and interesting to see how well some of DT’s music lends itself to orchestral arrangement. The tuning and timing of the orchestra leaves something to be desired in some parts; some of them appeared a little shell-shocked at the raw energy of a DT live gig! The band’s musical virtuosity comes through in the longer pieces here – Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Sacrificed Sons, Octavarium and, the best track of the whole DVD, Metropolis. The band’s skill also manages to overwhelm the more workmanlike orchestra. Metropolis demonstrates the best musical arrangement and interplay between the band and the orchestra. The classic DT themes of identity, loss and redemption shine through strongly in the chosen tracks. Overall, the quality of this live album surpasses any of DT’s previous live efforts. There is not too much new in terms of content or material, apart from 2 unreleased tracks never before on video – DT’s commitment to never play exactly the same songs at any 2 concerts makes every performance unique. The spirituality (or least euphoric ecstasy) of the music here might be augmented by the presence of thousands of fans, but the power of the video is in the excellent production values and the shred-tastic playing. The bonus DVD includes an hour long documentary tracing the history of the band, an amusing animation of the solo section from Octavarium, and a number of excellent tracks from previous live gigs. [Jason Mandryk]
Live at Belmont DVD (06)
6-3-06
Glass Hammer's Live At Belmont DVD is the perfect way to experience America's leading prog band, live in all their Yes-influenced over the top glory. At last fall's Past Watchful Dragons event in Nashville, Glass Hammer and fellow proggers Salem Hill put on a fantastic show with all the trimmings, and the pro-shot DVD of the concert experience is not to be missed. As one who attended the show, I can say that the video is almost as good as being there, with excellent shots and an exceptional 5.1 surround mix. With a fantastic set list of songs from their best albums, Live at Belmont is the definitive Glass Hammer experience. The band features special guest Carl Groves of Salem Hill on lead vocals, new member David Walliman as the guitar virtuoso, Matt Mendians on drums, and main members Steve Babb on bass and Fred Schendel ripping up the keyboards, as well as a trio of female background vocalist, a string section, and a 150+ member choir, this is truly symphonic rock at its finest. While Glass Hammer seldom plays out live, you should certainly make an effort to see them when they do. But if you can't, then you need to get yourself a copy of this live concert experience and see for yourself what all the hubbub is about with this band.
Disc 1 of the gorgeously packaged two-DVD set has the songs Long and Long Ago, One King, Run Lissette, Farewell to Shadowlands, Through the Glass Darkly, Knight of the North, When We Were Young, Having Caught a Glimpse, with a finale of their classic Heroes and Dragons. Disc 2 has 5.1 surround sound mixes of the songs Tales of the Great Wars and Lirazel, as well as a Slide Show photo collage with commentary, a Behind the Scenes Video as the band gets ready to come onstage, a rehearsal video, and some short 2003 concert clips. While the bonus disc isn't something I'll probably watch again, the live concert is one I'll especially cherish. Once again, Glass Hammer provides us living proof that the 70's live on, and that excellently performed flamboyant symphonic progressive rock can still draw a crowd. The DVD and all of Glass Hammer's epic albums can be purchased from http://www.glasshammer.com .
Glass Hammer
Lex Live DVD (04)
Attention one and all! Hear ye, hear ye...and watch ye, watch ye. Glass Hammer has released a wonderful live concert DVD. It's a pro-shot video featuring most of their epic concept album Lex Rex as well as a couple of the best cuts from Chronometree and Perelandra, recorded locally at a club in Chattanooga. If you enjoy Glass Hammer and have never had the opportunity to see them perform live (a rare event at best), then you need to get this DVD. You'll get to watch Fred Schendel play his signature lightening-fast moog and organ riffs, see Steve Babb tastefully holding down the low end on his bass, and watch capable vocalist and guitar shredder Walter Moore front the band with aplomb. The sound quality is superb, as always, and Glass Hammer puts on a stellar show. Particularly interesting is the choir that comes out, a virtual who's-who of the east coast prog community chipping in to add some life to the finale. There is also almost an hour of bonus "behind the scenes" footage that is interesting to watch, if a bit poorly shot on camcorder. Just don't make the mistake of hitting play on the bonus parts first (like I did) and start thinking that is the entirety of the DVD. I was a little worried, but quickly rejoiced to find the "real" concert footage wasn't shot from the balcony with a shaky camcorder. Whew! Plus, the DVD features some really incredible cover art from the amazing Bruce Huffman. If for some reason you aren't into DVD's, at least pick up the companion live CD, as the performance is great, and the band sounds better than ever. {dt}
Iona
Live in London DVD
Reviewed by Dave Taylor, June 5, 2006
At long last, I have finally seen my all time favorite band play live, from the comfort of my living room no less, blasted loudly on my JBL speakers. Iona’s Live in London DVD is just what I’ve been waiting for all these years, and the band delivers a superb concert set of their very best songs. Iona is a band not to be missed live, as the extra energy boosts their already fantastic songs up to a whole new level. As the five exceptional musicians weave a multi-hued tapestry of spiritual sound that spirals upward to the heavens in a bright palette dabbed with Celtic, folk, ambient, and progressive rock flavors, you can very nearly hear angelic hosts singing along in ecstatic harmony.
Shot professionally at the University of London in November of 1994 with a five camera crew, lighting specialist Paul Kell’s magic combines with a fantastic 5.1 surround sound mix by John Kellog (producer of surround sound mixes of such artists as ELP and Deep Purple). There were reports that some copies of the DVD had some pixilation problems (perhaps from the conversion from PAL to NTSC), but my copy looked great. My only complaint on the visual is the black and white shots that are interspersed, which suffer from some border bleed issues and are a bit washed out and distracting. Otherwise, both visually and aurally, Live in London is pure magic.
Opening up with the instrumental Woven Chord, highlighted by Frank Van Essen’s solid drumming, Phil Barker’s driving bass, and Dave Bainbridge’s tasteful electric guitar solos, Troy Donockley’s uilleann pipes soar with joy. Iona grabs your attention as they flex their considerable musical muscles. As Joanne Hogg’s crystalline voice chimes in on Wave After Wave from their Open Sky album, you witness musician’s that have been playing together for many years completely in sync, enjoying a chance to share their divinely inspired songs with a willing audience. Inside My Heart (one of my favorites from Journey Into the Morn) follows, and Dave Bainbridge’s frenzied guitar solo at the end just blisters.
Three news songs from their forthcoming CD The Circling Hour come next. Wind Off the Lake is first, and having never heard it, I was totally transported, especially by Dave and Troy’s syncopated soloing and Joanne singing about billowing sails and waves. A Dhia Ghleigil (angel of God) is an instrumental from Troy performed on the low whistle, which leads into another new song, the Factory of Magnificent Souls. This epic piece was inspired by a poem written by a friend of Joanne’s based on a trip to an island in Africa where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Islands are certainly a common theme on Iona albums, coming from a band named after an island, but this particular song is something totally new. The lyrics actually get a bit political, definitely treading new ground, and it boldly invokes the name of Jesus as the song laments the horrible conditions of the prison. I can’t wait to hear the studio version, as it is a very moving piece.
Next comes the moment I’ve been waiting for: Encircling, my favorite Iona song. It’s a progressive rock classic, and the performance is sublime, with some ad-lib Gaelic in the middle by Joanne, a flawless guitar solo by Dave, and a spiritually hair-raising finale filled with dancing, sparkling points of light as St. Patrick’s timeless verses spiral around the listener.
Strength is next, an almost poppy new number with an acoustic intro complete with a bodhran that morphs into a more electrified tune with a catchy vocal hook about the strength of various natural forces and how they relate to our reliance upon God. The crunchy guitar makes it the closest to rock and roll that I’ve heard from Iona. The song is powerful and moving, and with a bit of divine intervention to stir up the market for real music, could be a hit. From Beyond These Shores, the band launches into Treasure, one of their signature tunes that even our church worship band does occasionally. This version rocks out at the end, with inspired solos by Bainbridge and Donockley. Castlerrigg/Reels follow, which is always a cause to rejoice, and this phenomenal bands exceptional musicianship truly shines. Troy’s pipes are crisp and perfect, and his and Dave’s synchronized soloing are epic to witness live. It makes your fingers tired just watching them! It’s a breathtaking finale, but wait -- the real encore is still to come. After the frenzied audience beckons them back out, they perform Irish Day, with both Troy’s tin whistle and Joanne’s voice soaring on the tribute to her homeland. Then it’s back into high gear with Bi-se I mo Shuil Pt 2, and again Troy and Dave trade blistering synchronized parts in celto-prog abandon. Hearkening back to their debut album, the band then kicks into Flight of the Wild Goose, a rollickingly great instrumental which was my introduction to the band back in the late 80’s. Again, Bainbridge shows off his considerable chops on guitar, wringing heaven’s melodies like songs of wild geese in his solo. Finally, Iona slows things down with a beautiful final tune from Beyond These Shores, Murlough Bay. It sounds gorgeous live, and is a fitting closer to two hours of the most uplifting, spiritually invigorating music out there. “Here with you, is where I belong..” Joanne sings, and there was nowhere else I wanted to be while I experienced their Live in London DVD. It should hold me over a while until I finally get to see this fantastic band in person.
The bonus disc included is worth the price of the DVD itself, as it contains their opening acoustic set with such tunes as Chi-Ro, Edge of the World, and Today, along with some laughs courtesy of Troy, who has some hilarious things to say. It is shot by the same pro team, and sounds fantastic to boot. Also on the disc are interviews with each member of the band, which I am eager to watch. Whether you are previously a fan of Iona or not, you need to add Live in London to the top of your list of essential progressive rock videos to own, and never pass up an opportunity to catch an Iona gig first hand if you get the chance. Now I am impatiently awaiting The Circling Hour, which is sure to be the soundtrack of my summer.
Iona's Live in London is available from http://www.iona.uk.com, and you can also find it at http://www.goldusa.com online in the US and Canada (for about $15). [DT]
Neal Morse
Reviewed by Dave Taylor, 10/25/04
Soon after the Neal Morse's epic Testimony double CD was released to world-wide acclaim, Neal put together a touring band and they went out and performed a half-dozen shows, some in the USA and some in Europe. If you were lucky enough to have found your way to one of the performances, then you'll certainly want a memento of the amazing show they put on. If you didn't make it, then you really need to pick this DVD up to find out what you missed. Either way, its a must have. To really feel the power of Neal's Testimony, it is essential to experience the live performance.
So lets talk about the video. Testimony Live is a two DVD set that contains the performance of the entire Testimony album on disc 1, with a bonus disc containing two Transatlantic songs and a Spock's Beard tune, along with a tour documentary. This is a first rate production, shot by professionals and filmed at Tilberg in the Netherlands in November of 2003. The sound is crisp, and the footage and editing top notch. It's never gimmicky, and the focus is mostly on Neal, as it should be. Neal again enlisted Dream Theater veteran Mike Portnoy to play the drums, and Mike is also featured prominently on the DVD, with an overhead "drum cam" giving us the literal play by play as he pummels his huge wrap around kit. Eric Brenton, an amazing multi-instrumentalist, carries a huge weight live, playing guitar, violin, flute, mandolin, and other assorted instruments, all with competence and aplomb. He sings too, which makes you wonder if there is anything that he can't do. John Krovosa adds a nice presence on the electric cello, mixing with Brenton's violins to give an authenticity to much of Testimony's brilliant orchestration. Bert Baldwin, a quirky, straight-laced looking fellow that looks like he just stepped off the platform of a Pentecostal church worship band, adds keyboards and vocals. Rick Altizer, a fine songwriter and performer in his own right (he has several excellent solo albums that King Crimson alum Adrian Belew contributed to), adds additional guitar, keyboards and vocals. And last, but not least, my friend Randy George (Ajalon) lays down the groove on bass. Unfortunately Randy gets the least air time of anybody on the video, making you wonder if he is still back there thumping away at times.
The band is in fine form throughout the performance, nailing all the parts. Neal is emotional and dynamic, adding some moving personal anecdotes that make the spiritual aspects of his story really hit home. When he tells of how his young daughter was born with a hole in her heart, and how Jesus healed her, it is very moving, and then Neal quickly and adeptly parallels the story with our own existence, and how we are all born with a God-shaped hole in our own hearts. The band starts off the concert all in black, then half way through they come out all in white, signifying Neal's transformation. The song I am Willing is really the high point of the concert, with the gut wrenching emotion and spiritual fervor really infecting the audience, including those viewing it at home on their own TV's. The band is obviously having fun, and there is a tangible anointing on the show that will certainly move anyone that takes the time to absorb the music and the message. I was riveted watching it all, and left spent and exhilarated at the end. And the amazing part was that Neal said that that wasn't even one of their better shows, since they were all a bit nervous with having to deal with cameras in their faces. You'll definitely be glad they included the bonus DVD, as the finale's of The Light and Stranger in Your Soul really cap it off. What a better thing to enjoy than seeing a band rip through three and a half hours of progressive rock bliss endued with a power from on high and delivering a message of freedom and hope? Buy it and share it with all your friends. {dt}