By George A. Paul
Artist: Coldplay
Title: Live 2012
Filmed
at Stade de France in Paris,
Live 2012 (Capitol) shows why
Coldplay is among a select handful of rock acts today that can make a stadium
feel like a small theater.
The 96-minute DVD is a dazzling dose of audio/visual
stimuli; the picture is crisp. Concertgoers were given lighted wristbands as
they entered the venue, so the wide aerial camera shots make them look like
confetti (actual shredded paper falls during the transcendent “In My Place”).
The British band kicks off with a fast-paced “Hurts Like
Heaven” as graffiti is superimposed on them. Interviews and backstage footage
are interspersed between the songs. At one point, singer Chris Martin says, “In
the buildup to a concert, I get really excited.” That definitely comes across
in his exuberant delivery.
Highlights include the singalong “Yellow,” totally
rocking “God Put a Smile Upon Your Face” (where Martin plays a paint-splattered
electric guitar). Rihanna reprises her guest vocal appearance from the “Mylo
Xyloto” album during “Princess of China.” She and Martin get really into the
romantic song by getting really close and touching each other’s faces. Note: There is also a CD component.
Artist: Lady
Antebellum
Title: Own the
Night World Tour
Filmed
in June 2012, Own the Night World Tour (Eagle Vision) is a 94-minute concert
from Little Rock, Arkansas. The superb musicianship on display
here is a perfect example of why Lady A is one of the biggest acts in country
music now. It opens with the trio harmonizing backstage before launching into
the feisty title track.
The crisp picture makes the DVD look like it was shot in HD.
The 13 tracks – including such hits as “Just a Kiss,” “I Run to You” and “Need
You Now” – are interspersed with interviews and behind the scenes footage.
Among the five bonus tracks are a mildly rocking take on Aerosmith’s “Sweet
Emotion” and the fun Doobie Brothers cover “Black Water,” where Lady A is
joined by tour mates Darius Rucker and Thompson Square. Also available on
Blu-ray and digital video.
Artist: Patti
Smith
Title: Live at
Montreux 2005
The
punk poet and her stellar longtime band were touring behind the ’04 album
“Trampin” when this entrancing 83-minute show was filmed. “I’m glad to be
back,” says Smith on Live at Montreux 2005 (Eagle Eye Media), before they begin
“Redondo Beach.”
The subtle lighting is perfect for the setting. “Dancing
Barefoot” is especially powerful, while a seven-minute cover of Dylan’s “Like a
Rolling Stone” finds Smith doing vocal tradeoffs with guitarist Lenny Kaye. She
gives a spirited delivery on “Because the Night” and does some primal screams
on Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Also available on Blu-ray and digital video.
Artist: Paul
McCartney
Title: Live
Kisses
McCartney
had wanted to do a standards album that paid tribute to the music of his
parents for years, but patiently waited while other musicians had their crack
at it. The songs on his “Kisses on the Bottom” aren’t always the familiar jazz
standards everyone knows.
For Live Kisses (Eagle Vision/MPL), McCartney ran through the
album material at Hollywood’s
famed Capitol Studios with a full band and orchestra (Diana Krall and Joe Walsh
among them). Beautifully shot in black and white by award-winning director
Jonas Akerlund, the 75-minute show includes interviews with many of the album
participants (including Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder and others).
Bonus material includes six versions of the McCartney-penned
“My Valentine” starring Johnny Depp and Natalie Portman, making the videos, a
15-minute interview with McCartney and producer Tommy LiPuma by former LA Times
pop critic Robert Hilburn and clips from the “Kisses” photo shoot. Also available on Blu-ray and digital video.
Artist: The
Doobie Brothers
Title: Let the
Music Play
Produced
by Barry Ehrmann, who also helmed the Doobies’ initial 1982 farewell concert
film, Let the Music Play (Eagle Vision) is a 99-minute documentary about the San Jose band’s history.
The key players - including Michael McDonald - are all interviewed.
Bonus material consists of nine career-spanning live
performances that run 45 minutes. Most are 1970s/80s clips, but “Long Train
Running” and “China Grove” are from the past decade.
Artist: Stray
Cats
Title: Live at
Montreux 1981
A
year before they’d score hits on the Billboard chart with “Rock This Town” and
“Stray Cat Strut,” Long Island’s Stray Cats amassed a European following. That
is clear from the start of Live at Montreux 1981 (Eagle Eye Media).
The
79-minute show is a sweaty, high energy romp through rockabilly territory from
start to finish. Audience members are extremely close to the trio and some
cameramen are nestled between the fans (one blows cigarette smoke into a lens),
giving it a claustrophobic vibe. Even at age 22, Brian Setzer was a wicked
guitar slinger and proves his mettle on an extended version of “Town.” Other
standouts include Gene Vincent’s “Be Bop-A-Lula,” “Rumble in Brighton”
and the raveup, “Fishnet Stockings.” Also available on digital video.
Artist: Freddie
Mercury
Title: The Great
Pretender
A
fine 85-minute documentary, The Great Pretender (Eagle Vision) provides an
in-depth spotlight on the Queen frontman’s personal life and endeavors outside
the band. For those who had limited knowledge of Mercury’s solo albums “The
Great Pretender” and “Barcelona”
(an unlikely pairing with Spanish opera star Montserrat Caballe), this DVD is
enlightening.
Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor were recently
interviewed, as were longtime manager Jim Beach, Caballe and others. Bonus
material includes extended interviews with Caballe, Mercury (from 1985) and the
recent re-do of “Barcelona”
with orchestra. Also available on Blu-ray and digital video.
Artist: Queen
Title: Greatest
Video Hits
With
a running time of more than three hours, Greatest Video Hits (Eagle Vision) rounds
up 33 of the band’s promotional music videos in non-chronological order on 2
DVDs.
Restored and remixed in 5.1 surround sound, these clips sound better than
ever. From “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Another One Bites the Dust” to “Radio Ga
Ga” and “I Want to Break Free,” all of Queen’s memorable clips are here.
Members Brian May and Roger Taylor provide fans with cool tidbits via
the audio commentary. Also available on Blu-ray.
Artist: Bachman
& Turner
Title: Live at
the Roseland Ballroom
Opening
with “Let it Rock,” the main members of BTO put on a 93-minute show during Live
at the Roseland Ballroom (Eagle Vision).
The classic rockers perform best known
staples from the BTO and Guess Who catalogs like “American Woman,” “You Ain’t
Seen Nothin’ Yet” and “Takin’ Care of Business.” They are joined in NYC by
keyboardist Paul Shaffer for an unlikely cover of “Shakin’ All Over.” Also available on Blu-ray and digital video.
Artist: Meatloaf
Title: Guilty
Pleasures Tour
Meatloaf’s
public profile was elevated in the U.S. with his turn on NBC’s
“Celebrity Apprentice.” The Guilty Pleasures Tour DVD (Concert One Ltd.) finds
the singer performing a two-hour show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on the
2012 tour for most recent album “Hang Cool, Teddy Bear.”
Shot in Hi-Def,
Meatloaf dramatically performs faves from “Rocky Horror,” as well as epic
length versions of “Bat Out of Hell,” “You Took the Words (Right Out of My
Mouth),” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Dreams,” “Anything for Love” and “Paradise By the
Dashboard Light.” A 40-minute documentary on the tour and Meatloaf interview is
the bonus feature.
Artist: Diana
Ross
Title: Live in Central Park
“I’ve
never sang in the rain before,” says Ross onstage, halfway into a windy,
drenched outdoor concert at New York
City’s Central Park
in 1983. She had a reputation as a diva but was definitely a trooper on that
mid-summer day. The event was being broadcast live on Showtime and via satellite
around the world; producers followed Ross’ lead and stayed with her as long as
possibly. Live in Central Park (Shout!
Factory) is its DVD debut.
Included here is the shortened show as
well as the full make-up concert the following afternoon. There is footage from
news reports and director Steve Binder provided an interesting commentary,
noting that there was no editing done at the time for Day 1. Everyone had to
jump through logistics hoops to do the show again with hundreds of thousands of
concertgoers.
Artist: The
Raconteurs
Title: Live at
Montreux 2008
One
of former White Stripes front man Jack White’s better projects, The Raconteurs have
received modern rock airplay and did the main stage at Coachella. Live at
Montreux 2008 (Eagle Eye Media) is a 90-minute, 16 song concert from the famed
festival.
The band gives sizzling performances of its blues/rock songs like
“Steady, As She Goes,” “Consoler of the Lonely” and “Broken Boy Soldier.” White
trades off on lead vocals with Brendan Benson and the group’s ferocious sound
is exemplified on a cover of Terry Reid’s “Rich Kid Blues.”
Artist: Various
Title: No Room
for Rockstars
What
is it really like to play the Vans Warped Tour? This solid 100-minute DVD
documentary answers the question. Over multiple city stops, No Room for
Rockstars (Shout! Factory) follows acts that have made minor inroads (Mike
Posner, Never Shout Never) and one (Twentynine Palms’ Forever Came Calling)
just trying to realize their dream of securing a one-time slot on a smaller
side stage in San Diego.
There are interviews with Warped veteran Fletcher Dragge of Pennywise, tour
founder Kevin Lyman and others. SoCal hardcore band Suicide Silence – which
recently lost their lead singer in a tragic accident – also gets some major
screen time.
Bonus material includes more interviews (Andrew W.K., Casualties,
Dillinger Escape Plan) and behind the scenes footage (Bouncing Souls perform
with a fan). Subtitles available in four languages. The CD component has live
performances from No Doubt, Sublime, Suicidal Tendencies, The Specials and
more.
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