Top Ten Concert DVDs of 2006
2006 was definitely the year of the "rock band meets
orchestra" concert DVD. Three of my top ten concert DVDs of 2006 featured rock bands performing
live with a full orchestra. Obviously, I have not been able to see all of the
good ones, but here are my ten favorite concert DVDs of 2006:
1. Collective Soul
- Home: After being blown away by these guys at an outdoor festival last
summer, way more than I expected to be, Collective Soul went out and released one of the
most charming concert DVDs that I have ever seen. Teamed up with the marvelous
Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, the band runs through 20 of their biggest hits
and betters each and every one of them along the way. Don't miss this one.
2.
Porcupine Tree
- Arriving Somewhere...: There is no hiding it, Porcupine Tree is my
current favorite band. Porcupine who, you say? - I'll pretend I didn't even hear
that. Just check'em out. This was my most anticipated DVD of the year, and Arriving
Somewhere... delivers. If you want to hear one of the best DTS mixes ever, look no
further than this baby, because Steve Wilson outdid himself once again. The director got a
little bit carried away with all of the artsy-fartsy post production trickery,
for my taste, but the magic of a live Porcupine Tree show still manages to shine
through brightly.
3.
Dream Theater -
Score (20th Anniversary World Tour): I didn't have the highest of
expectations for this DVD. Dream Theater used to be my favorite prog-metal band,
by far, but have taken a slight turn for the worse going into this new century.
When I saw that the setlist weighed heavily on the band's last three mediocre
albums, and ignored many of their best songs, I just figured that I was going to
be let down once again. Oh yeah, and a progressive metal band jamming with a
symphony orchestra? Well, to my pleasant surprise, this DVD kicks some serious ass. The
orchestra complimented the music wonderfully, and album length epics like "Six
Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" and "Octavarium", which never really did
much for me before, were simply knockouts here.
4.
The Black Crowes -
Freak 'N' Roll ... Into The Fog: The Black Crowes' live performances
have been pretty hit and miss in the past, but Freak 'N' Roll ... Into The Fog
captures the band at
the top of their game, and may just be their defining live moment. The four-piece
Left Cost Horns adds some extra muscle to some of the live arrangements, and the
Crowes
turn some of these songs into magnificent extended jams that take you on a trip you
just
never want to come down from.
5.
Styx - One With Everything:
Arena rock icons Styx have found their second wind following the
departure of keyboardist/vocalist, and chief songwriter, Dennis DeYoung, in
1999. Longtime Styx axmen Tommy Shaw and James Young have taken the band in a
heavier direction and they have been hitting the road more than ever lately.
One With Everything captures a fantastic concert that was spearheaded by Liza
Grossman, conductor of the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland, and
finds the band's pop-rock classics melding perfectly with the exuberant, all-teen
Contemporary Youth Orchestra.
6.
Gary Moore & Friends -
One Night In Dublin (A Tribute To Phil Lynott): Whoa, did this one
ever take me by surprise. It certainly sounded good on paper - blues-rock guitar
god Gary Moore leading a bunch of current and former Thin Lizzy members in an
all-star tribute to the band's late frontman Phil Lynott. Well, it sounded even
better on DVD my friends. Watching Moore do justice to such Lizzy classics as
"Jailbreak" and " Don't Believe A Word", and then duel with
Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham on such anthems as "Emerald" and "The
Boys Are Back In Town", was about as good as it can get without Lynott
actually being there.
My only complaint was that the famous Lizzy twin lead guitar attack of Gorham and
Robertson never even took the stage together.
7.
Pink Floyd - Pulse:
Okay, so this was a Roger Waters-less Pink Floyd concert, but, Jesus Christ,
what a concert it was. Floyd fans had to wait ten years for this incredible
document of the 1994 Division Bell tour to finally get released on DVD,
and the wait was well worth it. The picture was restored beautifully and the new
Dolby 5.1 surround mix sounded phenomenal. What more could you ask for.
8.
Joe Bonamassa -
Live At Rockpalast: If you have not seen Joe Bonamassa play live, do
so now! Live At Rockpalast is an excellent place to start, if you are unable
to track him down in your neck of the woods. This former child guitar prodigy, now
30 year old blues veteran, has been laying down some of the finest blues rock guitar
licks in the biz, since his killer debut album, A New Day Yesterday, hit the streets
in 2000. It is scary to think that he has not even reached his prime yet. I can't wait.
9.
Whitesnake - Live In
The Still Of The Night: Who the hell hadn't already written these
guys off, especially David Coverdale. You've got to admit though, their Saints &
Sinners, Slide It In, Whitesnake album trilogy of the 80's offered up some
pretty kick ass rock & roll for that decade. I picked up this DVD as a "why
not" and was completely blown away. Coverdale looked and performed like
he had just stepped of a time machine from 1987, and his all star band rocked the
house old-school style.
10.
The Derek Trucks Band - Songlines
Live: Not only is Derek Trucks the leader of his own excellent band, but he has
also been a full-fledged member of the Allman Brothers Band since 1999. The Derek Trucks
Band plays a unique blend of rock, jazz, funk, R&B, Latin, and world music that is
all firmly grounded in the blues. Songlines Live is a brilliantly produced concert
video that captures the band promoting new songs from their exceptional new Songlines
album, along with a few powerhouse blues standards.
Honorable Mention:
Joe Satriani - Satriani Live!
Van Morrison - Live At Montreux (1980, 1974)
Robin Trower - Living Out Of Time (Live)
Dio - Holy Diver Live
The Flower Kings - Instant Delivery
Glass Hammer - Live At Belmont
