The back DVD cover of Are You Ready? calls Thin Lizzy “one of the greatest rock bands ever to come out of Ireland.” That’s partly true. Thin Lizzy are one of the greatest Irish music acts, period, although the version of the band featured on this 1981 footage – Phil Lynott, Scott Gorham, Snowy White, Darren Wharton and Brian Downey – is not my favorite.
The legendary John Mayall, prime instigator of the 1960’s British blues movement, had decided to revive the Bluesbreakers name with a top-notch quintet, including guitarists Walter Trout and Coco Montoya, circa 1984. This combo was at the peak of their powers in 1987 when a gig at Iowa State University was captured on camera. The video from this show has seen the light of day courtesy of a few different companies, but the latest version is out on Quantum Leap. Although this configuration of the Bluesbreakers would only exist for another two years, it’s quite clear that they were having a blast backing Mayall at what he does best — faithful takes on the blues that are equal parts entertainment and history lesson.
Posted in DVD Reviews 
Tags: british blues, coco montoya, harmonica, iowa state university, john mayall, organ, Paul Hines, Strat, walter trout
Before discussing The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour Memories DVD, it must be stated that there are absolutely no performances on the disc that were actually recorded by The Beatles themselves. While many of the songs from the classic Beatles album are approximated by relatively unknown musicians to set the stage for the piece, the rights to the Beatles’ recordings were not acquired by the producers of the film. That said, let’s review the film’s contents.
![Redemption \](http://classicrockmusicblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/redemption-frozen-in-the-moment.jpg "Redemption \")
Redemption is a progressive metal band that was formed in Los Angeles in 2000 around the talents of guitarist Nick van Dyk. Despite lineup changes, the group has released three albums to great critical and audience acclaim. Some significant fans are the members of Dream Theater, who invited Redemption to support them during their 2007 U.S. tour. The tour culminated in an appearance at the 8th annual Prog Power show in Atlanta, Georgia, in October 2007. The short set of just over an hour is captured on Frozen In the Moment, an outstanding DVD released by the band’s current label Inside Out/SPV, which includes a CD with the same performance, a video for the song “Bleed Me Dry,” a tour diary set to a previously unreleased instrumental track, and a slew of outtakes showing that these very serious musicians also have a goofy side.
![\](http://classicrockmusicblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/rush-snakes-and-arrows.jpg "Rush \")
Snakes & Arrows Live is an exciting and important document of Rush on tour in Amsterdam, during the fall of 2007. The three-DVD set is notable not just for the music (27 songs in all) but for the fantastic high-definition footage. We get up-close shots of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart as they play their signature parts on classics such as “The Spirit Of Radio,” “Limelight” and “Tom Sawyer,” and stage shots of the men who seem to be having a marvelous time – the smiles are contagious. And the audio is as impressive as the video.
Posted in DVD Reviews Tags: alex lifeson, geddy lee, greatest drummers, natural science, neil peart, passage to bangkok, spirit of radio, Tom Sawyer![\](http://classicrockmusicblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/glasshammerliveatthetivolifront.jpg "Glass Hammer \")
Glass Hammer are simply one of the best progressive rock bands going today. I remember hearing their 2001 release, Chronometree, and being blown away by its old-school keyboard and guitar sounds, and humorous storyline. Since then, I’ve followed the band and had occasion to chat with head Hammers Steve Babb and Fred Schendel and can attest that they are not only excellent songwriters and musicians, they are also very nice guys.
Posted in DVD Reviews Tags: chattanooga tn, dan fogelberg, eiger dreams, fred schendel, glass hammer, lex rex, progressive rock bands, shadowlands, steve babb![\](http://classicrockmusicblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/black-crowes-freak-n-roll.jpg "The Black Crowes \")
The Black Crowes waited years before getting into the DVD game, and their first, Freak ‘N’ Roll Into The Fog, is a glorious glimpse into America’s last great rock band working a San Francisco Fillmore crowd into a frenzy. What makes the Crowes special is their ability to bridge the best of the ‘60s and ‘70s with their own Southern twist. They write great songs. They cover great songs. They jam. Among the 19 tracks, the Crowes stuff the cannons with a booming “My Morning Song,” a horn-and-chorus-drenched “(Only) Halfway To Everywhere,” a “Seeing Things” that sears with gospel-like intensity, and an acoustic version of “Cursed Diamond” showcasing guitarist Marc Ford’s lyrical slide playing. Like The Grateful Dead, the Crowes never play the same show twice. Here, they bring the house down fittingly with a superb cover of The Band’s “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down.”
Posted in DVD Reviews Tags: black crowes, chris robinson, fillmore, grateful dead, marc ford, rich robinsonDesperate Man Blues is a DVD that every record collector should see. It chronicles the long-time efforts of Joe Bussard, an obsessed music lover in the purest sense of the word. Bussard has spent much of his life traveling the backroads of the Southern United States in search of “America’s real music” – country, blues, jazz and bluegrass from the 1920s and early 1930s. During his travels, he amassed more than 25,000 78 rpms, including recordings from pioneering artists such as Blind Blake, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and Jimmie Rodgers.
Filmed during Yes’ 35th Anniversary World Tour in 2003, Yes – The New Director’s Cut is a two-DVD set, compiling two entire concerts (N.I.A. Birmingham and Glastonbury Festival) along with band commentary, backstage footage and the like. Featured is the “classic” lineup of vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squier, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Rick Wakeman and drummer Alan White. As Howe says in the DVD, this was the most durable lineup, musically and personally. And it’s the one that most fans associate with the band’s “classic” ‘70’s period.
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