The DVD explores his time with Black Sabbath the English heavy metal band and shows Ozzy in his formidable years as a young bloke in Aston, Birmingham England where his choices of occupation was either, factory worker, prison, or in the army. Born John Michael Osbourne, Ozzy expresses his lack of interest in any of those occupations in 1969 he sets out to be a musician alongside of Bill Ward, Gezzer Butler, and Tony Iommi. Sabbath the pioneers of heavy metal produced the quadruple-platinum 1970 hit Paranoid and position themselves stars in the rock world.

This documentary interviews all of his band mates and Henry Rollins, Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, and his childhood hero Sir Paul McCartney putting their personal spin on everything Ozzy. Ozzy was a huge fan of the Beatles and was determined to become a rockstar himself. The DVD also shows his spiral down into drugs and alcoholism that plagued most of his forty years in rock’n roll. Due to his lack of self-esteem Ozzy became the band class clown. Cocaine was ever present with the band doing blow all day and all night long. Because they were completely drugged out they became ripped off by many people in the business because they were unable to manage their own affairs.

This documentary shows Ozzy’s three sisters Jean, Iris and Gillian sending Ozzy back in time to his home as he travels back to Aston and his childhood home and offers a porthole into his dysfunctional first marriage and his first two children Luis and Jessica. His kids have many memories of him not being present in their lives and being a no good drunk. Bill Ward tells the account of Ozzy losing his father Jack and how devastating that experience was for him. The band got tired of Ozzy’s antics and fired him from the band. That’s about the time Sharon stepped knowing that Ozzy had no confidence and feeling that it was the end of his dream. She knew he was a great talent but lack self-esteem again and finally got his mojo back with the hiring of great guitarist Randy Rhodes. 1980 Blizzard of Oz’s with Rhodes blew up on the charts and then the follow up Diary of a Madman established Ozzy as a star again. Rhodes helped Ozzy reinvent himself until his untimely Rhodes death in a freak helicopter crash. Sharon and Ozzy married in 1982 and started a family with Jack, Kelly, and Aimee and he still was not a great father. He was constantly drunk and loaded and notoriously bit off the head of a bird at a meeting with executives at CBS records which began to make him a larger than life character. His affair with drugs persisted and it wasn’t until his son Jack got sober that he began to want to get sober himself. The kids saw him and the effect of the drugs made his speech terrible, his walk was bad and it was destroying his family. After many failed attempts to get clean Jack was Ozzy’s inspiration and turning point and as of resultant he has been sober for 5 years.

This DVD also includes a Q&A segment with both Jack and Ozzy as Jack expresses his desire to show the world a kinder and gentile person in Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy says that he wants to be remembered just to be remembered. He also shows his new affinity for art for his own pleasure. Jack’s says that there is a difference between Ozzy and John and he wanted to show this perspective to his adoring fans. Throughout God Bless Ozzy Osbourne audiences are given an inside look into the life of this rockstar from the good times to the bad.

The Town Hall is the perfect location for the Counting Crows to perform the entire album in a live setting. Adam Duritz’s signature scratchy, sultry vocals are showcased on these releases on the three formats. Starting off with their signature song Round Here and the much improvised track of Raining In Baltimore you will find this on the high quality video presentation. Wearing the first of three of his vintage T-shirt’s sporting KISS across his chest he sputters the lyrics and is comfortable on stage. Omaha is greeted by thunderous applause as the audience sang along on this track with the accordion played along in the background.

Performing probably their biggest hit Mr. Jones Duritz lets the audience in by admitting that the band was not that good at being a band where at one point they killed one another. The theatrical performance of Anna Begins found Duritz in a comfortable stride. The band performed a stirring rendition of Rain King. It was when Duritz let the crowd in to the story behind Sullivan Street when he was dating a girl whose Mom was a strong Catholic and wouldn’t let her daughter spend the night with him. So he knew it was over soon and they parted ways. The band rounded off the set by singing Ghost Train and A Murder of One.

The DVD/Blu-Ray included an interview with Adam Duritz and Charles Gillingham. Duritz explained that they were an indie band in the ‘90’s and the band was on the road with no songs at the beginning at all. Round Here was performed on Saturday Night Live and the song summed up the Counting Crows. That’s when they know that they were onto something.”That song was what makes us different,” explains Duritz. “We put out there a singer (Adam Duritz) and left him totally naked,” says Gillingham. Duritz talks in this interview about how the band couldn’t get the songs to sound great at first. “We had to learn to play together and all be in the same room to play together.”

Both expressed that the band has to be democratic and be collaborative. Durtiz also explained that the songs came together when he wrote the lyrics and the band had to play them all together. He also dispels the idea that his lyrics are not poetry and that a decision has to be made and it turns out that he has to be the decision maker. He says he and the band never tire of singing the songs that made them what they are.

Another thing is that the band is known for their ability to improvise on the music that they perform. “When the improvising is good we know where he is going and we follow that idea to a conclusion,” says Gillingham. “There is this kind of stream of consciousness especially on the song Round Here. Duritz also explained the bands decision to perform the August and Everything After album. The band was becoming more comfortable doing that album top to bottom and decided to do the recording of it on video and somewhat do the songs that were familiar to the fans to celebrate the 18th year anniversary. August name was selected because it was the month that Duritz was born.

Counting Crows’ debut album August and Everything After was released in late 1993 and went in to sell over seven million copies in America. On September 18, 2007 the band came together to perform the complete album live at the Town Hall in New York City. This one night stands supreme in the mind of the band members themselves as one of the greatest nights performing the entire album with passion and precision complete with jam-worthy elongated portions.

Like with any other live footage of Hendrix you get a man in his element performing sizzling hot rock-blues-psychedelic tunes like only he could play them. And you can always count on each version having its own unique sound and “roads less traveled” from a purely musically vantage point. If you listen to any Hendrix live tracks none are ever the same. He was very advanced much like his contemporaries from different genres such as icons like Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He had the ability to create a style and path for others to follow. But this is about more than the music which makes it more compelling and the reason it should become part of your collection.

Personally I never get tired of this endless supply of music from the legendary guitar god Hendrix. The live experience was much different than what Jimi released from the studio. The one thing that you can always count on is a relentless flow of guitar virtuoso and improvisation. Jimi was an elite entertainer and the guitar became an extension of his personality on stage.

This DVD has many different things to offer the listener including a specially mixed 5.1 Surround Sound version from Jimi’s engineer Eddie Kramer. The beginning of the DVD lets you into the world of Jimi and his band backstage, the promoter’s world prior to the event, and a better understanding of what Murray Lenner endured to get the footage you are enjoying. That view and insight certainly provides a new found appreciation for live concert footage at the Isle of Wight event that took place in 1970. This particular event drew 600,000 people, far beyond what anyone could have imagined or anticipated. It was mentioned during the run of the DVD that Jimi and his band could not see very far out into the crowd because it extended out so far. There are several points during the concert when Jimi is speaking to his road crew because of all the difficulties with the sound. In fact at the end of the concert Jimi literally throws his guitar down on the stage and walks off in total frustration. He always wanted to give his best and the technical issues they experience were simply unacceptable to the talented musician.

The insight that this DVD provides you is immeasurable not to mention some incredible performances from Hendrix, drummer Mitch Mitchell and bass player Billy Cox. One of the more interesting sequences is when the band is ripping through a wild version of “Foxey Lady” when Jimi has to go behind the speakers to change his ripped pants after doing the splits. He keeps playing mind you, which I found amazing. There are 15 tracks encompassing this DVD including a bonus, memorabilia section and a separate filming at different stage angles. I found it interesting how Hendrix kicked off the concert with “God Save The Queen,” which was not part of the set list originally. Jimi was always full of surprises and he had a way of turning whatever he was playing into a masterpiece all his own and this song was no exception. Again, as I have witnessed before on live footage, “Machine Gun” was incredible. It was a track built for rocking improvisation. The closing track “In From The Storm,” which was one of his newer tracks at the time, is a flat out rocker and surely a revelation to the audience in attendance. There must have been a lot of anticipation from listeners at the time after hearing this song that there would be much more to come. Sadly Jimi would leave us shortly thereafter to let us all ponder what could have been for eternity.

The film restoration is outstanding on this footage. There are some spots that could not be removed due to permanent damage however it serves as a watermark like on some rare currency from a foreign land.

This was an absolute joy to view and again I was given another view of the legendary Hendrix I had never considered. I was already aware of his greatness and this film added more proof positive that there never was nor will there ever be another performer like Jimi Hendrix live or in the studio.

This is a must have DVD for all Hendrix fans!

http://www.jimihendrix.com/us/home

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Foxey Lady, In From The Storm, Machine Gun

In-depth documentary detailing Plant’s musical journey, 

featuring live performances and rare footage.

Robert Plant’s journey through the territories that have most acutely informed and inspired his music is perhaps one of the most multi-faceted of any artist from his generation. In a remarkable career that has spanned five decades, Plant has travelled from gold-maned god of hard rock to balladeering country troubadour, a process of reinvention guided by an ever-expanding musical palette and tireless searches through global song. His fantastic voyage has essayed the plantations of Mississippi, the deserts and townships of Africa and the settlements of the Appalachians. This film follows Robert’s incredible and on-going tour of musical styles and acts as travelogue in its unique approach to documenting and reviewing a career that has been built on endless fascination, consistent experimentation and a unique talent that makes the incorporation of his discoveries into a popular contemporary form seem almost effortless. Featuring rare footage, performance archive, recorded interviews, contributions from his closest collaborators, expert critique from the finest music writers, plus location film, news reports seldom seen photographs and a host of other features.

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST SINGER-SONGWRITER-GUITARIST, DAVID LYNCH

“Fans of jangly, breezy, Cali-pop folk have something to celebrate as Los Osos-based singer-songwriter David Lynch releases I Can See Sound, a collection of eleven acoustic-guitar-driven tunes that chronicle the Central Coast lifestyle. Percussive, intelligent, and highly infectious, this is an engaging collection of songs from a songwriter who’s comfortable in his own skin.”
Glenn Starkey/NEW TIMES Performs Locally: PIG ‘N’ WHISTLE In Hollywood -  Friday, May 27

(HOLLYWOOD) – “California Bluegrusion” – the singularly uniquely music style of singer-songwriter-guitarist  David Lynch – comes to the L.A.’s venerable eatery and music venue Pig ‘N’ Whistle, 6714 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Friday, May 27. 9 p.m.-12 midnite. Free. Info: (323) 463-0000 or www.sunseteg.com/pignwhistle.aspx.
Lynch – often confused with that other Lynch of the same name (though this David Lynch did win an Emmy for sound design in his “day” job) – has just released his new CD, I Can See Sound. Reviews have been favorable. “The most fun I’ve had listening to music in a long time,” exclaims Sonnie Brown, host of Song Town on public radio station KCBX (Lynch was “Artist of the Month” for April on KCBX). “My personal favorite of the year!,” raves NEW TIMES writer, Kathy Johnston. “From the surf-inspired “200 Light Years” to the Zen-friendly “Buddha’s Belly,” Lynch captures the essence of the SLO life,” writes Pat Pemberton of the SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE.
If you met David Lynch in passing, chances are you may not learn much about him. He will probably ask you about yourself and listen intently, and he may pause briefly to make a note in one of the little notebooks he always carries.  Unless you stop and ask him, he will not tell you that he took a $30 junk guitar with dead strings and won third place in the advanced guitar competition at The 39th Annual Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention and Festival during 2009 in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Lynch won’t talk about the aforementioned Emmy or his devotion to becoming a better musician and better songwriter by listening to and working with musicians and mentors who have high standards. But he will talk with you about the passion he has for his family, for making the world a better place, and for playing music that conveys his philosophy on life – that you get back what you give and that no matter how tough things are, you can always dance!  I Can See Sound offers the kind of music that is sure to get your body moving, make you smile, and inspire you to think about how you’re living life – it’s a good thing. Listen and see for yourself!

DAVID LYNCH – UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS & SPECIAL EVENTS ITINERARY

May 21 (Sat.)            JADA VINEYARD (1-4 pm)                             Paso Robles, CA

May 21 (Sat.)            VINTAGE 1255 (7-9 PM)                                  San Luis Obispo, CA

May 26 (Thur.)           PORTUGALIA San Diego, CA

May 27 (Fri.)              PIG ‘N’ WHISTLE Hollywood, CA

May 28 (Sat.)             GEORGE’S BISTRO Valencia, CA

June 5 (Sun.)            AFTERNOON OF EPICUREAN DELIGHT Shell Beach, CA

June 12 (Sun.)          STACKED SANDWICHES Grover Beach, CA

July 7 (Thur.)            THE POUR HOUSE Paso Robles, CA

July 8 (Fri.)                LINNAEA’S CAFE San Luis Obispo, CA

August 28 (Sun.)       STACKED SANDWICHES Grover Beach, CA

October 14 (Fri.)       JADA VINEYARD Paso Robles, CA

DAVID LYNCH INTERVIEWS, REVIEW CDS, AND SHOW PASSES AVAILABLE.

www.davidlynchmusic.com www.facebook.com/davidlynch&friends

David Lynch NEW TIMES April 2011

I just finished watching the Jimi Hendrix-Band of Gypsies- Live at the Fillmore East DVD and it made me realize how I have come to know the man and his music like never before. Between the bevy of reissues late last year and now this special release covering a different phase of Jimi’s career, there is always something new to learn. There is so much that I never considered and the interviews with band members Billy Cox (bass) and Buddy Miles (drums) as well as stars like Lenny Kravitz, Vernon Reid and Slash, put a different spin on things and provided some valuable insight into being a black musician and the challenges that are still apparent to this day.

Jimi was in a development stage with his music thus his breakaway from The Experience. He found some solace when his two buddies agreed to join him and they made some incredible music along the way.

Jimi’s music was one of a kind and universal. This is what he wanted but there were some doors that needed beating down. The one thing that many folks probably never realized, including me, was the fact that black radio would not play his music because he did not fit. This bothered Jimi; he wanted everyone to hear his music regardless of color. And his management at the time actually believed because the band was now all black it would alienate his audience. This could not be further from the truth, his audience did not give a hoot they just loved his music. This time period was a creative zenith for Jimi then his life was snatched away by the evils of overindulgence with drugs. I think this was Jimi’s way of escaping his overactive mind and the pressures of being the superstar he was.

All of the existing black and white video footage of the group’s January 1, 1970 first show at the Fillmore East is presented in its original performance sequence, it is crude by today’s standards but it still gets the feeling and the presence of Hendrix across to the viewer. Some treats that I had never witnessed before was Buddy Miles singing on the opening track “Who Knows” and the classic mind melting rocker “Machine Gun” and one he wrote himself “Them Changes”, where he provides some soulful lead vocals. He was a very good singer and it gave Hendrix a chance to step back and just stand there and play, which is what he always wanted to do anyway so for him it was a break and time focus on his craft and wow the audience. This is something he did consistently when he was able to show up sober, which unfortunately was not all the time as noted in the documentary that accompanies all of the live footage.

Perhaps the best example of the ever evolving and artistically brilliant changes that Hendrix was putting on display during this performance is the song “Power of Soul”, which carried a message in the lyrics but also a powerful musical statement as well. He successfully married rock, rhythm and blues, psychedelic, funk (listen to Buddy’s bass) and jazz into a musical super nova that sends you right into the stratosphere.

This is not all that is here for your enjoyment. There is a selection on the menu titled “Another Look” which is a 5.1 Surround Sound Mix of the concert and different camera angels than the original footage has to offer. And of course Hendrix’s original masterful engineer Eddie Kramer remixed it and the sound is impressive. I would expect nothing less as Eddie is still brilliant and he had a hand in all the remastered music that came out since last year.

So you get Jimi Hendrix in amazing 5.1 Surround Sound as a bonus, what more could a fan of his music ask for? Can you just imagine what it would be like today if Jimi had lived and was able to work with Eddie on these releases? We will never know but thanks to his family and their steadfast dedication in preserving Jimi’s work and presenting him again to the public to meet higher standards technically with remastered sound, Jimi is still alive and he always will be.

www.jimihendrix.com/us/home

Key Tracks-Machine Gun, Power Of Soul

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck – MuzikReviews.com Founder

The film is narrated and documented by Sarcofagus guitarist and filmmaker Kimmo Kuusniemi, and focuses on the past, present, and future of Finnish Metal. Lately the Finnish Metal Scene has been blowing up in the United States. Bands like HIM, Nightwish, Lordi, Children of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir, and The 69 Eyes have all broken out and are having major success.

I am very fortunate that I had the opportunity to spend SIX WONDERFUL DAYS in Finland just over a year ago when I went on my own “Heavy Metal Adventure” throughout Europe. (Please see link below.)

I have even been to several places documented in this film, including the Tavastia Club, where I saw Hanoi Rocks play one of their last shows ever! They also showed the Heavy Corner, which is a Heavy Metal Karaoke bar that I can personally say that I rocked a Ramones song at! And, they showed the coolest music store that I have ever seen….Music Hunter. It is literally three entire rooms, stocked from floor to ceiling with music and memorabilia. (After three hours in there, I left with a big stack of CD’s, and a ton of Lordi schwag.)

One interesting surprise was the “Heavy Metal Church.” Yes, you heard it right. They have Metal Mass there every week! The crazy part about this church is that I actually stumbled upon it by accident when I was Finland. This entire dome-shaped church is built into ROCK! I thought it was totally cool, and walked around, and took some pics. Turns out, that this is a Heavy Metal Church, and that Mr. Lordi himself even wrote “Hard Rock Hallelujah” about the Temppeliaukio Church.

It was great to see live footage and interview clips from the bands that I already know and love. But, it was also a great opportunity to discover some new Finnish bands as well. At this point, I would like to learn more about Stratovarious, Zero Nine, Tarot, Thunderstone, and Korpiklaani.

An interesting fact that I learned is the correct pronunciation of Lordi and Dimmu Borgir. I know these are always up for debate “here in the States.”

Lordi = Lord-E (Not Lord-Eye)

Dimmu Borgir = Dee Moo Bor Gear

On the negative side, I have two comments. One, the entire movie had subtitles, whether English or Finnish was spoken, and the translation was extremely poor. I admit I am a grammar perfectionist, but it was really bad. I just wish they would have hired me to transcribe, and taken me to Finland with them! Two, they did not mention Hanoi Rocks or the 69 Eyes. I understand that Hanoi Rocks is not “Finnish Metal.” However, the movie starts with the 80’s and glam, and SHOULD have mentioned Finnish glam originators….HANOI ROCKS! But, it is surprising that they didn’t mention the 69 Eyes. Especially since they have been around since 1989 and have ten studio releases. I’m thinking there must be some ‘bad blood’ somewhere…

Aside from that, I was thoroughly impressed, and would love nothing more than to go back to Finland right now. They state in the movie that “Finland is the most Heavy Metal Place on the planet,” and that “Metal is the mainstream in Finland.” At one point, they even talk to the PRESIDENT of the Republic of Finland, Tarja Halonen, who is HAPPY that metal is mainstream and she likes LORDI.

It doesn’t get any cooler than that. I just wish the States would wake up, get over this whole hip-hop-rap-crap thing and realize that Finland knows what they are talking about!

If you’re in L.A., head out to the Heavy Metal Music Fest this weekend!

http://www.heavymetalff.com/

Here’s the link where you can order this DVD:

http://www.promisedlandofmetal.com/

For my “Metal Babe Goes to Europe” Article:

http://www.allaccessmagazine.com/vol7/issue07/metal_babe.html

And, of course, my sites:
www.facebook.com/MetalBabeProductions

http://metalbabemayhem.com/

Rock on!
Alison

(5 CD/1 DVD/3 LP)
Genre: Rock
Label: EMI

April 21, 1976 in Springfield, MA I saw David Bowie on his Isolar tour and two days later he played in Nassau, NY. Little did I know then I would be sitting here 34 years later listening to that performance in Nassau on CD and 180 gram audiophile vinyl. I was fortunate to get home in one piece after that concert but that is another story.

I have reviewed several reissues over the years and box sets but I have never come across anything like this Station To Station Deluxe Box Set before. I have to say if I was not in this business I would have bought this on the spot. It helps to be a huge fan of Bowie of course and when they say this is the ultimate fan experience they are not kidding. There is an entire list of goodies in this package (see list below) that would satisfy any Bowie fan not to mention average music fans. You don’t have to be a fanatic of this music to desire something this unique. The lyrics are part of the package and that is a blessing because some of the songs I always had a hard time understanding, particularly “TVC15” I can actually sing along now without stumbling over the lyrics.

The Station To Station box set should find its way under a lot of Christmas trees this year. There are several versions of the original recording included here. The original 1985 RCA CD Master is one of them. I actually had it and it was one of the first CDs I ever bought, because you guessed it, it has always been one of my favorite all time albums. Then there is the 5.1 Surround Sound version on the DVD offering up several different configurations including 96/24 LPCM Stereo, 96/24 DTS 5.1 Surround Sound, 48/24 Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound and 48/24 Stereo LCPM. I am baffled as to why I was unable to listen to the 96/24 versions as I have done it before from the Media Player to stereo without a problem. I believe it’s a technical issue with my PC because I have been down this road before so it surely is not the DVD itself. So I listened to the 48/24 version and was amazed at the overall clarity and separation of sound. I am hearing things I have never heard before, which can be a revelatory experience for someone that has been listening to an album since its release. Yes, I had the original vinyl version back in 1976 and wore it out.  There was something fresh and different about Station To Station back then and that still holds true today. Also the analogue version is included on CD and LP. There is just so much here I am afraid I will forget something!

Bowie has never been a follower he was always the leader and innovator. With this stellar recording and performance he created sheer genius in the studio. His backing band was nothing to sneeze at either with Carlos Alomar and Earl Slick peeling off riffs that rivaled any top rock band of the day. Listen to the six string excellence on “Stay” (and the bass is allowed to be predominant as well in the mix). The album would also render one of Bowie’s biggest hits “Golden Years”, which actually sounded like it belonged on his previous release Young Americans. This definitely reigns supreme as Art Rock and I would venture to say that it could be easily considered as progressive rock due the eclectic musical content and spaced out lyrics. It stands as Bowie’s crowning achievement and that is the very reason it is getting the royal box set treatment.

The LPs and CDs for the previously unreleased Live Nassau Coliseum ’76′ Concert is worth the price of admission for this set (listed at $149.49 at Amazon). Bowie and his band are in fine form, just as I remember that concert a few days before in Springfield, MA. I have mentioned that concert on a few occasions covering other Bowie reissues but now it really comes back to life for me with this set. I did not remember the date (I am lucky to remember the concert!) so I did a Google search and found a reference to it on Wikipedia. I love the internet!

Station To Station was a dark time for Bowie and the album was a very personal project (and a very personal favorite for this fan). I remember reading somewhere that he did not remember 1975 and if that has any truth to it he must of came out of his drug filled haze for a while to create this rock (sprinkled with funk) masterstroke.

This is a must have for any Bowie fan and to be perfectly honest I do not think its pricey for what you get in return not to mention the very best recording the artist has ever released. Station To Station would start the path to many interesting projects where Bowie would continually experiment and reinvent himself but this remains one unforgettable work of art that is now distinguished in the most lavish box set I ever seen.

5/5 Stars

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikReviews.com Founder

November 2, 2010

The List:

• Original album
• Previously unreleased ‘Live Nassau Coliseum ’76′ concert
• Station To Station – RCA CD Master
• 5-track Singles versions CD E.P. incl. previously unreleased version of Station To Station, and for first time on CD, Word On A Wing
• 3 x 12″ heavyweight vinyl
• DVD with new 5.1 mix
• 24-page booklet, including: never before seen Steve Schapiro photo, Geoff MacCormack photos, Andrew Kent live Nassau photos & extensive memorabilia from the archives
• Cameron Crowe sleevenotes
• 6 panel folded poster
• Onstage folder
• Replica Backstage pass
• Replica Biog
• Replica Ticket
• Replica band line-up
• 3 press shots
• Replica Fan club folder
• Replica Fan Club Membership card
• Fan club certificate
• 2 small Collectors cards
• 2 photo prints
• Replica 4-page biography
• 2 badges

www.davidbowie.com

The TA performance from Sheperd’s Bush Empire in London includes 147 minutes of footage from the first set on disc one. Keep in mind that this band has not performed together in over 9 years so what you will see is quite incredible based on that fact alone. Those of us familiar with all these fine musicians and their projects know how good they are and we should not be surprised that this performance is nothing short of spectacular. As a bonus Steve Hackett (formerly of early Genesis, when they were prog) comes on stage to perform a Genesis classic “The Return Of The Giant Hogweed” at their High Voltage Festival performance, the last stop on the tour. Of course, Hackett is simply amazing and Portnoy and everyone else are just beaming with delight to have him out there playing a prog-rock gem like that.

The first set kicks off appropriately with “The Whirlwind”, the title track from their ambitious 2009 double studio album (see review). The next three tracks ‘All Of The Above”, “We All Need Some Light” and “Duel With Devil” are extensive and solid proof of the band’s prowess as musicians and entertainers in that configuration even after a 9 year layoff. It’s a given that any prog song live is going to have improvisation and a guarantee that it will be an extended version of an already extensive track. This of course is what everyone wants in a live session and Transatlantic does not disappoint for one second. What I appreciate with this band is that they are not flashy or bombastic in any way; they just play good music with a flair for mixing classic prog with modern day twists and turns.

The second DVD is160 minutes in length bumping up the ante for the entire prog package which includes a road documentary (ala homemade via a lot of Neal’s own video camera), a band interview, and the aforementioned bonus track of the Genesis classic.

“Bridge Across Forever” is an amazing track with shifting atmospheres and outrageous time signatures flying around. The jaw dropping changes are indeed a highlight, although this is typical for a band like Transatlantic, and they make their own way with a definitive stamp that nobody can reproduce.

This is a very special group of individuals and I wish that I would have caught this show live because who knows when it will happen again. Perhaps now that Mike has left Dream Theater some good things could happen (although that saddens me) or some other interesting configurations may come to light suddenly. These prog rock dudes really get around and you just never know when one of them is going to pop up on another project or play with a band you are already familiar with.

My hat is off to the band for adding Daniel Gildenlow to the concert tour. He adds yet another facet and energy to the already outstanding sound they create. His contributions on guitar, keys and backup vocals give their sound an additional texture and layer that is welcome in the live setting. I have no doubt that if TA goes back into the studio, they should consider asking Gildenlow to join them.

If you have been waiting for this to happen, the time is now to grab this DVD set and experience Transatlantic live along with all the other bonuses they offer. The up close coverage you get during the tour makes you feel like you are hanging out with the band, it was a nice touch to get closer to their fans and they should be applauded not only for their musical brilliance but how in touch they stay with their audience.

I have always been so impressed with each member of this band, their humbleness and appreciation for what they do, how they present it, and most of all what they give us in return for supporting them. Thanks to Transatlantic, I have many memories and fantastic music that I can enjoy for the rest of my life. Try finding that on any radio station these days.

5/5 Stars
Key Tracks: All 7!
www.transatlanticweb.com

The first disc features early Hendrix as a sideman, imagine that? Playing with popular artists like The Isley Brothers, Little Richard and Don Covay. This is a very good glimpse at a young man that was in the background playing a very restrained guitar/role in various settings. This time period would serve as motivation for Jimi to do his own thing.  At times his host band would cut him loose and you get an idea of how good Hendrix was going to be. As we know he exploded onto the music scene in London once he set forth on his path and spread his wings. The early material is very good. Most of it is early soul and R & B that still has a way of getting you in a groove no matter how many times you play it. That is a tribute to how good the artists that worked with Jimi were and their music still has relevance to this day.

Essentially discs 2-4 are all unreleased tracks (45 in total), a literal treasure trove of Hendrix gems from the studio and live archives. There is no doubt in my mind that this man lived in the studio. He ate, slept, and breathed music. He was beyond being an innovator; Hendrix was the inventor of many technologies and techniques of the six-string. The effects he came up with were difficult to attain with the equipment he had at hand. Doing things like playing loops backwards and such are nothing these days but where would guitar players be today without the God like recordings of this man? I will give you a perfect example of how far ahead of everyone else Jimi was, on disc three there is a track titled “Young/ Hendrix” that is an instrumental jam that clocks in at 20:53 that puts everything into perspective. The “young” and “developing” artist peels of mind boggling licks and jaw dropping solo’s to create a masterpiece of jazz-blues-rock fusion that would have any Berklee College of Music student drooling. Now this was 1969 mind you. Hendrix was accompanied by Buddy Miles on drums and Larry Young on organ and an unknown bass player. I for one never get enough of this material and that track simply blew me away and was the highlight of the entire set. There were many more tracks that amazed me but this one took the cake. “Little One” (Anthology Version)” really stuck with me as well, It is fine instrumental with tremendous leads flowing through it along with a sitar (courtesy of Dave Mason of Traffic at the time)  to give it a psychedelic Beatles like groove. This sound is something that I have never heard from a Hendrix recording. Trust me though there are many revelations available throughout this beautiful set.

The CDs and DVD come housed in a book format with archive pictures, notations on every single track, a basic run through of history for the listener to enjoy and an excellent look into the genius of Hendrix and everything he did in the studio.

The DVD is very interesting as well. The disc is 90 minutes of Hendrix footage, thoughts, interviews and quotes taken right from the man himself. Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic fame does the narration as Jimi. I found it very eye opening and refreshing to take the journey the DVD provides. I am still saddened to this day that we lost one of the most exciting and creative minds in music but I am also grateful for all the incredible music he left behind for us to ponder.

There is a lot of ground to cover in this set and it offers the music of Hendrix in a nice package to enjoy with every facet of media available through music, video, pictures and reading that would please anyone, in fact this set goes beyond the norm and I think most people will be pleased at the overall quality of the music and presentation.

I honestly do not feel I can do this awesome work of musical art justice with my words alone considering the significant contribution it makes to the Hendrix legacy. You have to experience it yourself to understand.

Again we are left in total amazement at the music of Jimi Hendrix made and how more and more is unearthed as time passes. Even though it was over 40 years ago since his untimely passing we wait in anticipation for what could be next.

Key Tracks: Young/ Hendrix, Little One, Instant Groove

www.jimihendrix.com