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This isn't the first Spock's Beard DVD, but the first one in the post-Neal Morse era. It was recorded last year in Zoetermeer (Netherlands) and is now in the stores about a year after the recording. Beside the concert you find a short Spock's Beard biography in images - showing photos down through the years. The photos are always connected to an album and have as background some music from the specific album. Quite entertaining.
First you see some black&white part which shows band and crew practicing some ritual before going on stage. Then it get colorful and the menu appears. When you select 'play all' first a stage flooded in blue appears, then the logo and afterwards a short image of every band member as a kind of introduction. Since Neal Morse left in 2002 drummer Nick D'Virgilio took over the mike and on tour Jimmy Keegan is playing drums. In my opinion D'Virgilio is a far better drummer then singer, but perhaps it works so well, coz it adds something human to the so perfectly played music. The DVD offers 19 tracks incl. the extraordinary As Far As The Mind Can See. The songs been picked from the days with and without Neal Morse - quite balanced. A surprise is probably Return To Whatever from Alan Morse's solo album Four O'Clock & Hysteria. Even if Jimmy Keegan is a great drummer, it is obvious that he's not as good - or just different? - as Mr. D'Vigilio, coz sometimes he returns to the drums. And there is the Drum Duel! Even if the Drum Duel is on a higher technical level, Genesis' Conversation With 2 Stools was more entertaining... At Surfing Down The Avalanche I miss a bit power in Nick's voice, but the song shows the Californians more powerful and wild then usual. Keyboarder Ryo Okumoto is partly standing on one keyboard playing the other! At Skeletons At The Feast Jimmy Keegan has some time off and shows that he knows how to surf a crowd!
Nothing to complain about the sound quality and the images. The film crew not just focused on lead singer Nick D'Virgilio and even during solo parts present other band members and not just one close up. That gives you a quite 'natural' view. But really cool is at Part 1 of As Far As The Mind Can See that at a guitar part they show both guitars and you can watch them play synchronously. Btw, you can select the different parts of As Far As The Mind Can See as well as the 2 songs combined in the medley which was the encore.
Beside the DVD there will be a live DCD which also has all 19 tracks. So it's up to you and what you prefer!
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