Search - The Spoons - Live in Concert on DVD

Time capsule of the early 80s

K. Swanson | Austin, TX United States | 09/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"3.5 stars

I remember watching this concert in 1982 live on tv lying in the dark on the basement couch, with the FM receiver on to hear the simulcast in glorious mono. My memories of it are are good.

Watching it again, I see how nervous the band was, especially on the first of two shows here, both much of the Arias and Symphonies record. In the two and a half year interim between the two shows, they'd grown much tighter, added three live members, and really got their poofy hairdos and eye makeup going. It's pretty funny to see, but at the time the whole New Romantic thing was happening and this style was all the rage, as evidenced by the audience, also fully made up and poofed, male and female.

I prefer the first show because, despite the shakiness, it's the original four-piece and has more feeling, and some great versions of Symmetry, No Electrons and One In Ten Words. The Spoons had some quite interesting lyrics about physics meeting psychology, not exactly typical pop stuff. When the band locks into a groove with Rob Preuss, the teenage keyboard whiz who gives them a lot of their angular sound, they get pretty groovy. Most of the crowd is bopping along, something you don't see much anymore, sadly.

Some of this disc is pretty sloppy, especially Deppe's guitar on the first half of the 1985 show, where he's waaay in front of the beat. Sandy Horne's maximum New Wave hair came a long way in a couple years, as did her bass playing; her come-hither looks to the camera are pretty funny, and she certainly was a cutie pie. In general, these shows are a sweet reminder of a quite different music scene from today, and feature some very danceable and quirky tunes that have a unique flavor.

Recommended for those who like synth-pop and/or early 80s music."

Reliving the moments of a decade forgotten.....

C. Ilogu | Buffalo, New York United States | 10/24/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Spooons - Live in Concert is a an instant classic, if for no other reason than the number of original songs covered during two concerts in Toronto (1982) and Montreal (1984). From recognizable favorites such as Nova Heart and Arias and Symphonies, to less known tunes like Young English Gentleman, the DVD takes you back to the moment before the glare of the syntasizer could be heard around the world. New Wave enthusiasts shoul not be alarmed, the 1984 concert shows the Spoons hitting their stride, riding the wave of 80's pop into a more profound performance with creative lyrics and instrumentals amongst other groups. Both concerts have a decent number of songs to keep fans happy but it would have been nice to seen bonus features such as photos of the group from past and present, documentaries, unreleased songs, interviews and updates of the band. With those setbacks aside, Much More Retro presented a truly inspired edition their collection of acts which some may forget but others will remember for decades to come."