Search - Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 1974 on DVD

Really Captures What The Great Man Was All About

Guitar Guy 5,000,000,000 | Ont,Canada | 07/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First off, this is NOT a concert DVD. It's kind of a documentary mixed together with fantastic, and complete live songs. And it's NOT a full video of the Irish Tour '74 album. With that being said, it's a great, great film. It shows amazing live magic of these classic songs:

Walk On Hot Coals
Tatoo'd Lady
Who's That Comming
A Million Miles Away
Going To My Home Town
Cradle Rock
As The Crow Flies
Hands Up
Bullfrog Blues

All the songs are full versions except "Walk on Hot Coals," which comes first, and starts halfway through the song with the beginning titles. The concert is done in a small town hall and I think that's just brilliant. Seeing Rory,Rod,Gerry and Lou up on that small stage, with Rory's Vox amplifier just sitting on a chair at the back with his jacket on top of it, it's just so natural and raw. They all look so real in their jeans and t-shirts, they all play with tons of energy, like Rod, who goes nuts on those drums and looks like he's gonna cry; lots of passion in his playing. All of them are amazing musicians;they have to be amazing to play with Rory Gallagher. I'm watching it as I type this review, and I'll tell you, I don't have many music DVDs that I could watch all day, every day for a month. I'm serious.

One thing this DVD gives you that other Rory DVDs don't, is exclusive real footage of Rory walking down the street, going into a pub to get a drink, and walking into a music store to try out some guitars. It's also got backstage footage of him and the band, and a few minutes of footage of the guys jamming before the show. There's also a few times where Rory explains some of the techniques he uses when playing certain songs, and he talks about the different guitars he uses. You really get a taste of what he was like as a person; an amazing talent, but also a guy that wasn't afraid to have a drink with you or talk to some fans. You don't find too many guys like him in todays bunch of arogant artists.

"Walk On Hot Coals" is one of my favourites."Who's That Comi'n" and "Bullforg Blues" are also great (especially "Bullfrog Blues" with solos from every band member). I love how during each of the guy's solo, they show a little clip of them back stage having fun. They show Rory laughing with a glass of whisky in his hand, Rod putting powder on his feet so he won't sweat. It really shows you that Rory was just a humble good old guy on the inside.

This DVD is great and if you're a Rory Gallagher fan, You need this. If anyone says Rory wasn't the best guitarist ever, they're wrong. God bless Rory.



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