Search - Roxy Music - Live at the Apollo on DVD

"Live' is the drug that I need to score. Daily.

Dennis Hawley | Asheville, NC | 04/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Without rehashing the astute comments of other reviewers, here's what your 20 plus bucks will get you: One of the absolute best (in every way) concerts ever captured on film, bar none! From the material selected (Ferry said that he had a "short list of 50 songs" from which this final list emerged) to the stage set; from the DTS/Dolby surround mix to the camera work; from the audience/band rapport to the incredible musicianship, this has it all.
As good as Roxy Music's studio recordings are, they could never match the live performance, and this DVD is proof positive (compare, for example, the original version of 'Mother of Pearl' to this one). I caught Bryan Ferry in concert about 10 years ago (with Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and drummer Andy Newmark), and as good as it was, this concert was better. With four of the original members (including drummer Paul Thompson) augmented by equally talented support musicians Colin Good (piano), Zev Katz (bass), Lucy Wilkins (violin, keyboards and synth) and Julia Thornton (percussion, keyboards and vibraphone), the result is nearly magical. Flawless musicianship, exhuberant stage dynamics and thrilling versions of great songs make this an almost life-affirming experience. (Good, Katz and Thornton were part of the small orchestral backing group Ferry used in his 'Bryan Ferry in Concert-Live in Paris' release of 2000)
While some may quibble about the song selections (I would like to have seen 'Angel Eyes' included), to see and hear musicians of this calibre whenever the mood strikes (which for me is daily) is something special. It is impossible to recommend this DVD too highly."

4 1/2 stars for exceptinal Roxy concert

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 11/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thomas Wolfe and his famous You Can't Go Home Again spring to mind when you think of bands trying to relive their glory years. Roxy Music and this video are an exception. I went to go see them during this tour with a bit of hesitation. While I love the band, the last tour I saw them on for Avalon was not the best; it looked like they were sleep walking through the performances. The video of that performance was pretty bad as well; the quality and the direction were just not up to snuff.This time they get it right. While Eno's stage presence is missed (he was never much of a musician compared to the others in the band), the musicians fleshing out the original remaining quartet (the amazing Paul Thompson is back on drums in addition to Andy MacKay on sax, Phil Manzanera on guitar and, of course, Bryan Ferry on occasional keyboards, harmonica and lead vocals)do a great job of helping to recreate the band's studio and concert sound. I only saw Roxy one time with Eddie Jobson and can attest that, yes, they were amazing. On the other hand, this line up more than makes up for his absence. Lucy Wilkins manages to recreate Jobson's key moments on electric violin but she also adds touches of her own on Dance Away (not always my fav Roxy song nor the band's as its no challenge to peform in concert).Unlike the recent CD release (which is also very good), this is all taken from one venue not pieced together from various performances around the world. The result is that the show has more continuity in the performance than the piece meal approach.The song selection is fairly strong with the focus on the band's singles and strongest album tracks. Sure there are audience favs missing (and some of the song list was drawn from a survey that Phil Manzanera had on his website) but, on the whole, the song selection is very, very good."

For Your Pleasure!

Dennis Hawley | 07/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I put the DVD into the player with some trepidation. Loved Roxy at their peak in the Seventies and Eighties, but hadn't heard from / of them for the best part of 15 years. I needn't have worried one bit. The Man and the Band are in fine form, both visually and sonically, and perform truly first rate renditions of their best album and single tracks in this 2001 concert recording.

If you weren't a big Roxy fan, there will be a few unfamiliar tunes during the first half of the disc, but keep watching as the second half is basically a back-to-back Greatest Hits sequence and is a real treat for everybody. And talk about hits, what truly great hits they were indeed. Innovative, catchy and supremely well-crafted, they have stood the test of time very well, which is more than can be said about the music from most other "visual" bands of the era. From the lilting Avalon, through the addictive Love Is The Drug and the slightly manic Street Life, this is British pop/rock of the highest caliber. The lucky London Apollo audience certainly had a good time, and so did I! Why I even caught a glimpse of Mr. Ferry smiling a couple of times!

Video production and audio quality are also excellent, though to split hairs, I would have liked more than one "overhead flying camera" route, and from memory, the lead vocals were a little more upfront in the original renditions. This can be easily rectified by increasing center channel volume in a surround sound setup. Pan-and-Scan viewers will experience exceptional camera framing, while Wide-screen viewers will feel more immersed in the entire concert atmosphere. As a personal observation, I found the drum sound a little "soft" (intentionally perhaps, for that Seventies sound?), with less transients than other recent recordings. Conversely, I found the stage a little clinical (what, no dry ice?!?) and anyone hoping to see the "trademark" seductive Roxy ladies of yore will have to make do with more contemporary versions (not a bad thing, really). Other than providing lyrics, the only other extra on the DVD is a tastefully executed short documentary, informally hosted by band member Phil Manzanera, of the band preparing for and beginning the tour series.

So here we have it Ladies and Gentlemen. A truly fine DVD memento from a band whose music and legacy will live on and on, For Your Pleasure!"

Drop what your doing

S. R. | 08/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"and go get this DVD. The sound, the editing, the song list is all top notch. Bryan Ferry and the gang bring it all home with this masterful release. This is what all DVD concerts should strive to achieve. Perfect harmony. There's no cheesey special effects, no cheap cliche's, just honest music, sound, lighting, and of course songwriting, packaged together for fans of the band. This is what you expect when you plunk down your hard earned dollars for a DVD concert."