Monday, March 19, 2018

New Music Releases Deliver Sights and Sounds

Several new concert films champion the legacy of enduring classic rock artists, while the debut from Greta Van Fleet may well be turning young audiences onto the power of blues-fueled, hard-charing rock 'n' roll.


Artist: The Moody Blues
DVD/Blu-ray Title: Days Of Future Passed Live (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: The Moody Blues, The Zombies
Tell me more: The Moody Blues timeless 1967 album Days Of Future Passed is widely recognized as one of the earliest progressive rock masterworks. The Moody Blues  set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in April 2018  toured in 2017 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Days Of Future Passed. The band's concert at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts in Toronto was filmed, and has now been released on a multiple of formats including Blu-ray, DVD, vinyl and audio CD. The set explores the band's hits and deeper cuts. The first half of the concert includes a wide range of the group's songs; the driving "I'm Just a Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band)" "The Story in Your Eyes" are extended allowing Justin Hayward to showcase his melodic-meets-flashy guitar playing; "The Voice" is bolstered by lush keyboards, acoustic guitar and Hayward's warm vocals. Other early-set highlights include the folk rocker "Your Wildest Dreams" and "I Know You're Out There Somewhere," the latter featuring a lush arrangement with Hayward, John Lodge and Norda Mullen artfully blending their voices. The next portion of the concert finds the Moody Blues joined by a full orchestra to perform Days Of Future Passed in its entirety; this set includes the baroque rocker "Peak Hour," intoxicating "Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)" and eternal "Nights in White Satin." Finally, the band uses its encore to elevate the crowd with the infectious "Question" and propulsive "Ride My See-Saw." Information: www.eagle-rock.com.



Artist: Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters
DVD Title: Live At David Lynch's Festival of Disruption (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin, Otis Taylor
Tell me more: Peter Gabriel, Sting and Robert Plant are among the rare rock musicians who have each achieved lasting fame in an iconic band before subsequently embarking on their own to carve out an equally-celebrated solo career crafting a decidedly different style that put them on the map. Such is clear on Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters' Live At David Lynch's Festival of Disruption. Filmed at the historic Ace Hotel Theatre in Los Angeles in October 2016, the hour-long event marked the first time that Plant had joined forces with the Sensational Space Shifters since 2012. The fast-moving set is freewheeling and spirited, with material ranging from the Louisiana-styled blues of "Poor Howard" and trance blues of "Little Maggie" to songs anchored or blending Celtic, African, folk and rock styles. Led Zeppelin fans will enjoy the reworked acoustic take on "Black Dog," a rollicking "Whole Lotta Love" that is featured during a high-octane medley and the lovely "Going To California." An ambitious flamenco-meets-blues take on the Zep classic "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" featuring the work of guitarist Liam Skin Tyson is particularly powerful. Information: www.eagle-rock.com.



Artist: Greta Van Fleet
Title: From The Fires (Lava Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Led Zeppelin, The Record Company
Tell me more: Led Zeppelin fans who lament the fact that Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham (the son of original drummer John Bonham) are not likely to reform should check out Greta Van Fleet's full-length debut From The Fires. The eight-song disc sounds like a long-lost set of top-tier Led Zep outtakes. When I first heard the band's roaring breakout single "Highway Tune," I briefly wondered why I didn't know the name of the track. In fact, Greta Van Fleet appears to take pride in completely mirroring the past while modern-day audiences seem hungry enough for the powerful blues-fueled material to fully embrace the revival rockers. And to be honest, the eight songs that speed along on "From The Fires" are so good, the Michigan-spawned rockers made a believer out of this critic as well. Greta Van Fleet is set to perform at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA on Fridays, April 13 and 20, 2018. Information: GretaVanFleet.com.

Robert Kinsler

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