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  Directed by
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  Specs
  • Full Frame
  • Dual Layer (RSDL )
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • English: DTS 5.1 Surround
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
  • None
  Extras
  • Photo gallery
  • Music video - Wonderful Stash
Wishbone Ash: Live Dates 3 - 30th Anniversary Concert
Eagle Vision/Warner Vision . R4 . COLOR . 96 mins . G . PAL

  Feature
Contract

So, "who or what is a Wishbone Ash?", I hear you ask. Wishbone Ash are a legendary English blues band renowned for their twin guitar sound (also known as harmony guitars). The name Wishbone Ash came about when they were looking for a name that wouldn’t categorise them. They ended up with two lists, Wishbone on one and Ash on the other, they combined the two and the rest is history. It could have been much worse, they could have been called Jesus Duck.

From the release of their first album in 1970 until today, the line up of the band may have changed but they maintain their very distinctive sound. During the sixties when they formed, bands had to have an individual sound. Combining their influences including The Who, BB King and Led Zeppelin, that distinctive sound was found. Scoring their first record deal after being recommended by Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple and honing their sound in Paris, they returned to London to try and crack the British market. Here the history lesson endeth.

This concert is a celebration of thirty years of good rock and roll. Filmed at the Shepherds Bush Empire on April 22nd 2000 in front of die-hard fans, this is one fine performance. Running for 96:09 and covering songs from the seventies through to the nineties with the current lineup and several special guests. Original member Andy Powell, who was voted amongst the top 20 guitarists of all time in Rolling Stone magazine is awesome. His harmonic guitar partner Mark Birch is also impressive, as are the rest of the band and guests.

Track listing:

Real Guitars Have Wings
The King Will Come
FUBB
Ballad of the Beacon
Errors of My Way
No Joke
Strange Affair
Living Proof
Blowin’ Free
Phoenix
Come In From the Rain
Hard Times

What may seem a short song list is anything but. As was the custom in the early seventies, these songs are quite long, filled with guitar solos and minimal singing. This DVD is a must have for Wishbone Ash fans and highly recommended for others that enjoy the experimental bands of the early seventies.

  Video
  Audio
  Extras
Contract

Presented in full frame and not 16x9 enhanced, the transfer is very good indeed. The picture is sharp and colours are true. There is occasional bleeding, generally caused by bright stage lighting, but overall the colours are very vibrant. There are no signs of artefacts and blacks are very deep. Shadow detail is good and there is very little aliasing, just in the usual places that occur with live shows. One slight blemish is during one of the songs when a camera fixed to the drums is vibrating causing blurry images, but this is not too distracting, just turn it up and make the rest of the house shake and you won't notice. The layer change was well hidden, so well in fact that I couldn't find it.

There are three choices of audio, Dolby Digital 2.0, 5.1 and DTS. The DD 2.0 is good and does the job sufficiently. The seperation is good, but being a live performance the need is there for much more. The DD 5.1 is very nice and gives us what we need, being slightly louder. Vocals are kept primarily in the centre speaker with good separation of the music across the front and the rear speakers used to give a live effect in the way of echo. This echo is a tad too delayed, making it sound a little like an empty hall, so I would advise you adjust the delay if possible. Audio sync is spot on and the subwoofer gets a solid workout so pump it up and enjoy. The DTS is slightly better than the DD 5.1 giving a fuller sound with slightly better seperation. This would be the audio of choice, however the 5.1 is very good also.

A bit light on in the extras department, there is a nice photo gallery which covers many shots from the show and backstage. Some are quite poor pictures, but they are a nice extra for true fans. Also, there is the bonus video Wonderful Stash. Running for 5:30 and in DD 2.0, this instrumental is quite modern and I think only die-hard fans will enjoy it. It's a nice extra all the same and a sign of where the band are heading musically.

Overall this is a great show captured beautifully for DVD and a must have for fans of this style of music.


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  •   And I quote...
    "People said get a life, well we did, it’s called Wishbone Ash."
    - Adrian Turvey
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai DV-P2000
    • TV:
          AKAI CT-29S55AT 68cm
    • Receiver:
          Akai AM-SS1500
    • Speakers:
          Akai
    • Centre Speaker:
          Akai
    • Surrounds:
          Akai
    • Subwoofer:
          Akai
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