Customer Reviews

Bauhaus: Gotham [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm a die hard, so I guess I'm sort of biased. I watched this DVD with a friend, and we both literally just sat there, jaws dropped, glued to the screen, from start to finish. (well, we are teenage girls, so don't go by us)

Peter Murphy is truly an enigmatic and phenomenal performer, as is Daniel Ash. True, the director was kind of annoying, especially when he kept panning to the audience at really odd times (yeah, okay, people who like Bauhaus wear eyeliner, WE GOT IT! You don't have to remind us every 5 seconds or so!!). The little in between bits are highly entertaining, and I don't think there's anything more fabulous than the performance of "Boys". All of the performances are excellent. Although, since it was a DVD, a little behind the scenes featurette would have been nice. And, personally, I think the sound is fine. I mean, it wasn't AMAZING, but it didn't stink..., either.

Oh yeah, and one more thing, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Peter Murphy hasn't become fat, bald or prematurely geraitric over the years. He still weighs, like, 4 ounces, has a really cool haircut, and dances in a way that makes the most affected monacle-and-top hat-wearing goths cry. (Just look at the audience, it's not like they ever SHOW them!!)

So, anyways, bottom line, if you're a die hard, you need it. If you're a newbie, this will get you hooked. If you're on the fence, this will tip you over. If you're--wait, what was I talking about again? Oh yeah, just buy the freaking thing. ...

I saw Bauhaus twice on this tour, once during their 4 show run at the Palladium in Hollywood, and again during their U.S. tour. I remember how much I enjoyed the shows, how cohesive they sounded together, how much they enjoyed playing together. A dream come true, to see a band that was already 'mythical' and 'legedary' by the time I first heard "bela legosi's dead" in high school in 1985.

All of these elements come through again on this DVD, but I must say I way disappointed with the sound. It sounds like it was recorded by from the back of the arena as opposed to "sound board" quality. Maybe this was intentional, to give a "Press the Eject" rawness to the show? With such a clear picture, why would this be released with less that perfect sound?

It could have been a longer show as well, clocking in at only 64 minutes. The ommision of Terror Couple Kill Colonel and Silent Hedges, as well as Severance from this concert that were included on the CD version doesn't make sense. It would have been nice to have versions of Hair of the Dog and Rose Garden Funeral of Sores as well.

Other performance notes, Peter Murphy on guitar gave All We Ever Wanted a magical quality, complete with clips from the bands early days. Some nice "acoustic" treatment with Daniel Ash on 12 string guitar and Kevin Haskins on keyboards. Danny's killer goth-jazz sax playing too. David J's fretless bass was unfortunately drowned out in the poor mix.

Performance: 5 stars Sound: 4 stars

I saw both San Francisco shows, the first from the balcony, the second from the floor -- and was amazed at how well this DVD captured the sights, sounds, and intensity of this incredible band. Beginning with 'Double Dare' and the eyes and face of Peter appearing on a television at the center of the stage. It was a great minimalistic effect; stark, frenetic, and powerful. Most ands start a show with a big bang, but this was more of a rising thunder before the storm hits with the second song, 'In The Flat Field' when Peter emerges from back stage.

If you missed this tour, you missed an incredible opportunity to see one of the best live shows I've ever seen. If at all possible, view this DVD from a projector and crank it up as loud as possible.

Shame. This is the word that for me resumes that work. It's sad, I didn't expect anything so poorly conceived, bad done. It's a total disappointment. Who directed the shooting and the postproduction doesn't know even the songs, has a poor taste, no criteria when using the different visual effects (the most of them useless and ridiculous), seems obsessed of showing the audience, breaking the feeling, the rythm of the performing. How easy could have been to take advantage of the starting of the concert, with Peter singing Double Dare from the b/w monitor, but here all is ruined, seeing this video not having been in the concert it's easy to think that all was a fake. The director didn't get anything of what happened on the stage, or if he did he has been totally incompetent to translate it into a movie. I didn't wait for the final credits, I prefer to ignore his name. It would be cruel to try to compare Gotham to other live movies such as Stop Making Sense or Home Of The Brave, if they tried to screen Gotham in theaters they would have to retire it in a couple of days. My recommendation is that people better keep the money for better ends. If you don't have Archive buy it, all is more exciting, thrilling. And honest.

Let me begin by saying that I did indeed catch Bauhaus live during the 1998 tour. From the looks of it, their performance in New Orleans was much better than their New York show (where this particular one is filmed). This is probably not true, however, so the problem is essentially in the production of this performance. It seems quite likely that there were "four guys [tumbling] on the cutting room floor" while this one was in the works.

To begin with there is the sound --- or, rather, the lack thereof. Not only is the sound rather suppressed, it's actually very poorly recorded overall. It almost sounds as if some "bootlegger" brought in a pocket-sized cassette recorder to record the show. I was there in New Orleans and the sound was great, so I'm certain that sound at the famous Hammersmith had to be at least equal if not even better. The problem is not with the "sound man" for the band, but whoever recorded this show.

My second gripe is with the length. I was in no way inebriated at the show I attended and I certainly possess no degree of memory loss, so I can say with little reservation that this is a "condensed" version of the actual live show. I realize that the producers obviously cut most of the dialogue out between songs, but I'm convinced they cut out a few songs from the set list as well.

Finally, where is the nice little "booklet" you normally get with a DVD? Couldn't they have put a fold out poster or even a condensed tour program with the packaging? Of course they could have! But they didn't! All you get when you open it up is a DVD and a DVD only. Cheapskates!

Alright, should an old school Goth like myself buy this DVD? Of course! We all relish every morsel we can get. Will you be gravely disappointed? Probably not. Will you come away feeling as though you've gotten your money's worth? Well, that's a different matter entirely.

I was turned onto Bauhaus in 1983, and they never left my blood stream. I never saw them live. I purchased this DVD and was mesmerized. Now, I truly regret never having physically experienced one of their shows.

It's beautiful; it's powerful and, of course, dark. I doubt there will ever be another band that can create the haunting sounds of Bauhaus. They are natural, not contrived; in that, lies the beauty of Bauhaus.

The sound quality is excellent. The filming is artistic and stylish without being overdone.

If you like the Gothic sound, you must purchase this DVD. I must also recommend purchasing all of Bauhuas' CD's. I am biased.

An awsome addition to any alternative music video collection! After a long rest, the Bauhaus have reunited recently and are on tour. This video was recorded live on September 9th & 10th 1998 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York. I managed to catch this show here in B.C, and it was fantastic. The content of the video is equally as good.

Click that order button now!

From the very get-go this dvd rocks. The boys from Love & Rockets reunite with Peter Murphy and put on a great show. The sound production reveals more of a gritty rock band than a goth/cult group resting on its past laurels. I was never aware just how good a guitar player Daniel Ash was until I saw this dvd. And Peter Murphy is at his theatrical best and I cannot think of a better voice in rock music. He compares only to Bono in power but his emotions are more intense and explosive. From beginning to end, this dvd is loaded with all the great Bauhaus songs. They even took a couple of their somewhat annoying older songs and reinvented them to make them even better. There simply is nothing bad to say about this release.

I also saw this show at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver B.C. Canada, and its about time too, I'd been waiting since 1983 to see these guys. Wow, what a terrific show... I was not dissapointed at all!

Onto the DVD... Its just OK. Why just ok? Well, there was plenty going on up on stage that was missed on the DVD.

Like the obviously staged fight between Peter and Daniel. They must have done that at every venue.

Also, the end credits roll during the best song on the damn DVD.

And... whats with the bizarre CGI morphing effects?!? You didnt notice it? Watch the DVD again then.

Aside from those gripes, I give the DVD 4 stars because its the Bauhaus! But why is it the only DVD available?!?!

Hint Hint!! Lets have Archive and the rest that are on VHS on DVD finally!!

I was fortunate enough to be at this Bauhaus show taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. It's a even bigger treat to be able to see it again on video. The video mixes live footage from both of the shows they played in NYC. My friends and I were at the first show and when the camera pans into the audience after the first song, you can see my friend which I thought was great! Anyway, the sound quality could have been better but otherwise, I thought it captured everything. I love the interviews with the band between songs and 'All I Ever Wanted' was priceless. They looked like they were having a lot of fun. I was apprehensive at first, seeing how it would all turn out with the camera shots, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is nice to have a memory of what I was lucky enough to see in person. This is a must-have for any Bauhaus fan:-)