I was lucky to get this DVD from the Big Country website and I can't say enough about how wonderful it is. There are two concerts contained on the two discs in the package: an '88 show from East Germany (just before the wall came down), and their final show in 2000 at The Barrowlands in Glasgow (where they performed in kilts).
Of course, as I watched I found myself thinking of Stuart Adamson's death and the tragedy it was, but I also couldn't help but think of what an awesome musical legacy he left behind. It was indeed fortunate that he produced so much music while still "on our earthly plane," as it were.
The element that connects the two shows is passion. Big Country were all about passion and their live shows, really from the beginning, had this quality in abundance. Every song from the East German show, even their cover of "Honkey Tonk Women," is just loaded with energy. There are some technical gremlins, especially regarding the sound mix of the keyboards (played by Josh Phillips) and Tony Butler's backing vocals, but both of these things get sorted out as the concert progresses.
The Barrowlands show is song after song of pure joy. The power of the sound, especially of the rhythm section, just shakes the walls. I found myself realizing that, although the band played many of these songs hundreds of times over the years, it sounded like the first time out for most of them.
The sound quality for both shows is excellent, and the way the 5.1 mix fills the room is an added bonus. I thought that the DVD would only be released in stereo. The bass tends to be a bit overpowering, but you can clear that up with a touch of your remote.
It's really difficult to pick highlights, but check out "Restless Natives," "Just a Shadow," "The Seer," "King of Emotion," "Driving to Damascus," "Where the Rose is Sown," "Come Back to Me," "Your Spirit to Me," and the triumphant "Fields of Fire," which concludes the DVD on an appropriate note, although I'm sure the irony will not be lost on people as they hear Adamson tell the crowd to "stay alive." Nonetheless, I still take that message to heart.
Any Big Country fan should love this release. I sincerely hope that there's more to come.
