Customer Reviews

Cactus: Live

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

 

 

I was at this Concert at BB Kings. I think this DVD was well shot, and everyone played great. I've seen Carmine and Tim with Vanilla Fudge the past few years, but I completely forgot how good Jim McCarty actually is. Too bad Rusty Day didn't live long enough to play with these guys. I thought the singer nailed down Rusty's parts pretty well though. The guy who plays Harp did a good job too. Anyone who loved Cactus will be more than satisfied with this DVD.

This was a nice DVD to watch, not great, but good. I agree some in the band could have used more rehearsing time - but all in all was interesting to view. My DVD also had the editing and sound issues. Not much in the way of extras.

Cactus to me has always been about the guitar playing of Jim McCarty and he doesn't disappoint here. Carmine and Tim's reputation is well known (some good, some not so good) - but I was surprised at how much I missed the singing of Rusty Day. Jimmy tries hard - but I missed Rusty and it isn't quite the same without him.

If you are into the nostalgia trip (and that's not terrible), this is a DVD to watch if you are a very big Cactus fan. Worth the price (to me) just to watch McCarty. If you are questioning where to spend your dollars on this band - get the first or second CD. Both are excellent (and the third isn't bad either).

What can you say about the one of the best rhythm sections ever to play rock and roll. KILLER. I thought the singer and harp player did a great job as well. When the song Oleo transitions from the intro to the main groove anybody who ever listened to Cactus will be in Cactus heaven. Talking about a shuffle. My granddaddy had mules that couldn't plow that deep! Jim McCarty is OUTSTANDING! I'm not gonna' knock 'em for more not putting in more rehearsal time or any of the other stuff being said. I'm not even gonna' say that I was disappointed that Tim Bogert's bass solo was way different than the original version of Oleo, but I will tell you this; "if you like Cactus, you better get the DVD and see this legendary band." Doug Mitchell 41 years electric bass.

This video is definitely a low-budget production, but it hardly matters since there is real magic in seeing McCarty, Bogert and Appice playing together again. The first time I saw Cactus play they nearly upstaged none other than Jimi Hendrix, I kid you not. They were truly on fire. They could decimate bands like Ten Years after and Deep Purple with their intense energy and virtuoso chops. Bogert and Appice were the best rhythm section in rock at the time, which is why Jeff Beck wanted them. McCarty was a fiery player with brash riffs, blazing solos and a unique sound using his scrambler pedal. "Tough act to follow" was their reputation.

This reunion DVD is a great companion to the recently released reunion CD, "Cactus V." Jimmy Kunes does a fine job, has a great voice but is not Rusty Day- he's arguably a better singer but not really the frontman Rusty was, which is why some hardcore fans want to complain. But the guy clearly wails and works his tail off in this show, and you can see from the looks of the other guys in the band they really like playing with him him so in my book he's a good fit.

A high point of the video is Jim McCarty's guitar work. He always could burn on a great riff, but you can tell his blues playing has evolved greatly since the old days. The guitar solo on Oleo is worth the price of this DVD by itself. Another high point is McCarty's interplay with Bogert and Appice on One Way or Another, a great song that manages to blend rock,blues,proto-metal and prog elements together into an ultimately satisfying result. Bogert and Appice are virtuoso players who can play cirlces around most drummers and bassists half their age, and their solos on this DVD show they still have the chops to do it.

There are some clams in the show, left them in there warts and all so you really get the feel of being at a live show, no pre-recorded tracks or fancy fixes re-done in the studio. I would say in my opinion they were tighter than the Cream reunion I saw at MSG a couple of years ago and a darn sight more sincere (though that was also a great show.) The chemistry is still there with these guys, and if you loved the band in the 70's you will definitely enjoy this DVD. One of the great things about this video is the band looks like they are really having fun together. One can only hope they will give us another reunion album and show at some later point down the road.

I finally received this concert and I am not disappointed. This show was filmed in a small club, & makes U feel like U are right there in the room. These guys can really rock, Jim McCarty is one of the most underrated guitar players ever. I'm glad I bought the cd & now can watch em live. I really try to give each of my reviews the right words so anyone who reads them can decide for themselves what to buy if U've never heard them.

I was very excited when I saw this DVD for sale. Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice are two of the best musicians to come out of the sixty's and seventy's. I loved vanilla Fudge and Beck, Bogert and Appice, and Cactus. I thought overall it was a really good performance. I noticed some faulty editing and some defects in sound quality here and there. It seemed to jump from stereo to 5.1 in and out. Also the band probably should have rehearsed a little more as there were just a few moments when Carmine lost the grove on Rock and Roll Children and some of the endings seemed to just stop and hang there. I don't know if the sound problems were just defects on my disc, or just some not so good production. I would like to hear if any one else noticed this. However that being said, overall I very much enjoyed the show and Jimmy Kunes did a great job on vocals.

Not a bad show, to be sure, but not great either. The video quality is all washed out anytime the shot is anything but a close-up. Audio quality is not much better than an OK bootleg. My main disappointment is not hearing Tim's bass nice and crisp and clean. The performance has some warts, but it was their first show together. Jimmy Kunes comes across really well and fills Rusty's shoes quite admirably. Ironically, the date of this show is the 24th anniversary of Rusty Day's death, but they don't mention that in their dedication to him.

There is some rehearsal room footage with Jim and Tim playing through practice amps and Carmine keeping the beat on a padded chair! I loved it! Another bonus is three tracks from a different club performance under the heading "Home Movies" shot with a camcorder, and I swear the audio sounds better than the "pro-shot" stuff. Maybe it's just me.

It's now been over 4 years since this and the "Cactus V" CD came out, and it doesn't look like anything else new will be coming at this point, so if you love these guys, get both cuz this might be all there is.

"now i can die" i dont need to say anymore but will, i been listing to VF & CACTUS for about 40 years now i saw them somewhere a few times i cant remmber but someone told me i went to both shows and if you remmber you wernt there at all just like most of the 60's buy the DVD it is a great show just PLAY IT VERY LOUD Gary

GOOD SHOW.GIANT MUSiC but the VIDEO is Cheap.PLAY IT like an audio-Cd & Close your EYES.

Cactus: Live - after surviving 35 yrs of rock concerts, i had thought i had seen it all. BUT THIS SHOW ROCKS !!!