Customer Reviews

Courage & Patience & Grit - Great Big Sea In Concert [CD/DVD Combo]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

GBS is awesome... and the disc is pretty good (CD & DVD) but the "live" sound quality leaves a little to be desired.

I was fortunate (REALLY fortunate, I live in the Southern U.S.) to have seen Great Big Sea on this tour. In fact, the material for "Courage & Patience & Grit" was recorded just over a month after I saw the band play. So I can say with certainty that this is a pretty close approximation to what I saw.

A previous reviewer complained that the boys look tired. But the album's liner notes reveal that the Hard and the Easy tour was divided into 2 parts: The first half is the more intimate, folk-based side of the band. The 2nd half really kicks things into gear.

This is GBS's third live album, and I was delighted with the 2-part concert approach. Old favorites like "Excursion Around the Bay" and "Mari-Mac" never sounded better, while a stripped-down "Sea of No Cares" is simply breathtaking.

In addition, there are 4 music videos that were not available on the excellent "Great Big DVD" collection from 2004. Longtime fans will surely be thrilled to have the video for "Lukey", which includes members of the Chieftains (and is a different mix of the song than previously released). The video clips for "Shines Right Through", "When I Am King" and "Captain Kidd" are mostly in the same vein as the band's other videos. That is, they're pleasing enough, if not exactly groundbreaking.

If I have one minor complaint about this set, it's the audio CD of the concert. Part of the charm of the band's live sets is their connection both to the audience and to the other band members. This is evident on the DVD, especially Alan and Sean's playful banter leading into "The Mermaid." This is completely absent on the CD (as are four of the concert's songs, a necessary concession due to the limitations of CD recording). But the real problem is that I noticed small gaps in between each track. This is irritating in that it breaks the continuity of the "live" recording. A minor point, like I said, but it just means I probably won't be playing the CD nearly as much as I do my "Great Big DVD" live CD.

If you're a fan, this is certainly a worthwhile--and very reasonably-priced--addition to your collection. It's not quite perfect, but it's ALMOST as good as the "real thing."

It could have been so much better. Watching the DVD, the band appears exhausted, and almost every song is sung flat. I was looking forward to this concert DVD, since their first live DVD/CD was great (it even aired on the CBC, but I hope this one does not). I have seen them live, and I can tell you that this DVD does not represent how great GBS can be onstage. If you get a chance to see them in concert, don't let the "Courage & Patience & Grit" performance keep you from going. I look forward to their future projects and shows, but this one should not have been released. I know that recording live is expensive, and timing it is diffucult, but they should have used a better performance.

This one is just disappointing. I absolutely love GBS but this offering is not up to snuff. They sound raspy, worn-out and tired. This is evident by Alan's changing several melodic lines to avoid signing high. The energy of both the band and the crowd are not near as high as in the Great Big DVD. This is nice to have the more recent songs, but I wish it would've been a better performance.

Nonetheless, an average performance by this band is still better than most bands playing today.

I'm always eager, yet nervous, about buying live CDs. Most of them are great, but some fall short of my expectations. I quite enjoyed this CD, but have yet to watch the DVD. This is a band that knows how to have fun with the audience, and with their music. I would love to see them live someday, but they rarely make it anywhere nearby. This may not be as enjoyable to "first time listeners", but fans will love it!

We were at the Hard & Easy concert tour last year. If you were able to see Great Big Sea live you know what I'm talking about.I highly recomend this cd/dvd combo for any Great Big Sea fan. It's just like being there.Mary Kaufman(mdixie9)

Wonderful vocals & harmony, nice mix of music (some ballads, some original works) - a very entertaining CD & DVD.

C&P&G is as close as you'll ever get to the true Great Big Sea live experience. If you want to see neater, more polished, kind of stilted live GBS, get the the Great Big DVD. If you want to know what it's really, really like to see them live, BUY THIS CD. I have seen the boys live several times now and this DVD grabs it. If you're not at least bouncing in your seat by the end of the show, seek medical attention. The whole key of a GBS show is that they make you feel a part of it - as the band has said many times, a Great Big Sea concert is not something you see, it's something you do - they're just the hosts of the party.(paraphrase there - I'm not taking credit for it!) You'll be drawn in by the banter and the antics that abound throughout the show. The musicianship and cohesiveness of these guys is amazing - they just fit. So many bands these days are kind of like 5 guys on stage that are each playing for their own glory, but not so here. The beauty of this band is that these guys obviously respect and admire each others' talents. Whoever takes the lead vocal is backed up by his bandmates with vigor, although sometimes the contest seems to be who can make the guy singing lead crack up the most.

This is the perfect introduction to Great Big Sea, but once you've seen it, I recommend going back and ordering every other CD as well! You won't be disappointed!

According to the picture, Bob is on this CD. I hear the instruments that he plays and on the DVD I see him with a microphone but seldom hear him or Murray. It is all Alan and Sean (who occasionally really shouldn't be heard). The studio albums have such great quality in the harmonies and the live CD have such great energy but there doesn't seem to be any middle ground. TERRIBLE mixing.

With Road Rage being my favorite album so far, I was excited when I heard that Great Big Sea had made another live album. This excitement lasted until I actually received the album as a birthday gift and got to hear what was on it. Great Big Sea is my favorite band and it pains me to say this, but this is the worst album they have released to date and a sad attempt at a "live" album. Sean and Alan sound out of breath through half the album and the timing seems to be way off through out.