Customer Reviews

Crack the Sky: All Access

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excellent. 4 original members plus fantastic Glenn Workman (fantastic keys) and Bobby Hird (Bobby you "rawk", I was impressed). It's just fantastic to have a visual record of this band. Two shows from 2008. Tight, tight, tight!!!!! Great double lead guitar duels. JP your the Greatest...........(FREE TIBET, indeed!) thanks for all this great music over the years. HD and Fantastic 5.1 Sound. And Crank it UP!!!!!! Is Most impressive at concert volumn!!!!!!! FUN FUN FUN! Rick Witkowski is something to behold!

THE BAND:

Joe D'Amico

Bobby Hird

Joe Macre

John Palumbo

Rick Witkowski

First set: Songs from the 2008 Rites of Spring Festival in Glenside PA

1 White Music

2 Hold On

3 Nuclear Apathy

4 From The Greenhouse

5 Go

6 Zoom

7 Sea Epic

8 Wet Teenager

9 Maybe I Can Fool Everybody

10 L'Acte de Patriote

11 All American Boy

12 Lighten Up McGraw

13 She's A Dancer

14 Ice

Second set: Songs from July 2008 show at the New Hazlett Theater in

Pittsburgh PA

15 The Sale: Introduction

16 The Sale: Prelude

17 American Refugee

18 Nuclear Apathy

19 Rangers At Midnight

20 Ice

21 Hold On

22 Surf City

23 Hot Razors In My Heart

24 Skin Deep

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glenn Workman

This was my first DVD concert, and what a performance! I've admired this band since the mid-70's, and didn't realize they were still around after all these years. The band's musicianship is still razor-sharp, and it was so nice to see that guitarist Rick Witkowski is as vibrant and animated as ever,in addition to being a superb musician. CTS demonstrated its musical prowess by a few extended instrumental breaks, like they showed on live albums in the past; they haven't lost a step. The video portion of the DVD was quite well done, and the extended interview after the two shows was a very interesting and enlightening bonus; it was heartening to see that these guys, despite being together for so long, still actually like each other, a quality that's sadly lacking in so many bands today. This DVD deserves another 2 stars, IT'S THAT GOOD!!

In 1975 Rolling Stone Magazine named CTS the Best Debut Album of the Year. What followed was a series of snafu's not unusual for the music industry at that time. As a result, Crack the Sky is the best band you've never heard!

Despite a lack of commercial success; and in spite of numerous personnel changes, the songs kept coming. The band personnel is now nearly identical to its original lineup and the chops are better than ever!

A great collection of songs from a band that seems, after thirty-some years, to be establishing for itself a more lofty paradigm. Highly recommended*****

Intelligent, inventive music for intelligent, inventive people. Tired of corporate rock? Then check these guys out.

Crack the Sky formed back in the 70's and gathered a strong following in the Maryland, Virgina and Pennsylvania area. Their music - melodic, rocking, thoughtful and expressive - is always performed by a family of truly talented musicians. Crack the Sky has accumulated a long list of classic songs loved by their fans and they are one of those bands that excel playing before a live audience. Their music is one of those lucky finds for fans of good music who were not previously aware of them. This release is the first time their performances have been captured for an official DVD. It is long overdue... and has been long requested by their fans. Grab a beer, light one up or simply crank up the stereo and check it out!.. You can never be disappointed with this band!

Yeah, What can I say?

DVD with 2 shows Interviews and some extras, and virtually the original band line-up.

That's more than most bands from this era can conjure up these days.

As excited as I was to have this, i was instantly sadly put down by John Palumbo's vibe at the Rites of Spring Festival, by his instant apologetic comments on how he despises Festivals because of somebody else's being there, i.e. ; in this case putting down another band of another ilk. As a Leader of a Name Band, you don't apologize for nothing, when you are on stage, and you definitely don't spit on the other acts, this is so arrogant, and so insecure of anybody over the age of 15, I can't believe what I am hearing/seeing...

I am supposed to be enthralled by a Live performance. Definitely not be asked to excuse all of us for being at a show that the singer dislikes... Huh? - Bitter taste #1!

How fantastic it is to see as close of a full original Line-up. Best of the band goes to Rick Witkowski for his aged self, still putting in a lifetime's worth of really Playing his instrument, and himself to the hilt. 2nd is Joe Macre on Bass, playing it all English style, and acting like there's nothing better in life than this precise minute! Total Kudos to this awesome bassplayer. (N.B. spellcheck asks me to separate Bass Player, Not gonna do that horrible English flaw, If a Guy is An Engineer, he isn't an Engine Er, It's a one word in all other languages, so I'm sticking with a reality that has yet to be admitted by the Learned ones of the British Encyclopedia, -You'll see more of this throughout) Joe, simply rules this performance. He leads and infects the band with his own virus of LIFE into this full on show.

Bobby Hird who joined forces in 1983 and "World In Motion" plays his ass off with a serious charge the original line never managed to conjure up.

The let down #2 (Bitter Taste) is Joey D'Amico... playing Drums like any session guy, and even showing off his disinterest in not even remembering his own drumming via the Mega-let-down of letting us see he has written drum music on a stand next to his Hi-Hat... Jeez, I am older than Joey, and did a VDGG full on Tribute show once, and I didn't even know their music, but The Hell I was playing Live with Cheat Sheets... That's not professional in my Book, the only folks that get away with this are Hired hands in an Orchestra...

Can you imagine Alan White Playing drums in early Yes with a Schoolbook on Bill Bruford's previous notations on a Music Stand next to him??? ( I won't even tewll you what those 3 question marks really stands for) SO NOT OK!!! OK?

Even worse here, as This music isn't all that hard to remember to play, if only you'd like what you're playing, as opposed to...Hey, I need the Cash... kinda gig... I work just about every night all year long, and see anywhere between 3-7 bands a night, (as a Lighting Director, mind you) and if ever there is a Music stand on stage, unless it's a Horn section, I stop caring...because it's clear to me that the Music being performed on stage is by session folks...i.e. "Musicians"... where there should be "Players" on that stage.

Now, This music is really good, and I have enjoyed this band since 1978 when they Opened up for Blue Öyster Cult on their Early Spring Tour of that year... I always thought of this band as an American version of 10cc. - American, in the way that the songs had possibly more continuity than that of the über prog pop approaches of 10cc themselves. John Palumbo is a strange character, that I will never understand. He's seriously talented, but what up with that bad attitude and shameful bi-polar acknowledgement that anything listed as Progressive is a No-no.. why does an artist listen to other people's complaint's anyway? I don't get that part at all, it really bugs me that he keeps on putting himself and his band, and inadvertently (and most likely unknowingly, but just the same) insults his audience by poking bad puns at everybody about the terminology of Progrock, and how Old we all are.... What's the Bug, John? What's eating you? The fact you're not even almost known like other bands? Bitterness should stay at home, If I pay for a ticket, I don't care to be insulted by my choice to do so by the... Singer of the band... !?

3rd negative, because this is a review, I need to address the issues here... Obviously, the Camera work here is by Interns or students, and although they capture everything really well for the Editor to put together, the #3 BOOOOOoooo is, why use Follow spots for a Video shoot at all? All it does, is killing the vibrant colors of the stage in favor of a what? White Face" for what purpose? You blow the aperture away with that kind of overkill for the balance, and ruin everything for a well balanced lighting show that could have been fantastic.... instead we get the "Spot-syndrome" with a virtually black & white background, when it could have been vibrantly colourful. It's Not a B/W Photo shoot here, and we don't need to see unshaved zitz etc. This ain't TV. it's supposed to be alternative R&R. Too Dark!!!! There is of course also the strange Idea that these are both Video-In-House Productions, that these venues do for every show...which is quite common these days, but the Qs seems to be on the spot here quite well. so again, Kudos to the Editor of On Site Vid-Cam selections. Still one of the missing Stars goes to the poor Pixel quality of the Videocameras. I still would love a perfectly professional shot show. and this would be the Line up to do it, fer sure...

So that's why there's only 3 Stars here... those 3 stars are for The Sound... Impeckable mix, like I was there in the hall. Fantastic sounding DVD. Band cooks in most parts, but I'm still offended by D'Amico, who also seems to be playing like John Palumbo's own workhorse, with talks from the past, like "Don't you dare to play anything over what has been written here on your non professional cuesheets. " So not in the moment!

While his playing is fine by session standards, it is NOT even acceptable by a true fan. There's no "Geist" nor Fervour in his paid-to-play by the note performance... why even do this gig, when some real person could be playing real drums here... As much as I love seeing real bandreunions with originals etc. this is no fun... bleak drumming when there could have been so much more for the sake of the actual music and nothing else...blah....Sorry Joey, Thumbs down with the exception of your quite professional Sessiondrumming, I personally don't care for that approach. Why not Just be yourself, and to Hell with the consequences... More Spunk, More Enthusiasm needed. Music is about each and every individual in Rock, if you're in an Orchestra, and are being conducted, that's a different issue altogether. This is Rock! Video here captures you like you are contemplating your laundry run,. or something else... Where's that true Rikky Rokket in you? (Laughs) Anyway. Wonderful to have this DVD in my collection. Plusses here are: Witkowski & Macre, followed by the rest of the band. Palumbo's actual performances are stellar, I just get this bad taste from his Negative presentation of himself and everything about everything... again.. Why?

Glen Workman rules with his playing, but I seriously dislike his dresser..."Shorts" at any show is unbecoming any adult... You strive for long pants in the UK to become a "Grown Up" while at school, and that is just tacky to be "anywhere" as a punk at a BBQ, Not acceptable for this ilk of music. You're not playing Ska, or Punk or Reggae and you're definitely not in California.. so please dress up for the Video, You make it look cheap and low-class... and I am older than you... :-) Class is not about Snobbery, it is about handling yourself to your very best at all and any given times and show off while you are on stage, as opposed to at home with friends......Clothing included, especially for a Video shoot. Short Pants is just disrespectful here in this format.

Finally, The subject of JP's T-Shirt... what's up with that? Any political statement is wrong in a Video shoot, unless you are purporting this issue for the purpose of this Video... I don't care if you are a Politically inclined person, Just don't shove your thoughts and beliefs upon me as a viewer of this/these two shows here... Music is Music. Politics are always paid for by somebody somewhere, neither you nor i will ever get to... so please... refrain from statements of any kind. They are offensive, and wether you believe it or not...always paid for by somebody with interests you wouldn't even wanna know about. Being on Stage is supposed to transport us as an audience away from the horrors of mundane every day life in political matters. Not inform us of various political issues. I don't spend my hard earned ticket money for such propaganda of any direction.

I merely want entertainment, and please, let me draw my own conclusions. It is supposed to be about music and entertainment after all, isn't it?

Final tech notes here... Normal DVD Package, Very well put together, with added insert sheet of complete information data, and nice adverts for other available CDs.

Buy This DVD, you will not regret it! Enjoy it, as well as my frustrated ramblings here.

In the true tone of that old forgotten song. Tell It Like It Is!

Cheers!

I have not seen this dvd but I have seen this band in concert several times. This is the first official release of any CTS live footage in an almost 40 year history and it is about time. This is an excellent progressive rock band whose music has aged very gracefully. Their newer material is also A+.[ASIN:B000TVFXM0 Safety In Numbers-21st Century Redux] I cannot wait until I get to experience this concert dvd in my living room. Once you see it you'll be making a trip to the Baltimore area for one of their semi-annual shows.