Customer Reviews

Siouxsie and the Banshees: Dreamshow Live at the Royal Festival Hall

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an awesome DVD. The music sounds incredible. Siouxsie and Budgie are amazing to begin with, so when you add the backup singers and the orchestra, the result is a dream. It really blew me away how good it is. Of course Siouxsie sings a hair under pitch at times, but that's why we love her. She looks great and still prowls the stage as she always did. It's about time these artists were able to produce a show that enhances their amazing talents. If you're on the fence, buy it!

I must admit that after the 7 Year Itch DVD, I was unsure of how Siouxsie would sound a couple years later. I must admit, however, that this DVD is fantastic!!!! Budgie and the Millennia Ensemble are a perfect complement for her voice. And yes, Siouxsie's voice has taken a battering over the years, but here is she is in fantastic form. The DVD celebrates both classic Banshees and Creatures hits, and fan favorites. The sound and picture are fantastic! A must buy!!!!!!

We've waited a long time since "Nocturne" was filmed for another great live performance on video/dvd. Siouxsie is in superb spirits and voice for this 2 night stand at Royal Festival Hall. Her icy voice is back in full strength. I was concerned after watching the last dvd performance "7 Year Itch" and wondered if her best singing days were behind her. Not to fear fans, the Queen of Goth is back and hot to trot! The set list is really diverse to hear and well chosen by Siouxsie. From the opening drums on "Say Yes" with the terrific Budgie, you know that you are in for a real treat.
Siouxsie dances, vamps and struts around the stage like a cat in heat. Hard to believe our punk goddess will turn 50 this year. The entire show is fabulous and sound/picture quality are excellent. My favorites are "The Rapture", "Around The World", "Christine", "Killing Time, "Face to Face", "Not Forgotten", etc.
Our Queen of Goth even throws a hissy fit at the a/c unit being on in the hall at the end of the first set - "you guys have been great, this place is a ******* dump and I'm gone." She explains in the accompanying interview that her only request was for the hall to turn off the a/c unit because it affected her voice. Rock on Siouxsie!

It has been a long two year wait for Siouxsie fans for this DVD to get a US release, but it is well worth the wait! Siouxsie sounds great with a strong voice and great back-up vocalists, Budgie proves himself once again to be the brilliant drummer he is and the Millenia Ensemble add the perfect touch to an impressive 24 song set. This DVD is long, but not tiresome, plus the added interview footage and 5 song 100 Club footage are great bonuses!

I caught Siouxsie & Co. at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, 2004. Having gotten there late, I was crammed somewhere in the back, so I missed out on some fantastic visuals. Having said this, I was thrilled when this DVD came out. In comparison to the live show I saw, the setlist was much the same....a good mix of new and old songs. Hai! is an incredible album, and the Kodo drums add so much intensity to the music. Siouxsie's voice was strong and clear, demonstrating that she's still a force to be reckoned with! All in all, I would highly recommend this DVD. Why only four stars? The production, editing and the hissy fits! There were computer graphics overlaid throughout much of this DVD that were totally unnecessary, at times downright annoying. Throughout the show, camera angles were switching every two to four seconds (notably during Dear Prudence) which was VERY distracting. Too many concert DVD's get caught in this techno-limbo, in between real substance and gloss. It is obvious they were going for an artful feel, but lost much of the essence of the performance in the meantime. It could have been pulled off a lot better. Lastly, the already well-documented HISSY FITS. She was very obviously annoyed by the too-cold air onstage, which prompted many foul-mouthed rants. Not that I mind the F-Bomb every now and then, I just think they could have edited them out. NOW....for the good stuff! Don't let the previous scare you off. If it's real,raw Siouxsie you are seeking, there is some great footage in the Bonus Materials. There are several intense songs performed at the 100 Club in London. Very intimate and Siouxsie SHINES! I'd buy this DVD all over again, if just for those few songs. Fantastic!

After the last 2 Siouxsie/Creatures outings (7 Year Itch Tour/CD & The Creatures tour for Hai!) I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that Siouxsie should retire. Her voice was so completely painful to listen to that it sounded like someone mutilated her larynx in a blender. But, damn!, this Dreamshow DVD proves she can still hit the right notes and actually entertain without the listener requesting earplugs. The orchestra was a marvelous idea as was the idea of adding 2 back-up singers who actually compliment Siouxsie's voice very well. Budgie is awesome, naturally. Kudos to Siouxsie for a fine return. On a side note, you can get this DVD for $[...] BRAND NEW at www.deepdiscount.com. They ship for free and do not charge tax. Buy it there!

What a wonderful concert. I watched the whole thing, the 100th club and the rehearsals and when it was over I said "It's over already"? :(

Wow the 100th club, Siouxsie could stretch her arm and touch the audience on the head. They definitely outgrew that place a LONG time ago. She barely had any room for her dancing, but she was happy and her voice was astounding here. The temperature was perfect for her, they treated her good.

At the Royal Festival Hall Siouxsie was freezing cold (poor thing)! She *effectively* complained 3 times through the show - with very colorful and spicy words! :D

My evaluation on some songs:

Godzilla! - I had never heard this song before, the effects they play are strange but the song grown onto you pretty quick.

Dear Prudence - I have seen better live versions of this song, but it was still pretty good.

Christine - What a wonderful display of this song, I was never a fan of it, but I loved this live version; she did great!

Shooting Sun - Never heard this song before, what a wonderful song and she made me fall in love with it.

Kiss Them For Me - It was wonderful, I have seen Siouxsie perform this song many times, she didn't do too well a few times and I have to say this is the best I've seen her perform this.

The Rapture - Oh it made me cry! The Rapture FINALLY LIVE AND WHOLE! Siouxsie forgot a couple of words on first paragraph, but from that point on; she made all the waiting for a wonderful Rapture live performance worthwhile. Thank you Siouxsie for including The Rapture I love you!!!!

Pinned Down - One of her fast songs and it really shines here I love it.

Happy House - LOL yes this song is about crazy people and Siouxsie makes it very obvious with her throwing herself on stage and those hand movements she makes. Gotta love it!

Face To Face - Ok must admit although I've heard it for a long time, never really appreciated this song but all of a sudden one day I just decided to listen to it with more detail, so unlike me. I've learned to appreciate a beauty about it. However, the best cat song for her is "Loveless" nonetheless from Mantaray.

Cities in Dust and Peek-A-Boo - wonderful I didn't think she would be able to do them because of her deeper voice. She did a great job.

an intensely satisfying performance that takes popular music to grand new heights. Siouxsie is the consummate performer who seems to channel great spirits through her being, subsequently catapulting the audience into stratospheric states of consciousness. Like Peter Murphy and Bowie, she is a magician on the stage as she delivers interesting, energetic versions of songs with passion and grace.

The extras offered in this package make it a must. The backing musicians provide a special touch that elevates the sound and allows one of the greatest performers of our generation the ability to truly shine.

Siouxsie rocks!

An excellent performance by Siouxsie Sioux...what else could one expect.

Video quality is marred by whitewash from the spotlight and bluewash (I don't know what else to call it) when the floodlights aren't on Siouxsie.

Song selection is varied so you get a nice overview. An interview is included among the bonus features - the highlight of which is a performance at @ the 100 Club just prior to the recorded concert.

Superb show.
Nice shots , picture & excellent sound.
I really recomend this !