Customer Reviews

Winger Live

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Finally in 2008 "Winger" fans have something to stand up and cheer about. In the 20 plus years that "Winger" has been rocking they have amassed a legion of loyal fans that just can't get enough of them and their metal sound. Winger "live" is the bands first entry into the DVD concert market and fans won't be disappointed by what they see and hear. The Song list and level of musicianship by the band is sure to please any casual or hard core "Winger" fan. From the second they take the stage there's no doubt why Kip Winger, Reb Beach, John Roth and Rod Morgenstein have been able to hang around for so long.

The DVD concerts 19 song set list is really impressive and the level of showmanship and precision of playing from the guys makes for a great concert experience for those lucky to be in attendance. Kip Wingers voice seems to have stood the test of time and the backing vocals and harmonies are as good as they ever were. The music is tight and the band seems to really be having a great time on stage and the audience is with them song after song.

While this DVD release from Shrapnel is very good it could have been much better. For one thing the Audio mix is only in 2.0 Stereo, so there's no 5.1 Digital or DTS. The picture is really clear but some segments switch from color to black and white for a different effect. I would have preferred they just present the concert straight forward and in color. In my opinion the camera editing could have been so much better, there's a little to much crowd shots for my liking.

When I buy a concert DVD I want to see more of the band performing and less of the crowd. Aside from a couple minor complaints this is an excellent entry into the DVD concert forum for "Winger" and their fans. I highly recommend it!

DVD Features Include:

Audio: 2.0 Stereo

Video: NTSC Region 1

Picture Format: 16 x 9 Widescreen

Approximate Length: 105 min

Song List:

1. Blind Revolution Mad [3:11]

2. Loosen Up [3:51]

3. Easy Come Easy Go [3:38]

4. Your Great Escape [3:57]

5. Down Incognito [3:28]

6. Rainbow in the Rose [5:34]

7. Generica [7:44]

8. Junk Yard Dog [4:04]

9. Right up Ahead [4:52]

10. Reb's Guitar Solo [4:14]

11. You Are The Saint,I Am The Sinner [5:08]

12. Rod's Drum Solo [6:47]

13. Headed for a Heartbreak [6:24]

14. Can't Get Enough [4:43]

15. Seventeen [5:51]

16. Who's the One [5:17]

17. Miles Away [4:20]

18. Hungry [4:00]

19. Madalaine [6:19]

Bonus Features Include:

Band Sound Check

Band Photo Gallery

A fantastic performance from a hair metal classic. Kip Winger gives such a great performance with his meaty vocals and connection with the audience. Not only does he handle bass duties, but he switches it up between piano and acoustic guitar as well. The individual band member's solos are kind of boring, except for Reb Beach's fiery guitar solos. The band as a whole never skips a beat, and delivers some of the most melodic backing vocals. Each and every Winger hit is included and sound great. Even the new material sounds good.

It's not hard to tell that Kip has improved vastly as a songwriter. The material is far more thought-provoking. It was nice to see that the band can have a good laugh at themselves. During their performance of "Seventeen," the group changes the lyrics in the third chorus to `she's only thirty-five.' Has it been that long? I though the group should have closed with this one, but they chose their first hit "Madeline." A definite `must have' for any fan of the hair metal era or fans of great melodic rock in general.

The band gives you a vulgar display of musicianship whilst being highly technical and yet conjuring great melodies - a feat in itself. The band is made up of Reb Beach and Jon Roth on guitars, Rod Morgenstein of drums (this guy is a monster) and last but not least Kip Winger on bass, keyboards and vocals (what a voice!).

Visually the camera changes happen at just the right moment and there are no special effects that ruin so many of the recent live DVDs!.

Get it...thank me later!

This DVD is a great package and certainly a must have for all Winger fans. It contains a comprehensive set list covering all the songs that made Winger famous and highlights their awesome musical abilities. The band is tight and definitely having a great time throughout the show. Winger show us that their musical chops haven't faded one bit with each member proving their reputation via solo spots and flawless playing. The only negative I must mention is that the quality of the footage is average and there is very little in the way of a light show to add to the overall vibe of the concert. These are minor points but with the quality of concert DVD's these days this one is below average in comparison to what's considered standard. Regardless, Winger was always known for their virtuoso playing, great songwriting and interesting arrangements and this DVD gives you front row seats to one of the best bands of the hair metal genre.

The band is as good as ever, Reb's playing is definitely top notch. The video quality of this DVD is not exactly what I expected though. The three star review is no reflection on the band, they played great at this gig. If you're a Winger fan, it's worth the money.

It has been way to long since Winger were together. Literally, THE most underated band in history, they produced three of the greatest rock albums from the era, and way to soon, where forced from the music industry by a wave of ironically MUCH less talented, side-show freaks who could barely play their own instruments. But these new-commers weren't "hair bands", so they got respect as musicians despite the fact that their abilities musically were SORELY lacking, if they existed at all. Crazy, I know!! Thankfully, Winger have reunited and put out an excellent fourth album appropriately titled IV. And with all albums, comes a support tour which they have captured very well on this DVD. Though the sound is not in Dolby5.1.(I too was disappointed with that.) It still sounds great. The camera-work, and the set list will not disappoint. All in all, and not just cuz I have been a fan four twenty years, this is a five star DVD!! Highly recommended!! If you are a fan, or someone who has never heard of them before, check it out!! Support the band!! We need more music from these guys. If you're a Beavis and Butthead Winger hater, well then you're in appropriate company. REAL ROCK FOREVER!!

I saw them in 2007 on the tour that this DVD was recorded on, and again in 2008. Unfortunately I saw them in a dive club where the atmosphere was cool, but it was hard to see anything and the sound was mediocre. Just like watching the Superbowl in person versus HDTV, there's nothing like being there, but there's also nothing like having the best seat in the house where you can see and hear everything perfectly and not get other people's beer spilled on you. This DVD captures the shows that I saw perfectly.

Winger basically defines the high-water mark for hair-pop-metal when it comes to musicianship, and seeing them now is like seeing Charlie Parker in the early 50s. Mass taste has moved on to things easier for the masses to understand and play, leaving performance of this caliber to be appreciated only by those who know.

"We wanted a music that they couldn't play" - Thelonious Monk

My name is Mark, I Love Winger and I'm not ashamed to admit it. For those of you that think that Winger is "just another hair band", and the butt of jokes by everyone from Beavis & Butthead to Metallica, then you need to watch this. I've been a "Winger Evangelist" for years, telling everyone I know that Winger is actually one of the best bands from that era of music in terms of musicianship and songwriting. Technically, there is no one better. Rod Morgenstein is in the conversation when you talk about greatest drummers of all time. Reb Beach is a highly underrated guitarist who is still very much sought after due to his versatility. Kip may have been the "face" of the band, but he is also brilliant - everything from songwriting, arranging strings, and now producing and recording. He's also quite an accomplished musician - plays numerous instruments and plays them well. This is an incredible band and their live show proves it. Put the DVD in, listen to the opening of Blind Revolution Mad to get pumped up - then skip forward to Rainbow in the Rose, which was released in 1990, and tell me that this is just your average hair band. Then head forward to the end for the acoustic Blue Suede Shoes for a taste of some new Winger (From 2006's IV album). At that point you'll be ready to say it with me: "I Love Winger and I'm not ashamed to admit it." I promise.

i bought this concert from amazon when it first came out, i am a huge winger fan, but i can only give this 3 stars because this concert is only dolby 2.0 - why did they not release this in 5.1? - then it would be 5 stars easily. it is still a great concert,just poorly produced and not properly thought out.why kip why?

80's hard rock veterans, Winger, rock solidly on their first ever live concert DVD, in a performance recorded at the Galaxy Concert Hall in Orange, California, in 2007, nearly twenty years after their debut record Winger (1988) was released. The band lineup features original members Kip Winger on bass and vocals, Reb Beach on guitar, and Rod Morgenstein on drums, with long time member John Roth also on guitar.

In this show, Winger is emphasizing their newer material. You won't hear anything from their breakout album until almost an hour into this 95 minute show. The band goes instead with selections from In the Heart of the Young (1990), Pull (1993), and their reunion album, IV (2006). The newer material sounds pretty tough and edgy, with the expected punchy bass work from Kip Winger. This version of Winger is mostly keyboard free, as there is no keyboard player onstage, although Kip Winger forgoes his bass, to play keys for a couple of songs.

A master at the tapping technique, generating squeals, and tripping all over the fretboard, Reb Beach is the consummate heavy metal chameleon. Besides Winger, Reb has the versatility to also play in bands like Dokken and Whitesnake. John Roth is less flashy, but as can be seen in this show, is also a very talented player.

Winger isn't exactly a band with a ton of hits, but distancing themselves from their most popular material is an interesting approach. The venue is an intimate one, with the audience (many who are women) right up at the front of the stage. The crowd is either very well behaved, or not that much into crowding up and headbanging. By the time the band rips into Seventeen, at the 70 minute mark, the audience doesn't seem that excited.

Reworking the setlist might have resulted in a more enthusiastic crowd, and a more familiar experience for viewers of the DVD. For hard core fans that have been keeping up with the band, it may not matter as much. The newer material is definitely strong enough to stand on its own merit. Songs like Right Up Ahead, Your Great Escape, and the grungy Junkyard Dog, are quite hard and heavy. Generica shows the cynical side of the one-time glam band, and features some amazing lead guitar from both Reb and John. In the last third of the show, Winger finally get to their MTV hits, Headed For a Heartbreak, Seventeen, Hungry, Madaline, and Can't Get Enough. There's also an energetic version of You Are the Saint, I Am the Sinner, rounding out this very solid performance.

Video quality is very good. The editing is nicely done, without manic cuts, insane angles or fancy dissolves. Audio is 2.0 Stereo. The extras include a photo slideshow, and some not too interesting footage of a soundcheck at the venue.

For those that remember the band only for their early hits, it may take a while until you hear something that sounds familiar. But if you are into 80's metal, it is worth the wait, as Winger plays some pretty mean stuff. And the lack of keyboards just gives the band an even harder edge.