Mike and the Mechanics Live at Shepherds Bush

Mike and the Mechanics Live at Shepherds Bush DVD – review by Mark Kenyon.

This is a review of the new live DVD from Mike and The Mechanics, This was filmed at the Shepherds Bush Empire on September 7th 2004 and the concert was in Aid of the Nordoff Robbins Music therapy charity.

Ticket for the show (Credit M.Kenyon)

Watching the DVD it is just how the concert was that very night as the band were perfect and what you see is the whole gig with no messy editing, The band are of course on top form having just finished a Summer tour supporting non other than Phil Collins on his 2004 leg of the Final Farewell tour.

The first song that opens the show is taken from the latest Mike and the Mechanics album “ Rewired “ and it is called Falling, this sounded better live than on the album, the songs that followed were taken from every ‘Mechanics album in this set.

The DVD cover (Credit: Eagle Vision)

Highlights

If I Were You, this was better than the album version and it works really well live and it is complimented with the backing singers.

Another Cup Of Coffee, A brilliant version of the song which has aged nicely again the new band did this song great justice.

Silent Running, It was as menacing as ever complete with the chill’s down the spine.

The Living Years, This was indeed a very moving rendition of this Mike and the Mechanics classic, although the audience were louder live than they appear on this DVD.

Over My Shoulder, This monster hit for the ‘Mechanics lifted the mood after the sombre Living Years.

The bonus interview was another highlight.

Paul Carrack’s soulful voice is here in all its energy and Mike bizarrely seems to take a back seat during the concert which considering he is the band leader I found a little odd, but he plays guitar and bass guitar with such effortless ease that you begin relax. It was nice to see Peter Van Hooke on the percussion as well as swapping for the drummers kit (Mr Gary Wallis), The new members of the band are clearly seen to be enjoying themselves on stage as well.

Personnel

Mike Rutherford – bass guitar, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
Paul Carrack – vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, 12 string acoustic guitar
Peter Van Hook – percussion and drums
Gary Wallis – drums and percussion
Jamie Moses – guitar and backing vocals
Rupert Cobb – keyboards, samples and trumpet
Abbie Osmon – backing vocals
Paul Mcgee – backing vocals

Track list

Falling
Now That You’ve Gone
Get Up
If I Were You
Another Cup Of Coffee
A Beggar On A Beach Of Gold
Perfect Child
Whenever I Stop
All The Light I Need
One Left Standing
Silent Running
The Living Years
Over My Shoulder
Word Of Mouth

The choice of song’s give a wide introduction to the Mechanics back catalogue from the very first album to the lastest album the whole catalogue is well represented.

The sound for the concert is available in Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1

The picture quality is crystal clear and it up scales very well on my 42 inch TV using the HD 1080i system

Bonus

This bonus feature is very good the interview/behind the scenes is very well thought out with footage from The Chiddingfold working men’s club during rehearsals and the Shepherds Bush empire during the sound check mixed in with interviews of Mike Rutherford down at the Farm studios near Chiddingfold, and Paul Carrack in Paul’s personal studios (in Hertfordshire) as well as Mike and Paul interviewed together on green outside the venue at Shepherds Bush as well as various parts of the tour to support Phil Collins during the Summer of 2004.

During the interview/behind the scenes footage watch out for a brief glimpse of Dale Newman who was driving the equipment truck on this tour amongst other tasks, Dale was later interviewed by The Evil Jam.

To add to that, you get the following promo videos,

Silent Running
The Living Years
Word of Mouth
Over my shoulder
A Beggar on a beach of gold
Another cup of coffee
One left standing

The promo videos are sadly not complete (there is much more in the Archives) and not in the now standard of Dolby Digital or DTS Surround Sound.

There is a booklet inside the DVD case, with high quality photos and some excellent notes written by non other that Dave Ling from Classic Rock.

This is a great live DVD, although it is a little light in places due to the absence of Paul Young, this Concert and DVD is almost a tribute to Paul Young’s time in the band. Paul Carrack does an excellent job as the only remaining front man and it is with his strength that this concert DVD comes across as an excellent souvenir of Mike and the Mechanics career.

Sadly Mike and The Mechanics do not have an official website of there own, but Paul Carrack has an official website. For more information about Paul Carrack please visit his official website at carrack-uk.com

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