Of the three official live DVDs from Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band released over the past decade — and you can make that four if you count the Live At Hammersmith Odeon 1975 DVD included with the deluxe 30th anniversary version of Born To Run — this is by far the best of them.
Here is why.
London Calling: Live In Hyde Park may not feature the greatest fans' dream setlist ever. Hell, it doesn't even come from the tour that topped most of the recent hardcore wish lists (that distinction probably belongs to the 2007-08 tour behind the Magic album).
But it is the first time the full experience of a complete Springsteen/E Street Band show — start to stop — has successfully been documented on DVD. There are none of the screwy song-gaps of 2001's Live In New York City. Nor is there the disjointed sequencing of 2003's Live In Barcelona.
Rather, what you get here is the full-on experience, before a stadium of rabid British fans screaming and singing their lungs out exactly as it happened. This is about as close as it gets to being there.
It also doesn't hurt things one bit that Bruce and the E Street Band are absolutely on fire here. The first four songs are played at a such a rapid-fire, almost punk-rock sort of pace, they occur as a near blur.
Beginning with a craftily chosen cover of the Clash's "London Calling" and ending with the Born To Run chestnut "She's The One," Bruce and the E Street Band roar through this four-song opening sequence with such a ferocity you'd think they were playing for their very lives. Max Weinberg — who on the most routine of days plays his drums pretty damn hard — pounds the living crap out of the skins here.
Article comments
1 - Sean Collins-Smith
Just bought this for my brother. Glad to see you liked it!
2 - Mark Saleski
totally agree. if you don't get a little chill in the segue from London Calling -> Badlands, you just might be dead.
3 - Dr. Jimmy
The blu-ray packaging is nice. Hard shell case with a nice little booklet of photos.
4 - Vince Krevinas
I can't agree with you more on this show. Astounding energy, musical chops, and overall excitement! My only gripe on the tour, as a whole, is the lack of WOAD songs. I, for one, thought the album, although highly rated by many, was severely underrated by others. T've heard live and, through boots, all the WOAD songs that he did and they all sounded great live! Including "Queen of the Supermarket" done once in Sweden. A rare instance of artistic insecurity on Bruce's part not to do more of the album.
5 - Niall Dargan
Stunning live gig!!!!! Easily one of the best ive ever seen.
6 - Ferry
Is there a live dvd available of his performance at Glastonbury last year? Watched that performance on tv and it was amazing to see him rocking the place
7 - Glen Boyd
There's no official document from Glastonbury, but I bet if you searched hard enough you might find a Bootleg (especially if it was broadcast on TV). The one song included here from Glastonbury, "The River" is pretty amazing.
Nice to hear that the Blu-ray packaging is better than what us poor folk who still have to make do with DVD got. Maybe we'll get a break next time around...
Thanx for the comments everyone.
-Glen
8 - Jeffrey Hillard
I'm very glad to see a new film featuring Springsteen's music. Another new generation now has the opportunity to see his timeless art, his indelible music. It spans generations, still.
I saw him perhaps 25 years ago now, and it was one of the greatest shows I have ever attended. I look forward to this new Blu-Ray release.
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9 - Glen Boyd
I first saw him in 75' Jeffrey, after being dragged (reluctantly) to the show by a friend. I became an instant convert that night and have seen him more than 35 times since. Nothing like it, that's for sure...
-Glen
10 - Mike Holdsworth
Had the pleasure of being at this fantastic concert and also Neil Young at Hyde Park on the same weekend. What is also very odd about the dreadful pack format is that most of the photographs are not from Hyde Park. I think the front colour pic is but none of the others. i also just realised that there is a cheapo insert under the middle flap. By the time I realised (today a couple of weeks after buying) it was creased - and not great quality in the first place!
11 - kumar
fantastic dvd especially glory days and rising