Like most of the other videos in the New Morning concert DVD series, this is a very no-frills release. The packaging is about as minimal as you can get, with no special features, or even a simple booklet included. The video hastily begins after the band has already taken the stage, wasting no time with such pleasantries as backstage footage or band introductions.
After a quick "Bonsoir Paris" from the lips of Vernon Reid, he kicks off the show with a frantically-paced run-through of "Type." The song was played so fast that Reid's memorable guitar riffs were nearly lost in the shuffle. Wimbish simply couldn't restrain himself from adding some trippy, "look what I can do" sound effects throughout the song - and throughout much of the set too - which was usually more distracting than enhancing. I did love the extended reggae section that the band broke into towards the end of the song though. Do you see my dilemma? And this was just the first song.
By the second song, "Middle Man," things smoothed out nicely and the band was grooving hard and furious to one of their heaviest songs. The incredible funk-fusion of "Funny Vibe" then reminds you that Living Colour are certainly not just your typical bunch of black funk, jazz, soul, punk, metal rockers. You better have some eclectic musical tastes to fully appreciate a Living Colour show.
The setlist provides a good career overview, showcasing at least a couple of songs from each of their four studio albums, as well as a few covers. Four songs are performed from their 2003 comeback album, Collideøscope, and they are a mixed bag just like the album. The dark and furious rocker, "Song Without Sin," is one of the better tracks off the album, but "Sacred Ground" should have remained just a Stain leftover. The song, which received new life on their 1995 Pride compilation, and then again on Collideøscope, was mercilessly transformed into a 13-minute monstrosity, replete with avant-garde jazz noodlings. And to think they left great songs like "Pride" and "Open Letter" off the set.
"Flying" comes much later in the set, and other than being my personal favorite from the Collideøscope album, it provides one of the highlight performances of the show. Reid lays down one of his most expressive guitar solos to date, and all four band members really get to shine on this one. As much as these guys shine musically, they are not exactly the most dynamic group to watch. I realize that the New Morning stage was rather small, but these guys hardly moved from their sweet spots the whole show, and frontman Corey Glover said maybe three words to the crowd the whole night. Perhaps he thought that nobody could understand English in Paris. But aren't his lyrics...Ah, never mind.
Article comments
1 - FreqDaddy
#5 of the DVD is actually Wall (from Stain)
2 - Paul Roy
It's like I listed it. The short instrumental "Nova", from the Collideøscope album is #5 in the set, and it leads into "Wall" which was #6. Who cares though, I was just glad to see "Wall" played, seeing that is was not listed on the case.