Kate Bush Live at Hammersmith Odeon

I never understood how some bands can be so huge overseas and virtually unheard of in the US. Kate Bush (along with Ultravox and many, many more) leads the pack.

If you've never heard of Kate Bush, rent this video first. It served as my introduction to Kate Bush way back in the early 80's. I had only vaguely heard of her and and that point, all I really knew was that she wrote a song (Wuthering Heights) that Pat Benatar covered (and badly, I might add). On a gamble, I rented the video and have been mesmerized ever since.

The film documents Kate's early live show and really gives you an idea of what a complete artist she really is. Through many costume changes and a wide array of dance choreography is her music threading the pieces seamlessly together. It's enjoyable from start to finish.

Although it's a shame this live show never made it to the US, I'm happy it's still available on video. Maybe one day we can get it on DVD, too?

This video demonstrates the gulf in talent between Kate and the new generation of artists today. The modern corporate approach is to pick out a kid with the whitest teeth, apply make-up, designer trousers from Burtons, splash on some Hai Karate and a backing track and BINGO the newest karaoke dance troupe hits the charts. Kate served an apprenticeship with EMI after being brought to their attention by Dave Gilmour, where she refined her musical and artistic talents. This video shows the complete performance where, uniquely, the audience doesn't just experience her songs, but also her dance and theatrical expression. Absolutely superb and sadly a one off. Still the video is available for those of us too young to have gone!

Kate Bush live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, on 13 May 1979. Songs performed include: Moving, The Saxophone Song, Room for the Life, Them Heavy People, The Man with the Child in His Eyes, Egypt, L'Amour Looks Something Like You, Violin, The Kick Inside, In The Warm Room, Strange Phenomena, Hammer Horror, Kashka from Baghdad, Don't Push Your Foot on the Handbrake, Wow, Coffee Homeground, In Search of Peter Pan, Symphony in Blue, Feel It, Kite, James and the Cold Gun, Oh England My Lionheart, Wuthering Heights.

An absolutely mesmerising performance from Kate Bush. Her full range of talents are on display: the enchanting, emotional, daydreamy songwriting, the incredible voice, the dance choreography, her dancing and theatrics, her ethereal beauty and her riveting stage presence. This isn't simply a concert but is performance art. Quite spellbinding.

Considering that she was only twenty years old at the time and only about 15 months had passed since her debut album was released, her confidence is amazing. Also the amount and quality of material she has at her disposal is quite incredible for someone so early in their career.

Good camerawork though the video quality is a bit lacking. Sound is also a bit patchy at times. These are the only things preventing this from being a perfect 10.

I was at this gig with my teenage sister, and it remains one of our great musical memories. Looking back, it seems that Kate was trying something possibly new in rock concertry at that time - not just a gig with a band playing all her hits etc, but a full-on visual extravaganza. In this she was years ahead of the kind of show we see at stadia nowadays, led by Madonna, Beyonce etc. However, where Bush was different was that you felt it was more like an artwork than an all-singing, all-dancing musical show - rather akin to the offbeat videos she made of her songs, early technology but intelligent and creative. I believe Bowie also flirted with this idea in his gigs - I remember one where he showed the surrealist film Un Chien Andalou instead of having a support band - but apart from his costumes his concerts were more conventional. Of course, the times rather limited the special effects available to Kate at Hammersmith Odeon, but even now you can feel the ambition of the designers of the gig. Thank god someone thought to capture this moment on video, but alas at time of writing it's not available on DVD.