David Gilmour in Concert

This is my favorite music DVD and one worth some discussion whether you are a Pink Floyd/David Gilmour fan or not. I don't know that there has been a concert enjoyed my so many of our friends who have never listened to much of Pink Floyd. So, even if you don't care much for Pink or you haven't listened much to Pink... you can still appreciate this DVD concert.

The guitar pickin'... use of the varied instruments, the choral group, and the relaxing style of music make this a must have DVD in my opinion.

The video quality is just okay... nothing spectacular, but the camera work is done very well.

The sound quality is where I believe this DVD shines... it is nothing short of awesome in DD 5.1, however a stereo track is available for those who would rather listen in stereo.

A good lecture must begin approaching some very interesting subject, or a joke, to catch the attention of the audience. I believe the same principle applies to the opening of a concert. In this regard, David Gilmour almost spoils a great concert with an awful presentation of the wonderful "Shine on You Crazy Diamond Parts 1-5", with a very cheap and boring lonely solo. In this moment, I was completely disappointed with the DVD. Fortunately, he seems to be only warming-up for a great presentation.

Listening to the songs of Syd Barrett, and the most of the classics of Pink Floyd sang in the soft and beautiful voice of David Gilmour worth the show. I loved also Caroline Dale, magnificently playing the cello. The singers are efficient as usual in a Pink Floyd concert, only in a higher number (twelve, I guess). I personally did not like the narrative of "Confortably Numb" made by a guy in a wheelchair, in the Melldown Concert; and Bob Geldof reading the text, in the Royal Festival Hall Concert 2002, disappointed me a lot. I am Brazilian and I know the lyrics by heart, and the guy needs to read them? Further, lasting the arrangement of the song, extending the compass to change the guitar to an electric guitar is also very unusual in a live presentation. David Gilmour singing in French is also weird. The DVD has lots of Extras and I believe no fan will be disappointed with its content. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "David Gilmour in Concert"

I'm giving this a 5 not because it was mediocre per se, but rather because compared to the Pink Floyd I know and love it was very disappointing. I was all ready to enjoy a different kind of experience from the great Gilmour when about 2 songs in I realized something was wrong. He was taking awesome music and making it depressing. The whole wonderful point of Pink Floyd was to create a feeling of being mesmerized by the delicious sounds of the unique band. Mellow music in some cases, on the fringe of sadness at times, but never boring or generic. Of course there was some fun in seeing him perform some of the classics, but it almost always ended up leaving me cold. I also wasn't impressed by that French song and even the special features were at best mildly interesting. Sorry, but go ahead and pick up the Pompeii disc instead, you'll get much more of what you really want.

I bought this DVD on faith in one of my favorite Guitarists in the world. At first I was taken aback. The concert starts with David, standing alone on stage noodling around on an acoustic guitar, and he works his way into Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part 1. OK, at this point I was enjoying the show fine, but it wasn't what I expected. Then the sax player came on stage and put goose bumps down my back. Not only is Mr Gilmour awesome, but every musician that appears on stage with David throughout this show is incredible.

The concert starts mellow and soft, builds to the climax (With Shine On You Crazy Diamond Part II) then ends with a very mellow Hush-a-bye Mountain. High points include the George Bizet tune and the home video on the extra's portion of the DVD.

This is not a renter - if you're a David Gilmour fan, buy it and watch it over and over again.

I knew that this concert movie was an acoustic show so I wasn't surprised that the tempo was slow at the beginning. But to start the show with Gilmour tuning his guitar was a bit much.

Once he did start playing, Gilmour was having such a hard time finding his rhythm that I found myself praying for the drums to kick in.

By the time things settle down, the really glaring problem with this film comes to the surface. The mix is horrible. The crowd noise drowns out Gilmour at times when they cheer a song they recognize, he is almost inaudible when talking between songs and at many points the backup singers completely cancel him out. I found myself constantly adjusting the volume which really takes away from the "concert experience".

There are high points in the show, but the low points are rock bottom. Comfortably Numb is a song that millions of people know by heart. Two versions are provided on the DVD - from the concert and in the bonus section. Neither of the guest singers (Robert Hewitt and Sir Bob Geldoff) know the words, have to read from sheet music and based on their phrasing have never heard the song before. Gilmour would have been better off asking for a volunteer from the audience.

The very best thing on the DVD is, oddly enough, in the bonus section. Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put a Spell on You, a blues standard performed with Mica Paris and Jools Holland, almost makes the DVD worth buying. Almost.

Watch Jonathan Demme's beautiful treatment of Neil Young: Heart of Gold if you really want to see a great acoustic concert film. That is the gold standard.