Acoustic Strawbs: Live in Toronto at Hugh's
This must-see DVD (for Strawbs fans) starts with David Cousins takes a trip round West London to some of the places the band played in its formative years, such as Strawberry Hill, the British Motor Yacht Club, Eel Pie Island and the White Bear. The DVD also features a live performance at Hugh's Room, filmed July 12, 2003 and featuring the songs Ghosts, MacLean Street, Who Knows Where The Time Goes, Flying, The Hangman And The Papist, Autumn, Deep Summer's Sleep, The Winter Long, Remembering, You And I (When We Were Young), Out In The Cold, Round And Round, Hero And Heroine and Simple Visions.
Member Reviews
Fans Should Enjoy, Sound Problems Aside - muso
In the mid-1970s the Strawbs were at the height of their popularity in Canada. A trio of albums – Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams and Hero and Heroine reached ever growing audiences. While the Strawbs' popularity ebbed over time, this DVD from a 2004 tour of the Acoustic Strawbs shows that they still retain a loyal fan base.
For this show the Acoustic Strawbs include Dave Cousins, the founder and only constant member of the band; Dave Lambert, who joined at the time of Hero and Heroine; and Brian Willoughby, who originally joined when Lambert left. The material for this approximately one-hour show comes primarily from the three above noted albums, although they do a very nice version of Who Knows Where the Time Goes, a great song by Sandy Denny who was briefly a Strawb in the 1960s.
The biggest problem with this DVD, recorded at Hugh’s Room, a great club in Toronto, is that Willoughby’s guitar is rarely heard, which is an issue as he plays a lot of lead and fills. The sound at Hugh’s Room is usually excellent so it’s hard to know why the problem occurred, but it is certainly an issue. On the other hand, Dave Lambert’s guitar is more than front and centre.
Other than the fact that what is an acoustic trio is, in effect, a duo, Cousins and Lambert are in fine voice and the songs are all delivered with great gusto and intensity. Often described as prog-rock or prog-folk, Cousins, in an accompanying 10 minute history of the early Strawbs probably nails the sound best when he calls it “gothic-folk.” So there it is, fans of the Strawbs and of gothic-folk in general should like this DVD. I’m not sure it will appeal to those who are not already Strawbs fans.Great acoustics - butas
The video work here is a little amateurish at times - overuse of effects, awkward pans, etc. - but the acoustics and the show itself are topnotch. The guitar work is simply amazing at times and I'm certainly convinced to go and see them in the unlikely event they every come my way!
Member Reviews
Read All...
Fans Should Enjoy, Sound Problems Aside - muso
In the mid-1970s the Strawbs were at the height of their popularity in Canada. A trio of albums – Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams and Hero and Heroine reached ever growing audiences. While the Strawbs' popularity ebbed over time, this DVD from a 2004 ...Great acoustics - butas
The video work here is a little amateurish at times - overuse of effects, awkward pans, etc. - but the acoustics and the show itself are topnotch. The guitar work is simply amazing at times and I'm certainly convinced to go and see them in the unlikely event ...