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Mathijs |
Today I bought Ronnie Wood�s new (well, first) DVD �Far East Man�, recorded in December 2001 in Shepherd�s Bush. I must say I didn�t expect much of it, as we all know the stories about Ronnie�s drinking habits at that time, and the stories about how he almost dropped dead at these gigs to promote his new album. I bought it mainly since I am a big Slash fan, and Ronnie Wood&Slash equals something very interesting in my opinion. I must say I am really pleasantly surprised by an absolutely ripping Rock and Roll show, and an excellent playing Wood! The DVD starts of a little shaky with a nervous Wood finding his way through a slow Hey Negrita and an off-version of Rock and Roll Star (with a really out of tune solo by Ronnie), but everything seems to fall in place with This Little Heart. Brilliantly sung and great guitar work, only I do find Lea Wood�s off-key singing a bit annoying. Then to two acoustic songs, which have a very nice laid back atmosphere, spiced up by Franky Gavin on violin. But now the real fun starts as Slash enters stage. I must admit that I think Slash is the best guitar player since the 70�s, but he also manages to get the best out of Wood. Slash�s tone and feel are actually really reminiscent of Mick Taylor, you can hear he has been listening closely to Taylor�s work. It starts with a ripping version of Testify (not included in the concert menu, only accessible through the tracks menu!) were we have a duelling Slash and Wood. I haven�t heard Wood playing these kind of lead guitar since the �75 and �78 tour! The Groovin� You, which resembles the shaky approach of the Barbarians, but now spiced up with excellent lead guitar by Slash. Next is the Faces� old Flying, and here Wood also seems inspired by Slash�s guitar work, as he start duelling again. This version really rocks! And now the best of the evening: a beautiful version of Far East Man, with excellent slide work by Ronnie and Slash who�s doing tasty fills much in the original way of Taylor. �Imagine� is quite o.k., but just not my favourite song. Next is Guns �N Roses Paradise City, which Slash starts with the riff of �Just Like Anything�, of the Slash�s Snakepit Album �Ain�t Live Grand� . Slash�s work is nice here, but it is clear the band is struggling to follow him as he speeds it up. Then a perfect �Crotch Music� of Wood�s I�Ve Got My Own Album To Do (now called �Kilburn/Crotch Music!), with again excellent work by Slash and Wood, who really seems to be challenging each other. Stay With Me is a nice closer, but a little shaky as Wood seems to more into pleasing the crowd.
All in all an excellent DVD, which really surprised me. I think that Wood shows his best playing in years here, even if his voice is sometimes a bit lost. Even if you don�t like G �N R, the memory of Taylor really shines through in the work of Slash, who choose to keep a lower profile than he had in Guns. IN my opinion the best side project of a Stone since Jagger�s Wandering Spirit and Wood�s excellent Slide on This. Come on now Stones �it�s your turn for a great DVD of a club show, and ask Slash to join in!
Mathijs
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Gazza |
>I haven�t heard Wood playing these kind of lead guitar since the �75 and �78 tour!
Told y'all at the time he was in good form..and that was BEFORE he got sober!!
I was at the Dublin show,Mathijs, a few days earlier and went there with only medium expectations...but I thought it was a superb show and that Woody and Slash were great (I've never been a huge GNR fan although obviously the guy's a terrific musician - this show just blew me away,it was a great evening) |
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Cooper |
Where can i buy one of the Woody DVD's? |
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Starfucker |
Mathijs,
Do you know where Miss You can be found. It's on the back of the DVD but I can't find the track on the disc... |
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Mathijs |
I am looking for that one myself too. There's a small snippet at the end of the No Beginner back-stage material, but that's all I know.
Mathijs |
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Starfucker |
Yes, but there's also a small snippet of IORR and that one isn't on the box....
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