Live [DVD] [2008]

This DVD is a recording of a concert they did in Toronto just before the band broke up and therefore has an extra importance to it. This DVD lasts only 56 minutes and you wish it could be longer. Before the songs there is an introduction of the musicians who are playing who are Deborah Harry (vocals), Clem Burke (drums), Chris Stein (guitar), Eddie Martinez (jazz guitar), James Destri (keyboards) and Nigel Harrison (bass guitar).
The first song is "Rapture". In this you notice particularly the brass players and that the band seems quiet and that Harry seems tired. "Island Of Lost Souls" is next and Deborah seems happier and the brass players are still prominent. Next is "Danceway" which starts with the band attempting to get the crowd to liven up. There is lots of energy here and for once it feels like Blondie. Destri is adding to the vocals. All the guitarists are lively and the brass players still playing.
"The Tide Is High" starts with a big reception from the crowd. The brass is prominent. Martinez is psyching the crowd up with clapping and Harry dances quite a bit. Then "Heart Of Glass" which again starts with the band trying to get the crowd going. The reception for the song is big. Harry puts her hair down and starts singing on a podium she seems into the concert by now and Harrison seems to be enjoying himself. The stage goes dark with flashing lights halfway through. Harry is lively dancing and waving and the guitarists are jumping around a bit as well.
Next is "Hanging On The Telephone" with Burke's drumming noticeable and Destri adding to the vocals. "Dreaming" receives a big reception. Burke is again awesome on the drums and Harrison seems to be having fun. "One Way Or Another" starts with the camera focused on Martinez's guitar. Harry seems to be enjoying this one. Stein and Martinez are playing the fool. This is an interesting song to watch. "War Child" is next. The brass is back in this song. Stein and Martinez continue to fool around. The song however sounds very good live and you even see Burke wearing a union jack top. At the end of this song they get off the stage.
They then play a song called "Start Me Up" which is not one of there's but Harry looks good in the new clothes she puts on for this song. Martinez is again acting the fool. The final song is called "Call Me" which receives a big reception. Harry and Destri seem to be enjoying it. Martinez again playing the comedian. Harry exits on a lift that drops down into the stage and then the rest of the band leaves.
Throughout the concert there is a lot of cheering and comments from Harry between songs. I felt it was a shame such songs from the "Eat To The Beat" album such as "Atomic" and "Union City Blue" were not on this as well as perhaps "Denis". It is an interesting DVD but Eddie Martinez steals the show with his spectacular performance. But it is worth getting as it is a good example of what they were like live when they were still at their peak.

having been away for 17 years, blondie made a massive comeback in 1999 with the brilliant(and successful) album No Exit, and single Maria. to co-incide with this they also undertook a world tour, and this DVD is the invitation/competition winner only concert from New York.
the full tracklisting is as follows:
Dreaming
Hanging on the Telephone
Screaming Skin
Forgive and Forget
Shayla/Union City Blues
Sunday School
Maria
Call Me
Boom Boom in the Zoom Zoom Room
In the Flesh
Rapture
Rip Her to Shreds
X-Offender
Atomic
One Way or Another
Heart of Glass
Bonus: video of Nothing is Real but the Girl.

this DVD is amazing!! really it is one of the best concerts i have ever seen, i think Blondie and Debbie were at their peak during this period. Debbies vocals were better than ever(no doubt having benefitted from working with the Jazz Passengers) and the rest of the group were just better musicians, who actually look they are enjoying themselves again.

highlights include Dreaming, with clem burke at his hyperactive best, which moves flawlessly into the wonderfully adrenalised hanging on the telephone.
one of the new tracks screaming skin is a wonderful scar number, that just calls out to be played live and at volume!
shayla/union city blue is amazing, debbies vocals on shayla are great, then the song moves straight into union city blue, with some of the best drumming i have ever witnessed by clem burke.
sunday girl benefits from a sample of the mickie and sylvia song, love is strange(of dirty dancing fame!!) while call me features a new intro that i have not witnessed during any of their other shows.
boom boom in the zoom zoom room is a slinky jazz number, while in the flesh is beautiful as ever(again this is the best rendition of that song i have heard them do!!)
as possibly my fave blondie song, rapture is a highlight as always, while atomic is wonderful if for no other reason then debbie always demands great audience participation on the line "Atomic", similarly the audience participation on heart of glass is great, and as always it is the perfect song to end the show on!!!

i can not over emphasize how brilliant this DVD/concert is, i recomend this even to the casual blondie fan as you will be blown away. this dvd even has a bonus video of nothing is real but the girl(the second single from the no exit album) so it can't be bad.

BUY IT!!!!

This dvd is from their 1999 comeback. I saw Blondie live that year at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, and they blew me away. They did storming versions of Call Me and Atomic and it was good to hear the new songs, Maria and Nothing is real but the girl. I found the versions of Call Me and Atomic a bit limp on this dvd,(compared to the Glastonbury concert), especially Chris Stein's guitar work, he seems almost asleep. Maybe that's why they hired a younger second guitarist to augment the sound. Though these versions have grown on me since. Debbie's voice sounds great though, and even if she has aged, she still has that feline quality that made her famous. I remember people bing cruel about her at this time, as to how she was chubby etc, but that was unfair as she still looks good on this dvd (and who wouldn't put on a few curves after almost 20 years?). Although this dvd doesn't quite capture the great vibe of their UK performance, it's great to see Blondie back, and still making new songs. Long live Debbie, nobody sounds quite like her.