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Movie:		7.0
Picture:		5.0
Sound:		8.0
Extras:		1.0
Score:		7.0

Director(s):	N/A
Writer(s):	None
Starring:	Rob Thomas
Genre:	Concert Film
Website:	http://www.soundstagedvd.com/
Release Date:	June 30, 2009

List Price:	19.99
Amazon:

I once read an interesting quote by LA Times music writer August Brown. He wondered if “the music you fall for between 18 and 22 is hard-wired to be the only music you really love in that insane, possessive, identity-crafting way for the rest of your life.” I pondered on this thought for some time, for it’s very true that the music I loved in that hectic four year period of my life is music that is no doubt very near and dear to me. That time period has actually only passed rather recently for me though, and I wonder if the music of that bittersweet era will continue to grow and become even more treasured to me in the years ahead. I think it’s likely, but at the moment the music that I hold in the highest realms of nostalgic mystique is the music that I grew up with, and since I grew up in the ‘90s a lot of that music was the radio friendly pop-rock music of our last decade. Bands like the Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Fastball and especially the often maligned Matchbox 20 would find their albums in near constant rotation in my CD player for extended periods of time. Matchbox 20 held an even bigger place in my heart than just about any other band of that era. Their debut album was the first CD I ever purchased, basically putting an end to my sad little cassette collection, and was played to the point of overkill. I look back at Matchbox 20 (now going by Matchbox Twenty) and I see how their debut album was really just a couple good singles and some filler. But one thing still shows itself after all these years, lead singer Rob Thomas has one hell of a captivating voice.

Thomas gained solo fame when he added vocals to one of the biggest hit songs of all time, “Smooth” off of Carlos Santana’s comeback album Supernatural. From there it didn’t take long for Thomas to tap the mainstream viability of his voice. In 2005, after two more Matchbox Twenty albums, Thomas released his first solo album Something To Be. The album was terrifically successful, debuting as the #1 record in America. Four years later, after getting back together and releasing a bit of new material with his former band, Thomas is now set to release his second full length solo project titled Cradlesong along with his first solo concert DVD simultaneously. The concert, which was filmed at the beautiful Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, is a taste of both past and present and for fans of Rob Thomas, it’s definitely worth your time.

The show is thankfully a mix of songs from both Thomas’ debut solo album and his Matchbox Twenty catalog. Starting off with an enjoyable rendition of “Something To Be” off of the album of the same name, Thomas plays a good portion of his solo material while sprinkling in older songs to spice things up. These songs include a revamped version of “3 AM,” a cover of the David Bowie song “Let’s Dance” and a surprising acoustic version of “Smooth.” It’s a good thing there are as many surprises as there are seeing as how a good deal of the songs off of Something To Be begin to get stagnant after a while, leaving songs like a scaled back version of “Bent” and a hauntingly beautiful performance of “You Won’t Be Mine” to save face. It’s not that Thomas isn’t charismatic and affecting though. Whether he’s behind a guitar, behind a piano or just pacing the stage, Thomas is a joy to watch as he pours his impassioned voice into each and every song he performs.

Though the music and performances featured on the DVD are more or less what you’d expect, what’s unexpected is the look of the film itself. Despite being in one of the most beautiful places anyone could ever attend a concert at, Live at Red Rocks does very little to captivate the viewer with the surrounding beauty of the venue. Literally cut into a mountain, the lights from he show shining across the towering red rocks that surround the stage, Red Rocks Amphitheatre is one of the most famous and iconic stages of all time. I’ve seen a good number of concerts that were shot at Red Rocks and this has to be one of the worst uses of the amphitheatre for a film I’ve seen, the concert could literally have been shot at any outdoor stage in America and you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. This doesn’t necessarily take away from the music being performed, but it surely adds nothing to it.

The practice of releasing a concert DVD on the day of a new album release is a sound one. For those who will be heading out on Tuesday to pick up Rob Thomas’ Cradlesong, you should think about checking out Live At Red Rocks, which will no doubt be a treat for those who are faithful enough to buy the new album on the day of release. Thomas and his one of a kind voice is something I rarely tire of, and despite some of the sluggish moments of the concert and the untapped potential of the film’s venue, Live At Red Rocks should be an entertaining watch for anyone who calls themselves a fan.

Bonus Features
Video for the song “Street Corner Symphony” which was shot at the same Red Rocks concert.