Take Us Alive: Boston 2009

First off, Extreme is the most underrated band in the history of rock/pop music. Casual listeners only know the band for "More Than Words" and maybe "Hole Hearted"; they are missing out on one of the tightest, musically-talented, funkiest groups to ever get a recording contract. I've been a fan of Extreme since I heard "Play With Me" during the mall scene in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure back in the late 80's...I had NO idea at the time who was playing that killer, classical-influenced guitar solo as the historical figures wrecked the mall, but I soon learned that it was Nuno Bettencourt and Extreme! Years later, they release "Pornograffiti" and "More Than Words" becomes a hit and that's all they are known for. What a shame.Extreme, as a band, have had their ups and downs. Their first album was decent and had some good cuts; their second (Pornograffiti) is arguably their best and commercially-successful disc and just about every track is catchy, funky, and awesome. Their third, III Sides to Every Story, is IMHO their best album, as it explores more of Nuno Bettencourt's songwriting and shows a little more of the band's versatility. Their next album, Waiting for the Punchline, saw the band switch to a new drummer and explore a little darker, grungier waters (as this album came out in the mid-90's). There are some good tracks on there (notably Nuno's acoustic atomic bomb, "Midnight Express"), but the album didn't see much commercial success. Their comeback album, Saudades de Rock, revisits the funky metal past of Extreme while throwing listeners and fans a curveball with songs influenced by today's sounds and bands. I definitely recommend this album for both casual listeners and fans of Extreme...songs like "Interface", "Last Hour", "King of the Ladies", and "Comfortably Dumb" are Extreme at its finest!As for the individual members themselves, Gary Cherone is about as entertaining of a frontman as you will ever find. His vocals are killer, his stage presence will wear you out just by watching him, and he never misses a beat or a note as he runs around the stage like a chicken without a head! Check out his vocal abilities during Extreme's tribute to Freddie Mercury from the early 90's (check it out on YouTube) when they played a Queen medley...they OWNED the crowd and Gary's vocals were unreal! Such a great voice, period!The rhythm section of bassist Pat Badger and (new) drummer Kevin Figueiredo are as tight and funky as two guys can get. They absolutely rock. Pat's vocals add to the great mix that is Extreme, and Kevin's flawless drumming on old and new Extreme songs makes you think he's always been the guy behind the kit (they've actually gone through a few, including original drummer Paul Geary, who now manages the band, and former 90's drummer Mike Mangini).Then there's the man, they myth, the legend, the guitar GOD...NUNO BETTENCOURT! I've played guitar for over 25 years, and the guy both inspires me to play and makes me want to never touch the instrument again, all at the same time! Nuno is truly the most underrated guitarist of all time. His rhythm playing, his soloing, his vocals, his haunting piano playing on "Ghost", his acoustic prowess on "Midnight Express"...the guy is the real deal and then some. If you play guitar, you need this DVD. If your jaw doesn't drop every time Nuno steps up and takes a solo, then there's something wrong with you. The guy is an alien...his playing on this DVD cements this. Check out his solos on all the tracks, but especially "Play With Me" and "It ('s A Monster)"! I am a HUGE Nuno fan, and for good reason!!!On a side note, I attended this concert when it came through town in August 2008. These guys exist to play live. The songs sound great on CD and DVD, but you really need to be there in person to appreciate their musical ability, their harmonies, and their stage show. They are the whole package for sure! The guys even stuck around after the concert to meet their fans, and they couldn't have been any nicer or down to earth. These are four guys that "get it" and know how to treat their fans.The DVD is awesome, the band is awesome, the songs are awesome (although I would like to see them resurrect "Tragic Comic" off III Sides to Every Story, one of their greatest tunes), and the quality of the DVD is awesome! I watched it on my Blu-Ray player on my 50" plasma and surround sound, and it was KILLER!!! The picture and sound quality are great, and the show took up every inch of my TV (no stretching or letter-box). The quality was so good, I don't think an official Blu-Ray release could look much better.To sum it all up, if you are a fan of funky, tight, guitar-driven, vocally-harmonized rock music, buy this DVD. You will not be disappointed!

This high-octane performance was non-stop action filled rocking songs! This live performance is incredible footage. Halfway through the concert when they played their first slow song "More Than Words" I was in search for some sedatives to calm me down. Up to that point you had Nuno (Guitarist) playing flawlessly with passion like I have never seen him before. Gary Cherone (Vocalist) was jumping all over stage like a cat in heat. At one point you see him riding on top of Pat Badgers (Bass Player) amp rodeo style. Another second he is on top of the P.A. Speaker singing like a sexual gargoyle. Another minute he is jumping in mid air like David Lee Roth. All this gymnastics while Pat and Kevin(drummer) are playing their hearts out. Their was so much wizard like playing on stage that you wondered if this performance is even real. Even Gary's vocals sounded better than ever. Nuno's solo were out of this world. They rocked as if it was their last day on Earth. Half way through the concert I was thinking of "When is the last time I saw people rocking the stage like that?" You know what? I can't remember. Extreme lives up to their name because they are the epitome rock band. Some people play rockband, and Extreme does it reality. After the concert was done I actually believe that Extreme according to this DVD are best live band in this kind of rock genre. I know that sounds extreme(no pun intended), but when you hear how they play tightly together, and how they added new syncopated arrangements to their older tunes you will find that I am not that off with that kind of statement. The tragic comedy of it all is if Extreme breaks up. I never seen a major rock band play live like Extreme. Obviously these people have found the fountain of youth and are capitalizing on their rare abilities. I also came to the conclusion watching this DVD that Gary Cherone is hugely underrated as a front man and as a singer. Where does all this energy come from? You might think by this review that maybe Extreme would be my favorite band, and the answer to that is no. They do not even come in my top 5, but I have to give credit when credit is due. I am highly familiar with their work and I love their songs. I just hope that Extreme continues touring and making new albums, cause they are getting better. They have a fresh look to them and even their newer songs from the Suadades de Rock album have a modern and progressive feel to it, while still remaining Extreme. Extreme and every musician in that band are underrated in their playing, writing, performing, etc. Please take them alive!

...then you never saw or heard Extreme in their prime. I say "prime", which I will say they still, with Cherone pushing 50 yrs old, are well enjoying. Lots of musicians are now still touring and selling a LOT of tickets well into their 50s, but can Mike Reno of Loverboy still jump around like he could when he was 21? It seems Cherone, lean and as much the wild frontman as he was when Extreme first played for free in the bay area more than 20 years ago, has lost nothing but the hair (due to haircut) and headband and has not gained a foot around his waist. They play songs from all their eras, every note perfect and live (not like Rush or Dream Theater, who play EXACTLY like their records live, that is boring), and entertain their hometown of Boston.Speaking of being in shape, Nuno Bettencourt reminds us of Joe Perry with lightening technique; his abs look like he spends his free time on infomercials selling ab workout equipment, while is fingers dance up and down almost mezmerising scales, putting most guitarists to shame. Here is a man who needs no rhythm player: he can play it all. The whole show is lots of fun and well worth the money you will spend!

performance live di una delle migliori band in assoluto.Gli Extreme sono sempre stati etichettati come band "Funky-Metal" che purtroppo, a mio avviso, non rende giustizia.Nuno Bettencourt è il miglior riff-maker di ogni tempo, i virtuosismi non mancano (meno male!) ma sempre con gusto e tanta, ma tanta melodia - Lui è il one-man-band.Pat Badger e Kevin Figuerado non fanno mancare MAI una sezione ritmica precisa e con un Groove UNICO...!!!G. Cherone... voce tiro... (se avete anche il DVD!!!) grandissima presenza scenica....un live necessario a contornare il grandissimo talento di questa band! CONSIGLIATISSIMO!

Boston hard vets Extreme have actually been tooling around for a few years on the comeback trail but this DVD (or CD) just reasserts that they are all the way back. They absolutely rock out the back catalogue and throw in a few from last years CD to live perfection. Nuno is a monster. His riffs are one of a kind and as most know his solos are truly masterwork. But a band excels live when all four corners are working at peak performance. And this is where Extreme knock everybody else over. From lead singer Gary Cherone to the stunning back-ups by Nuno and Pat Badger, flawless. Drumming and chops, check. Get a little adlib and extended jam, bring it on. Extreme got the "hit" with a ballad but what this live show proves is that they are one of the best when it comes to smokin' hard rock groove as Cupid's Dead, Its a Monster, Comfortably Dumb and Get the Funk Out attest.

DVDにレビューが集中していたので、CDについてレビューします。長らく公式ライヴ盤が発売されなかったエクストリームが、再結成後に発表した待望のライヴ盤です。このライヴ盤の魅力は、「過去の名曲を現在のサウンドで聴ける」、「曲目はキャリアを総括するベスト仕様」、そしてDVDと比較したCDの魅力は、「DVDよりも音がいい！（マジです！）」映像付きのショウを楽しむならDVDですが、純粋に音を楽しむなら絶対にCDの方がいいです。ヘッドホンやイヤホンで聴くよりも、やはりスピーカーでちょっと（いや、かなり）大きめの音で浴びるように聴くのがオススメです。ご近所には100分だけご容赦願いましょう。基本的にはサウダージの延長線上の音で、特にリズム隊のサウンドが素晴らしいです。必ずしもタイトじゃないけどドカドカうるさくて楽しいドラム、ギターに追随して単音リフでも更にビッグに聴かせるベース。ギターもボーカルも生々しい録音で、ちょっと音割れてるけど迫力があります（音割れはDVDも同様）。地下室で爆音の演奏がされているような、独特なサウンドになっています。曲目もデカダンス‾から始まる名曲のオンパレードですが、１枚目に収録された「Tell me something I don't Know」は、全編通じても屈指の名演です。ディレイを駆使したギターはバッキングもソロもスタジオ盤を遥かにに超えた迫力で、後半に向けて徐々に盛り上がっていく様は実にロックです。ここでのギターとドラムは聴き所です！「Midnight Express」はスタジオ盤も素晴らしいですが、ここではベースとドラムを伴い、より分厚いサウンドになっています。ライヴ盤ならではの空間的な広がりを意識しながら聴くと、より楽しめるでしょう。そして2枚目は「More than words」から始まる怒涛のラッシュ！特に「Ghost」から「cupid's dead」への繋ぎとその本編、続く「Take us alive」の素晴らしさ！これは是非聴いて確かめてほしいです。ポルノの加工されまくったスタジアムなサウンドもいいですが、より生々しいサウンドで聴く「Get the funk out」は、スタジオ盤と全く違う魅力があります。最後は大団円の「Hole Hearted」・・・完璧です。「スタジオ盤と比較しても遜色ない」といったカッチリした演奏を楽しむのではなく、「ミュージシャンシップ全開のライブならではの魅力」を楽しむ一枚と言えます。高い演奏力に裏打ちされた奔放なプレイを堪能しましょう！

Nuno et sa bande reviennent hanter nos cages à miel après un silence assourdissant de 13 années, et avec un nouvel opus suivit d'une tournée mondiale dont le présent DVD expose le menu à BOSTON en août 2009. J'avais lâché les garçons après un quelque peu décevant "WAITING FOR THE PUNCHLINE" en 95 et je retrouve avec une grande joie 4 frétillants quadragénaires, affutés et pro jusqu'au bout des ongles. Le moins que l'on puisse dire, c'est que le talentueux six-cordistes (et accessoirement pianiste) BETTENCOURT fait son affaire avec une maestria décontractée et décoiffante ; y'à qu'à voir ses affolantes envolées de manches sur "WANNA PLAY" ou "MIDGNIHT EXPRESS" ! Tout aussi athlétique, Gary CHERONE, est une véritable pub ambulante pour les clubs de fitness avec ses mouvements toniques sur tous les angles de la scène, virevolant, tel un DAVID LEE ROTH des grands jours. Bien sûr, la voix est toujours là avec un je ne sais quoi en plus, dû aux années et aux galères correspondantes. Le combo est complété par le bassiste BADGER et le petit dernier Kevin FIGUEIREDO aux baguettes, avec son look seventies baba, qu'il n'est pas lorsqu'il comme un furieux sur ses fûts, tel un BONHAM des grandes heures. Bref, c'est un live tonique, bien filmé, aux images limpides et avec 4 bonus vidéo qui agrémentent le package. EXTREME est de retour ! qu'on se le dise !

I saw the band at the end of 2008 at their Leeds gig, which, being a long time fan of the band was well worth the wait. This DVD for me was a well needed reminder of the kind of show these guy's can put on.Unfortunately for people attending the Leeds Gig, the sound was not up to scratch (no fault of the band's, i think it was probably the venue's fault), but Garry,Nuno,Pat & Kevin still managed to put on an absolutely amazing show.This DVD shot at their Boston home town gig had crystal clear 5.1 sound and was very professionally produced as it managed to put together the intensity of the bands performance from the well practiced close harmony vocals in "Star" to the very tight and energetic performance of the medley of "Kid Ego, Little Girls, Teachers Pet and Play With Me".I very much look forward to seeing these guys perform in the future, until then this DVD will fill the gap.