"Roxy at the Apollo" makes me remember how stunned the band made me WAY back in 1974, right after "Country Life" was released. These guys acknowledged what the "Lester Bangs character" in "Almost Famous" said about rock and roll being dead. So Roxy, in effect, re-invented it! And I do have to say that I am EVER so grateful that Eno didn't deign to tour with the band in '01 - his "balding transvestite" appearance kind of scared me off the band's first 2 albums (althugh the music was fantastic!) NO problem - here, he's replaced by 2 stone-GORGEOUS Ladies, Lucy Wilkins and Julia Thornton, who handle keyboards/violin (no, Eddie Jobson's not along, either) and percussion. There's a guy, Colin Good, along on the ride too, and he plays "just" piano, thus freeing Bryan Ferry to run about the stage and...well, he ain't the greatest "front man," but let's not quibble. I said "just," when I mentioned Colin Good, because, I swear, it is sort of trite to say "he lives up to his name." Honestly, he sounds like he's "channelling" Chopin or Debussy! The original three other (MOST indispensible!) Roxy musicians are here too, Sax player, Andy Mackay, guitarist Phil Manzanera, and even drummer-extraordinare, Paul Thompson, augmented by noted session guitarist, Chris Spedding. The sound is absolutely LUSH, even though Ferry's not the vocalist he was.."last millineum," but the two Lady singers MORE than adequately hide any shortcomings. If you are a Roxy Music fan (a RABID fan, such as I) just ignore the other two Roxy DVD's, and right now, purchase this DVD. It truly is something to sit down with your kids and enjoy, showing them Rock and Roll's last gasp. (well...till the Ramones debuted in 1975, but this is a Roxy review...)
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