A Mind-Blowing Live Show With An Extra Helping Of Emotion
Meat Loaf’s is a sound which, to my ears, should translate to give an excellent live show. Indeed Mr. Loaf has a reputation for pouring his heart and soul into every note he sings, he has been known to pass out on stage in the past. Over two hours of Meat Loaf live is an intimidating thing, regardless of whether you then have to review it or not, Meat Loaf is a big scary guy, and a couple of his band look like they could feature in your nightmares. It is my belief that Meat Loaf may actually be possessed by demons. Let’s hope that this DVD lives up to all the expectations.
In short, Meatloaf doesn’t disappoint. The show is every bit as theatrical as the music being performed, with the band set up in front of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, leaving plenty of room for Meat to run around in the front. The show begins with the curtain drawn, a rhythm pounded on timpanis and tomtoms, only Meat Loaf and guitarist Paul Crook visible. The guitar part begins. Meat pounds his drum and, perfectly on cue, the curtains fly open revealing the rest of the band, complete with attractive women (singers, C.C. and Patti Russo) in long coats that you just know there’s not a whole lot underneath. Meat Loaf finds a guitar somewhere and straps it on; he doesn’t seem to play it a whole lot, I guess it’s mainly there to ensure that nobody doubts his status as a rock legend. And thus, the show is on the proverbial road and continues in such a theatrical and well-rehearsed manner for the next two hours. All the greatest songs are visited; ‘Dead Ringer For Love’, ‘Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad’, ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, they’re all here.
‘The Neverland Express; the greatest rock and roll band in the world,’ exclaims Meat Loaf, before the band do their best to prove him right. The interplay of guitar work from Paul Crook and Randy Flowers is amply sufficient to hold the show together, with Crook seeming to take the spotlight of lead guitar and Flowers holding down the rhythm although both have their share of solos. Indeed, some of the highlights of the DVD are found in the dueling guitar solos between the two guitarists, Flowers’ rock and roll style versus Crook’s wailing vibratos. Between them and Mark Alexander (piano), the Meat Loaf sound is defined; hard rocking rock ‘n’ roll, all the way down. Possibly the most impressive thing to hit the viewer from the beginning is the quality of the vocals, both lead and harmony. Meat Loaf and Patti Russo have fantastically powerful and emotive voices that work to compliment one another so perfectly in the male/female dialogue that is very much a part of Meat Loaf’s songs such as ‘Paradise By The Dashboard Light’.
Meat Loaf doesn’t just get on stage and play his songs, as so many artists do nowadays. No, every song here is a performance in its own right. There is genuine emotion, and the sexual tension between Meat and Patti is almost believable. Meat Loaf really puts his all into the show, and the audience love it. At one point, he goads them, telling the Melbourne audience that they sing like people from Sydney. He is everyone’s short-tempered PE teacher, yelling at them, telling them they are useless, telling them to sing again, and this time louder. The show has everything; good music, good musicians, a good performance, variety and the sex appeal inherent in the lyrics to virtually every song and also provided by Patti Russo and C.C. (backing vocals). Part of the show sees a group of scantily-clad dancers taking the stage with Meat. This is very much a sexy show. It is a little odd then, to see a group of pre-pubescent boys take the stage a couple of songs later. The Australian Boys’ Choir perform ‘Testify’ with the band, and look almost entirely out of place at such a sex-filled show. That being said, it is definitely a successful collaboration.
Various props appear to aid the stories of the songs; Meat Loaf really acts out everything he sings. In places, one would be forgiven for mistaking him for Satan, he sneers and grins at the audience and it is not unusual to see him throw his head back in maniacal laughter. I know I have said it before, but Meat Loaf is up there with some of the greatest performers ever. His music may not be your cup of tea, after two hours of it I think its fair for anyone to feel a bit over-Loafed, but you cannot find fault with him as a performer. Anybody who enjoys music of the rock persuasion will enjoy watching Meat Loaf perform. Even those who are not fans unwittingly know many of the more famous songs, and maybe even the lesser known pieces, as, to many, Meat Loaf’s songs seem relatively formulaic; Meat Loaf loves a girl, or wants to sleep with her, or whatever, but he doesn’t quite love her as much as she wants. There’s some wailing guitars, probably a twinkling piano and, in this case, a whole lot of orchestral drama. Fun for all the family. I did, however, find my mind wandering in the middle of yet another ten-minute operatic ballad complete with mournful strings and warbling vocals. I’d recommend this to anyone who thinks they might like Meat Loaf, as the performance is inspiring to watch and the music inspiring to hear.
