DVD Rating Audio: A Video: B Extras: B Overall: A

When I wrote the review of the Mean Fiddler concert that I attended on this tour I said that I hoped that someone had captured this on DVD, as it was one of the best gigs that I had ever attended. My wish was granted, and this DVD captures the complete gig from Tilburg on 17th November 2003. As well as Neal, there were seven musicians on stage that night, but given the multi-instrument status of most of them they managed to create a sound that was even bigger. How Eric Brenton managed to keep track of what instrument he was playing at any point within any song, let alone the correct notes, is beyond me (guitar, violin, flute, pedal steel, mandolin, and he sang as well!). But this gig is about Neal as he is telling his own story, it really is his testimony. There has been nothing but praise for the album from the prog press, and for me it is one of the best albums he has released (in whatever guise) and this DVD manages to capture the power of recreating this extremely complex music onstage.

Tilburg is a good venue, so they used lots of lights and there were loads of cameras as well, which means that there are lots of angles within the concert so it is always interesting. The second DVD contains the encores (including a rousing version of “The Light”), plus a tour documentary. This gives a fascinating insight into the tour and some of the travails they went through. This is worth watching for the first rehearsal alone, where the camera focuses on Mike Portnoy as he plays an extremely complex passage – boy that man can really play drums. This is a release that anyone who saw Neal on tour will have to have, and if you have been wondering what all the fuss is about then I highly recommend this.

Review by Kev Rowland
March 25, 2005