Portishead - PNYC - Live At The Roseland Theatre [1998]

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Primary Contributor : Portishead

Product Details

Director : Dick Carruthers
Actor : Portishead
Format : Live, PAL
Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0044005864496
Label : Universal Island
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 0
Release Date : 2002-04-29
Running Time : 93minutes
UPC : 044005864496

ASIN : B00005UJAV

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

This famous filming of Portishead's first-ever live gig in New York--along with the accompanying album--is now considered a modern classic. The concert itself is a wonder to behold, as Portishead (Geoff Barrows, Adrian Utley, Beth Gibbons, Andy Smith) smoke cigarettes, chew gum, scratch records and behave in a generally hip manner while around them the 30-piece New York philharmonic orchestra and a five-piece horn ensemble do their thing. The performance and subsequent recording of this gig has, in some cases, offered a preferred body of work to Portishead's studio based albums, proving that live gigs do not necessarily equal poor production values. From the haunting "All Mine" to the ever-popular "Glory Box" the energy from the band members and the welcome addition of a live orchestra adds a breathtaking edge to the well-known tunes. The camera adds to the magic of the concert, sweeping majestically across the action and the audience, helping to capture the slow, silky essence of this urbanized opulence.

On the DVD: As well as re-EQ'ing all of the music, the band have provided extra musical snippets, footage from their world tour (which followed this concert), an exclusive acoustic version of "Wandering Star", all of their music videos and the cultish short film they made in 1994. The "road tour" section is quite dull, shot from a car racing around provincial England (Portishead, mainly). The music videos, by and large, are more interesting and artful, particularly the video for "Only You" which is undeniably beautiful. The parting shot is their short movie "To Kill A Dead Man" (directed, shot, acted and scored by the band), which is entertaining, despite the hefty disclaimer that precedes it. All in all this is a very comprehensive overview of one of the 90s' most revered bands and a worthy purchase even for those who have the original VHS edition.--Paul Sullivan

Customer Reviews

Essential. Essential. Great performance. (2008-07-10)

Make no mistake. If you like Portishead, you HAVE to get this DVD. Out of maybe 30 music DVDs I own, this stands in my Top5 for sure. Excellent video/audio quality, excellent performance, Beth's singing is greater than ever, the orchestra is a plus, and all these mini movies/videoclips at the extras are also great. The playlist is heavily focused in the "Portishead" album (which is a plus for me).If you like Portishead, get this Dvd and then you will love them! That's what happened to me anyway..

Sheer magic (this refers to the CD edition) (2002-11-12)

I love Portishead. Ever since I properly listened to 'Dummy', I was hooked. This live album shows why. You start with the orchestra tuning up, the usual sounds of violins and cellos geting themselves ready. Then the band decide to start, a haunting wave of electronic music, seductively shifting it's tone; then it happens. Beth Gibbons sings.

For those of you who don't know Beth Gibbons, she is arguably one of the greatest female vocalists ever, definitely of the last 15 years. Here she is on fire, filling the opening number with aching sadness before launching into 'Cowboys' with a passion that is quite frankly frightening.

The playlist is well chosen, shifting from the sublime 'Only You' to the sinister and scary 'Over'. This last track shows Gibbons at her most ferocious, with the drumbeats and turntables beinhd her going nuts. When this song crescendos, it's a 'hide behind the sofa' moment. Then they move in 'Glorybox', before launching into an amazing version of 'Sour Times' which ends the main act. All these tracks show just what an amazing voice Beth has, but it is on the 1st track of the encore that you realise just exactly how wonderful she can be. This version of 'Roads' (possibly my favourite track from 'Dummy') is heart-breakingly, soul-achingly beautiful, mournful, fragile, the sort of music you could fall in love in time to.

Overall, this is amazing, superlative live material from a band at their peak. Buy this, their studio albums and Gibbons' solo debut, you will not regret it.

pity about a couple of things... (2002-05-13)

about time this was released - a brilliant concert (apart from the last couple of songs which are completely ruined by the american audience clapping very badly along to them - grrrr)

I would give this 5 stars as the extras are great too but... why isn't the promo video for their most famous single "Glory Box" included? A criminal oversight :(

A rare moment of absolute perfection (2001-12-13)

This is simply stunning. I cannot praise it enough. It was quite clearly one of those rare moments when you just had to be there. I unfortunately wasn't, but when watching this I can almost feel like I didn't miss out. This was basically an experiment to take Portishead's raw, crusty sound on the road with the benefit of an orchestra. The result was/is breathtaking and enchanting, mysterious and moody, warm and soulful. Everything here is classic - this really is Portishead at their absolute best - in the words of vocalist (vastly insufficient terminology in this case) Beth at the end of the concert; "it wasn't meant to sound like that!".Previously available on VHS and Audio CD, and now quite rightly transferred across to DVD (I have been waiting for this for *ages*!), it is an absolute essential purchase. BUY IT!

amazing (2000-07-27)

an absolutley amazing video better than the nirvana unplugged session and they turn strangers into an amazing encore. buy this video

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