Where the Wild Things Are
by Steve Vai
List Price:
Our Price: $13.70
You Save: $8.24 (37%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.49 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Steve VaiDirector: Steve Vai
Brand: RED Distribution
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 240 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-09-29
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Favored Nations
Movie Reviews of Where the Wild Things Are
Movie Review: Far and away the BEST recorded Vai performance
Summary: 5 Stars
Well over a decade of touring behind his own music with his own band after years of being a "Hired Gun" (albeit a Hired Gun of *tremendous* talent and technical ability) for the likes of Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and others, Vai has taken a "cue" (if you'll pardon the pun) of his orchestral work with Holland's Metropole Orkest and disbanded his touring band that had existed with different players but the same format since 1995. Even as a longtime fan, I had grown tired of *two* additional backing guitarists (with one doubling on keyboards and Billy Sheehan, an extraordinary bassist but one who very much plays as a "Bass Guitarist", virtually playing guitar lines an octave below) on-stage with Vai and therefore able to play the EXACT harmonies, overlapping parts, and generally sounding almost exactly like his studio albums.
However, from his aforementioned scoring his music for an Orchestra and having a show recorded and released on CD & DVD (as Steve Vai: Visual Sound Theories) it appears that Steve felt the same way and for this tour set up an almost completely new band (only drummer Jeremy Colson and Rhythm Guitarist Dave Weiner were carried over) based around 2 violinist to better reflect both the orchestra sound as well as mindset: Ann Marie Calhoun & Alex DePue. Both are immense talents and bring a vast musical change to Vai's music compared to his previous bands. Each also has their own unique style that is captured beautifully on this release - Calhoun sounds much more classically-based and precise, whereas DePue has much more of a "Fiddler" aspect to his style and sounds far more wild and improvised. Together they complement each other terrifically, and when either playing their own parts, doubling or harmonizing with Vai, or in their soloing they bring a new energy I feel was lacking in Vai's last several tours due to the sheer over-abundance of multiple *guitar* parts played as well as heard sonically.
Special mention must go out to drummer Jeremy Colson and Bassist Bryan Beller. As opposed to former bassist Sheehan's guitar-like style, Beller is much more a BASS PLAYER in both the notes he plays and the tone he uses. Thus, his playing style creates a true "Rhythm Section" with Colson compared to Sheehan's playing far more with the guitars and not the drums. This hardly means Beller is a wallflower in this band - with the complexity of Vai's music and bass parts, he holds down the bottom-end with the energy and technical precision that only a Berklee School of Music Honors Graduate can, and truly shines during the "Rock" songs that the Violins and Rhythm Guitar sits out and all three (Lead Guitar, Bass & Drums) can spread out in the legendary "Power Trio" format such as in the song "Juice". On the other side of this, drummer Colson is frighteningly hard-hitting and yet capable of complex fills and time-signature changes while in lockstep with bassist Beller. These two make a fearsome duo, and I hope Vai has the ability to use them whenever he tours next.
...and then there's Steve "The Little Italian Virtuoso" Vai. He combines a technical ability on the guitar that few, if any can replicate. While I can understand how some "traditionalists" might be turned off by his wardrobe & guitar changes, on-stage persona and general "Showman" vibe, he's recognized that playing mostly instrumental pieces (he sings on a few numbers and does so well, but he's first and foremost a guitarist) indeed CALLS for his theatrics in the live venue. It's a catch-22: if not, people would be complaining that it's a "boring" show full of technical music and little else. Vai's on-stage playfulness, his banter between songs, and his love for music is clear and makes for a worthwhile show.
On a technical level, this release is MILES above Vai's 2001 "Live at the Astoria" DVD. The cost to shoot a fairly small-scale show has dropped dramatically between then and now, and the increase in the quality of Digital Camera and recording technology is readily apparent. This show simply *looks* & *sounds* far better than his previous release and is much better edited as well. His first solo DVD suffers from an overabundance of cheap and tacky low-budget "visual effects", the vast majority of which have been eliminated here, and when they do occasionally pop up they're at least much better looking and viewable. For the Vai fan, "Where The Wild Things Are" is the pinnacle of his craft, his art, and his ability to put on a really fun show!
Summary of Where the Wild Things Are
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE - DVD MovieSimilar DVD Movies
Steve Vai: Alien Love SecretsHal Leonard; Release date: 2006-10-31; DVD
Best price: $11.01
Price in other shops:
Jeff Beck: Performing This Week... Live at Ronnie Scott'sUni; Release date: 2009-03-31; DVD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Joe Satriani - Joe Satriani: Satriani Live!RED Distribution; Release date: 2006-10-31; DVD
Best price: $13.21
Price in other shops:
![Live at Budokan [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Live-at-Budokan-Blu-ray-B005JJSGBW-X.jpg)
Live at Budokan [Blu-ray]Release date: 2011-10-18; Blu-ray
Best price: $12.11
Price in other shops:
G3 - G3: Live in TokyoSony; Release date: 2005-10-25; DVD
Best price: $7.03
Price in other shops:
G3 - Live in ConcertSony; Release date: 2000-05-23; DVD
Best price: $7.53
Price in other shops:
Joe Satriani - Live in San FranciscoSony; Release date: 2001-08-21; DVD
Best price: $9.26
Price in other shops:
Steve Vai - Where the Other Wild Things AreRelease date: 2010-04-13; Music CD
Best price: $6.60
Price in other shops:
Steve Vai - Steve Vai - Live at the Astoria LondonRED Distribution; Release date: 2003-12-09; DVD
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops:
Visual Sound TheoriesRED Distribution; Release date: 2007-09-18; DVD
Best price: $7.49
Price in other shops: