Mike + the Mechanics + Paul Carrack: Live at Shepherd's Bush London

As one of the founding members of the British progressive rock band Genesis, Mike Rutherford had already been a member of rock ‘n roll royalty for almost 20 years when he formed Mike + the Mechanics as a side project in 1985. The band, which has gone through various incarnations (including a resurrection in 2010), is best known for songs from the late ‘80s and ‘90s featuring vocalists Paul Young and Paul Carrack, with Rutherford as the guitar god anchor on hits such as “All I Need is a Miracle,” “Silent Running,” and “A Beggar on a Beach of Gold.” After Young died in 2000, the group re-emerged as Mike + the Mechanics + Paul Carrack, releasing the album Rewired in 2004. This September 2004 performance from Shepherd's Bush Empire in London serves up a 14-song set, featuring cuts from the new CD and earlier tunes (although, oddly, not their best known hit, “All I Need is a Miracle”). Altogether this is a lively club show put on by seasoned pros who are clearly having a great time being together after a hiatus. Presented in DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include seven music videos and an interview with Rutherford and Carrack. Since Rutherford never hit the big time like Genesis band mates Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel, this will likely have limited appeal. Still, it should be considered a strong optional purchase. (T. Fry)