This somewhat confusing Blu-ray/DVD compilation of overlapping Peter Gabriel concerts from the early 2000s includes 2003's Growing Up Live on Blu-ray and 2004's Still Growing Up Live on DVD. Filmed in Milan, the 17-song Growing Up Live is a relatively large-scale theatrical experience, with Gabriel at one point controlling a video camera (during the song “The Barry Williams Show”) and flashing images of the audience onto a pillar-like screen. In the song “Growing Up,” Gabriel is swallowed whole by a crystal-like sphere and kind of walk-rolls it over his in-the-round stage (a novelty that wears off quickly). More sedate but musically compelling performances include a funky, playful “Sledgehammer” and a fantastic reading of “In Your Eyes,” during which the singer-songwriter revives the old feeling of onstage community that he so gracefully created back in the 1980s. The 13-song Still Growing Up Live, filmed in venues across Europe, is a less-successful sequel, featuring many repeat entries without the earlier stage gimmicks. While Gabriel and his band are more contained here and the accent is decidedly more on the music, the video direction is distracting and even ugly, full of weird camera angles, rapid cutting, and extreme close-ups of half-faces. The intent seems to be to make the concert look like anything but a concert, even as Gabriel pulls out high-drama classics such as “Red Rain” and “Biko,” and finds mesmerizing rhythms in “White Ashes.” Extras spread across this release include the behind-the-scenes film Still Growing Up Unwrapped by Anna Gabriel—Peter's daughter—as well as behind the scenes featurettes, interviews, and bonus performances. The separate DVD set Still Growing Up Live & Unwrapped (without Growing Up Live) is also available for $29.98. Presented in DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on the Growing Up Live Blu-ray disc, and DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo on the DVD disc, this is recommended, overall. (T. Keogh)
Peter Gabriel: Growing Up Live + Still Growing Up Live & Unwrapped
(2004) 402 min. Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $34.98. Eagle Rock Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 32, Issue 1
Peter Gabriel: Growing Up Live + Still Growing Up Live & Unwrapped
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