IQ - Stage

Year of Release: 2006
Label: GEP Records Ltd.
Catalog Number: SPV 79207 2DVD
Format: DVD
Total Time: 00:00:00

It is safe to say IQ belongs to the very top in progressive rock. Since the release of their debut album Tales From The Lush Attic in 1993, they have left their mark on progressive music. Singer Peter Nicholls has both a distinctive voice and stage presence, characteristic to IQ. And what about guitarist Mike Holmes? How often did I read about a 'Holmesian solo' or similar expressions? The humour that emanates from John Jowitt, who is not only a nice guy, but a great bass player. And the man who personally introduced me to the music of IQ (although he didn't know that at the time), Martin Orford? Excellent keyboard player. It was his play, several years ago when he and Gary Chandler opened for Pendragon, that got me interested in the music of IQ. I've been a fan ever since.

The band did suffer a setback, when after 23 years, drummer Paul Cook left the band. Fortunately they found a very good replacement in Andy Edwards, and a year after he joined the band, he is making his debut on the third official live DVD. And boy, do they get better each time? The first DVD, Subterranea, had a questionable 5.1 mix, but the IQ20 DVD, was much better and contained a great show. And since the boys, or rather Mike Holmes, are getting the hang of it, Stage is once again a flawless DVD. A feast for your ears and eyes.

A first glance at the setlist might make you frown: two almost identical setlists? What are we paying for? But once you view both DVDs, you see the value, as each DVD has a unique concert to offer. Unique in atmosphere. DVD one offers the show IQ played at NEARfest, July 2005. This is an amazing performance that fully conveys what IQ is all about: beautiful melodies, excellent compositions and superb musicians. The second disc is a performance by the band at a German festival in Burg Herzberg, one week after the NEARfest show, on July 16th 2005. This is a show that emphasizes the rock side of the band a bit more, while the NEARfest is a very peaceful performance, where the band really feels at ease.

As said, Nicholls has a distinctive voice, but I really like it very much and that also goes for his stage presence. He really brings the music to life with his theatrical behaviour on stage. That said, on Stage he is himself, no paint on his face, but still enough theatrics to visualize the emotion of the music. The band plays very tight and I can only say both discs are a delight to watch. Even with so many similar songs on both discs, it doesn't feel like that when you watch them.

Honestly ... I am at a loss for words ... how to describe more or better how good this release is without starting to repeat myself? I don't know. All I can say is: this is a superb release that you should enjoy. I rest my case.

Tracklisting:

Disc One (Dark Matter live at NEARfest): Sacred Sound / It All Stops Here / Leap of Faith / Born Brilliant / The Seventh House / Drum Solo / No Love Lost / Widow's Peak / The Narrow Margin (middle section) / Guiding Light / Harvest Of Souls / Awake And Nervous / The Last Human Gateway (middle section) / The Wake

Disc Two (Dark Matter live at Burg Herzberg Festival): Sacred Sound / It All Stops Here / Born Brilliant / The Seventh House / Drum Solo / No Love Lost / Leap Of Faith / The Wake / Harvest Of Souls / Awake And Nervous

Musicians:
Peter Nicholls - vocals
Martin Orford - keyboards, backing vocals
Michael Holmes - guitar, keyboards
Andy Edwards - drums
John Jowitt - bass

Discography:
Tales From The Lush Attic (1983)
The Wake (1985)
Nine In A Pond Is Here (1985)
Living Proof (1986)
Nomzamo (1987)
Are You Sitting Comfortably? (1989)
J'ai Pollette D'arnu (1991)
Ever (1994)
Forever Live (1996)
Subterranea (1997)
Seven Stories Into 98 (1998)
The Lost Attic (1999)
Subterranea: The Concert (2000)
The Seventh House (2001)
The Archive Collection - IQ20: Live In Aschaffenburg (2003)
Dark Matter (2004)
Frequency Tour CD 1 (2008)
Frequency Tour CD 2 (2008)
Frequency (2009)
The Wake: Live At De Boerderij (2010)
The Wake (Deluxe Edition) (2010)
Re:Mixed (2011)
The Archive Collection - IQ30: Live In Zoetermeer (2012)
Tales From The Lush Attic 2013 Remix (2013)
The Road Of Bones (2014)
The Road Of Bonus (2014)
Live On The Road Of Bones (2016)
Tales From A Dark Christmas (2017)
Resistance (2019)
A Show Of Resistance (2020)

Subterranea: The Concert Video (VHS) (2000)
Subterranea: The Concert DVD (DVD) (2002)
IQ20 - The Twentieth Anniversary Show (DVD) (2004)
Live From London (DVD) (2005)
Stage (DVD) (2006)
Forever Live (DVD) (2007)
Scrape Across The Sky (2016)
Live Like This (2020)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: January 25th 2007
Reviewer: Marcel Haster
Score:
Artist website: www.iq-hq.co.uk
Hits: 3337
Language: english