David Bowie: A Reality Tour
February 2005 Reviewed by: Anthony Di Marco Format: DVD	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

Pulling from over four decades of material, David Bowie gives his Dublin, Ireland audience a performance that's less theatrical than perhaps expected, but one that's still highly energetic. The rock giant stands front and center sporting blue denim and a guitar as he belts out 30 songs. Except for some subtle costume changes and a simple rear projection of images backing up each song, nothing dresses the stage except Bowie’s trademark locks, non-symmetrical irises and a voice that is forever burned into the ears of his fans.

Not all the songs are hits, and there are a few I have not heard in years. It doesn’t matter because Bowie, who was believed to have lost much of his edge after settling down, has got his mojo back. Classics like "Ashes to Ashes," "Fame," and a lovely rendition of "Under Pressure" take the spotlight. Guitarist Gail Ann Dorsey does a fabulous job channeling the spirit and voice of Freddie Mercury, while the rest of the band is at the top of its collective game. What we get is a gentler, more self-assured Bowie riding on a wave of material that speaks for itself. Visually, the overall effect is one of class and simplicity -- as if Bowie can finally sit back and rest on the quality of his music. He has nothing to prove and goes on his merry way performing for his beloved fans.

The performances are good enough to forgive a less-than-stellar presentation. The entire concert is bathed in the color of multiple lights that reveal Bowie and his band from the darkness. The effect, while tasteful, plays havoc with the MPEG compression, causing blocking artifacts and a distracting amount of noise to occur. Audio suffers from heavy compression and a bit too much sizzle.

It would have been nice to see some behind-the-scenes footage of Bowie letting his hair down or reminiscing about his past. Unfortunately the DVD includes zero extras. This should not discourage any fan of this classic talent from picking up this DVD, sitting back and enjoying some of the most perfectly crafted rock music ever made.

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