Long Island’s legendary rock/metal band, BLUE OYSTER CULT began their life as THE SOFT WHITE UNDERBELLY in 1969. It didn’t take long for Eric Bloom (vocals, guitars), Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (vocals, lead guitar), Alan Lanier (keyboards), and the Bouchard brothers (rhythm section) to master their craft and solidify the band as one of the premiere live acts ever to emerge from New York. In 1973, they released their first self titled album, and with the span of a few years, BLUE OYSTER CULT went on mainstream success with radio friendly (and critical) hits like Burning For You, Don’t Fear the Reaper, Godzilla, Take Me Away, and many more. The band headlined arenas for many years, matching the high level success of fellow rockers KISS, BLACK SABBATH, TED NUGENT, CHEAP TRICK, AEROSMITH, etc. BLUE OYSTER CULT eventually got lost in the shuffle during the 1980s, when Heavy Metal mutated into trendy hair bands or evil thrash music. After touring the planet for 15 years, the band eventually broke up. But true to their name, the hard working and creative efforts of BLUE OYSTER CULT acquired them a true cult following. Intense fan interest brought BLUE OYSTER CULT back to life in 1995, who added new blood in the form of ex-BLACK SABBATH drummer Bobby Rondinelli and Danny Miranda. The band has a rich history that could fill an entire book, but all BOC fans agree that the band’s greatest asset is their fiery live performance.

It is no accident then than BLUE OYSTER CULT’s label, Sanctuary Records/CMC International, chose to release the band’s new DVD, A LONG DAY’S NIGHT, which showcases their phenominal live act as never before. What makes this live effort different from previous ones? Well, let me run a few words by you—high definition video, DTS surround sound, and one of the most enthusiastic BOC crowds ever. You see, when the band members first heard they would have the opportunity to play live on their new DVD (which was also broadcast on Pay Per View), they immediately put the word out through the band’s Website that the fans had a chance to become part of digital immortality via their participation in the show. BOC fans from around the globe sold their mothers and daughters to earn money to make the trip to the Navy Pier Skyline Stage in Chicago, Illinois on June 21, 2002 for the official taping/telecast. Yeah, the band does look a lot older now, but man, can they rock. I would say that Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma, and company have progressed as musicians and that live they are better than ever. The younger rhythm section of Rondinelli and Danny Bonnaduce-lookalike Miranda have worked together before BOC, and their chemistry is most impressive because of this. Of course, Buck Dharma, looking a little like an aging school teacher is the real star of the show, firing off blistering solo after blistering solo that would surely make Jimmy Page or Tony Iommi jealous.

For this 2 hour live set, BLUE OYSTER CULT really dug deep into their vaults coming up with some truly rare bits including Then Came the Last Days of May, Perfect Water, Lips in the Hills, Quicklime Girl, Flaming Telepaths, and ME 262. There’s also a couple of newer songs (sung by Buck Dharma) like Harvest Moon and Dance on Stilts. Of course there’s the bands big hits and fan favorites such as Burnin’ For You, Dominance and Submission, The Red and the Black, and Don’t Fear the Reaper. Eric Bloom gives some great pre-song patter especially on Godzilla, which contains a drum solo and bass solo courtesy of Rondinelli and Miranda. Even though A LONG DAY’s NIGHT contains 19 of BOC’s best (5 more than the companion CD), there are several favorites missing, including Black Blade, Veteran of the Psychic Wars, Deadline, and Take Me Away. Heck, where are Astronomy, R.U. Ready to Rock, or Joan Crawford? BLUE OYSTER CULT has vaults of material to perform live, so perhaps they are saving some compositions for the sequel to A LONG DAY’S NIGHT?

A LONG DAY’S NIGHT was filmed with high definition cameras which really capture the live BLUE OYSTER CULT experience like never before. The concert is presented letterboxed (no 16x9 enhancement) at about 1.85.1 aspect ratio. The picture is so clear, you can make out every crease on the band members faces. The deep blacks help anchor the colorful lighting used to create atmosphere during the show. The kinetic camera work is truly superb and better than a front row seat. Buck Dharma lovingly moves his instrument in full view of the camera every chance he gets while his dexterous guitar licks fry your brain with sonic fury. From the Audio Setup menu, you can select Dolby Digital 2.0 sound (very good), Dolby Digital 5.1 (awesome), or DTS (earth shaking) surround sound which puts you on stage with the band. The instruments are tightly integrated and the vocals slice through the walls of sound like a knife through butter.

The bonus features include fan interviews for the event, both before and after the show. There is also a behind the scenes documentary tracing how this BOC highlight live event came together. The highlight of the extras section are the interviews with Buck Dharma, Eric Bloom, Alan Lanier, Danny Miranda, and Bobby Rondinelli. These interviews are conducted one at time, with the band members spewing forth all kinds of information about the history of BOC and insight into the band members’ professional lives. Buck Dharma, the heart and soul of BLUE OYSTER CULT has some interesting things to say about the band and its special relationship with its fans.

BLUE OYSTER CULT: A LONG DAY’S NIGHT, the seminal band’s first official DVD release is a dream product for hardcore BOC fans, with a varied collection of hits and tunes the band haven’t played live in years. This is also a highly recommended release for casual fans because of the high quality standards across the board, not only from the band, but the DVD producers themselves. From a technical standpoint, this live production is brilliantly captured in high quality video with several sound options, depending on your home theater capacity. The DTS track is the superior choice for clarity and power, something that is needed to convey BLUE OYSTER CULT’s legendary live reputation.

BLUE OYSTER CULT: A LONG DAY'S NIGHT is available from DVDEmpire.com

-- Brian Cleary

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