Disco de Eels: “With Strings: Live at Town Hall [DVD]”

An excellent performance that exemplify why we love the Man called E (Mark Oliver Everett)!

The 2006 Eels with Strings - Live at Town Hall DVD offers glimpses into the musical genius that is E. His stage presence and sardonic delivery only enhanced the dark whimsy of many of his pensive compositions. If you love Eels, you will love this DVD. The production and sound quality is excellent, you feel like you are right there on stage with the musicians.

The music is not studio polished--but perhaps better, if not just as good. It is taken mostly from the

double album, and it sounds even better live. While the man called E smokes smoothly on his omnipresent cigar, sipping from a glass of brown whisky-like liquid, he delivers his impeccable best. This is a man who sings for the underdog, the misunderstood, the disenfranchised and even if you aren't any of those things, you still feel a pull towards his lyrics and a deep empathy for the "bus stop boxer" and "dog-faced boy."

Eels unique keyboard style and guitar strums are accompanied by a backdrop of excellent musicians. Chet's musicianship is nothing short of amazing, big Al's bass can't be beat. The four ladies will wow you with their skills on the violins and cello. All of the instruments synch up and commingle in a way that keeps things sounding spontaneous and fresh. The familiarity of the songs are sprinkled with diversion, keeping the DVD dynamic and endlessly intriguing. In

In between live performances, we're treated to behind the scene moments with E--in all of his cynical glory. We want to love this man, sit down with him and hear all about his idiosyncrasies. The only disappointment is that it seemed too short, but that could be because the entire series of performances was nothing short of astounding. It defies time, bringing the listener into the realm of pure musical nirvana. The concert outro's with the pajama wearing band on stage playing an abbreviated version of Mr. E's Beautiful Blues from the

album (my all-time fave). I could not think of a better way to end the concert.

I would have like to hear a few more songs from other albums, but that is a minor quibble. This is a concert experience not to be missed. And thanks to this DVD, you won't.

Having had the fantastic oppurtunity of seeing Eels on their last two tours of Australia, I really am looking forward to a visual reminder of this experience.

The Eels with strings concert I saw in Sydney was an absolute pleasure. Intimate and Personal, E was at his brilliant best. Chet and Big Al played more different instruments than I thought was humanly possible. The string quartet were just superb, look out for that special moment of vibration.

Anyone who had the pleasure of witnessing the Eels with strings tour will know this is not a rock show, and the songs come accross incredibly.

Eels are progressive, and E of course is the centre of which their universe revolves. However, the only similarility between the latest Eels with strings show, and the Tour of Duty shows, is E himself. E is Eels no doubt, and he picks the musicians to make the mood and the moment. Being able however, to relive the Eels of a couple of years ago, Butch and the rest, would be a chance to really appreciate the talent of Mark Oliver Everett.

The man is a genius! Funny, clever and somewhat bizzare yet still remarkably normal. Wish they would come back to Australia.

Love all that the Eels have to offer but I agree with other reviews that many great songs were missed.

Mark Everett is one of the true geniuses of our 21st century music....but this concert could have been better.

This is a great gift for any EELs fan. You get to follow Mr. E around and watch as he and the rest of the band prepare for shows and joke around onstage and off. The photography was great and made the concert and backstage scenes feel more like a independent movie than a concert dvd. It even includes a low budget music video which I found hilarious. He holds the camera in one hand and lip syncs his own song as a cd player plays it in the background. So great I hope they make more dvds in the future.