Courtesy: InsideOut America
Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery released his latest solo live recording this past September. The album, Live in Rome is a recording that any of Rothery’s fans will enjoy. Audiences will enjoy more than anything else about this album the fact that it features not only Rothery’s own compositions but work that he has crafted with his band mates in Marillion. The thirteen track recording’s run time is another positive to the overall presentation. The recording clocks in at just under two hours. To be more precise, it comes in at approximately an hour and forty-six minutes. That time is comprised largely of Rothery’s performance, which leads to the last aspect of the recording that audiences will appreciate. That last factor being the stage presence on the part of Rothery and his band mates. The band is rather subdued in between songs. But during the course of the songs, Rothery and company shine, letting their music speak for them. That aspect coupled with the recording’s run time and its set list makes Live in Rome a recording that every fan of both Steve Rothery and of Marillion will enjoy.
Steve Rothery’s recently released live recording Live in Rome offers plenty for audiences to appreciate. Even with Marillion having released its latest live recording just last year, this new recording from the Marillion guitarist will impress audiences just as much. The main reason that audiences will enjoy Live in Rome so much is its set list. Rothery’s performance includes both his own compositions and songs that he recorded with his band mates in Marillion. While a good portion of the songs included on Live in Rome come from Rothery’s own solo catalogue, Rothery does delve into his work with Marillion, too. He includes Marillion’s fan favorite ‘Easter’ from Marillion’s 1987 album ‘Season’s End’ as part of the concert’s set list. ‘Waiting to Happen’ from the band’s 1991 album Holidays in Eden is also here as is ‘Afraid of Sunlight,’ the track from the band’s 1995 full-length record. Other than that trio of songs, the remainder of the concert’s set list comes from Rothery’s own body of work. While Rothery focuses primarily on his own body of work, the fact that he would include even three Marillion song shows a certain level of respect for his fans and for those that are fans because of his link to Marillion. It proves in the end to be a good combination of songs regardless of audiences’ loyalties. And it’s just one part of what audiences will appreciate about this recording. Just as worth noting about this recording is its run time.
Live in Rome clocks in at just under the two-hour mark. That is even with a total of thirteen song and Rothery’s storyteller moments between songs. While it runs approximately an hour and forty-six minutes, it feels so much longer. Considering that the shortest song on the recording is just over three minutes in length and the longest just over twelve minutes, that becomes even more powerful of a statement to the benefit of Live in Rome. What that says is that even as long as the songs are versus the concert’s run time, Rothery and company do everything right for audiences. They make the concert feel as if it goes well beyond the two hour mark. And for anyone that is a long-time fan of Marillion and Steve Rothery personally, that is a truly powerful statement. It shows even more just how enjoyable this recording proves to be in the long run.
The set list the makes up Live in Rome and its surprising run time are both key factors to its success and enjoyment. Both factors are directly connected to one another, thus showing how important each factors are to the presentation in whole. While both aspects are equally important to the success of Live in Rome, the band’s stage presence is just as important to note. Stage presence is difficult to fully gauge on CD. But there are moments between the show’s songs in which Rothery displays a certain reserved, yet amiable nature. He talks to the crowd, happy to share the stories behind the songs within the concert. Yet he never seems to present an air of arrogance. He shows that he is thankful to have his audience there in attendance during these moments. And the fact that he and his band mates can somehow make the songs feel so much longer than they are without making them feel too drawn out displays its own positive stage presence. They keep the songs interesting from start to finish from the beginning of the concert to its final moments. And they do so simply by putting on display their talents. There is no pretense or unnecessary antics, etc. It is just a group of musicians entertaining its audience. Audiences that take in the concert on CD will enjoy that display just as much as those that were there in attendance at the original concert. The band’s display of talent alongside its run time and set list proves Live in Rome to be a true joy for any fan of Marillion, Steve Rothery, and prog rock in general.
Live in Rome is available now on CD/DVD combo pack. It can be ordered online via Marillion’s website at http://www.marillion.com/shop/albums/liveinrome.htm. More information on this and other solo releases from Steve Rothery is available online at:
Website: http://www.steverothery.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SteveRotheryOfficial
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