Studio: Image Entertainment
Video: 1.78:1 Widescreen
Audio: DD 2.0
Extras: Audio Commentary (2); Chris Difford Interview (48 min); August 2005 Tokyo Screening & Q&A (13 min); Amy Pickard’s 1991 Squeeze Interview for Public Access Televison (24 min)
Length: 70 minutes
Rating: ***1/2
Amy Pickard, a devoted fan of the U.K. pop band Squeeze documents the U.S. tour of the lead singer, Glen Tilbrook, as he makes his way around in an RV and plays intimate acoustic performances. When Pickard was on a cable access show back in the 1980s in Dayton, Ohio she became very fond of Squeeze–a band who has had 13 albums and twice sold out Madison square Garden. The music is replete with Beatlesesque melodies and provocative lyrics and Glenn is the founding member and lead singer while Chris Difford wrote much of the lyrics. They had a huge popularity in the 80s, but, like many groups, suffered from dwindling audiences and finally broke up in 1998. In 2001, after 25 years of songwriting, Glenn began his solo career and released The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook.
Right off Glenn and crew suffer some setbacks. For one, they didn’t have an RV and had to stay over at a friend’s home. After a plane ride or two they managed to regroup and finally got the RV and began touring with it. After 30 minutes there was a problem with the generator (it seems the trouble had just begun). But soon enough they were back and running again. Throughout the tour they continued to have trouble with the RV, but the concentration of the DVD is on Glenn’s ability to socialize and connect with fans.
At the first performance, Glenn actually pulled someone from the crowd who helped accompany him on the guitar. He also does some great sing-a-longs where he physically takes the audience with him and walks around with them–quite a different outdoor experience. If ever there was a folksy, non-intimidating character then Glenn is the guy. At one point some fans invite him over to their house and he plays an impromptu version of “Tempted.” All in all it’s great to hear old Squeeze songs performed acoustically and sounding every bit as good as they did in the old days. Glenn’s camaraderie with fans really puts forth the notion that he’s a regular guy just doing what he loves–making music and entertaining those around him.
Songs include: Another Nail in My Heart; Take Me I’m Yours; Goodbye Girl; Is That Love, Third Rail; By the Light of the Cash Machine; Ulling Mussels (From the Shell); Up the Junction; Tempted; Slightly Drunk; When the Hangover Strikes; Voodoo Child (Slight Return); Hourglass; This is Where You Ain’t; Parallel World; Some Fantastic Place; Black Coffee In Bed.
— Brian Bloom
