Release Date : John Landau, George Travis, Bruce Springsteen
Reviewed By: N/A

One rarely meets a jaded Springsteen fan. Those who have been fortunate enough to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform through the years know that not only is he arguably the best live performer of the rock and roll era, but also, one of the few performers whose shows (even on the same tour) hold up to repeated attendance. For those who have seen the band perform live, one show is never enough. (Don't believe the hype? See how long it takes for his five holiday shows to sell out--and see how angry your faithful reviewer will be if he gets shut out.)

For approximately 30 years, Bruce and the boys have lit up stages worldwide with their marathon live shows. Unlike most rock acts of the modern era, Springsteen has never released an official live video of an entire concert or tour. (He has released music videos of live performances; "Born to Run" is a notable example.) However, his reluctance to commit his officially commit his performances to video--supposedly because he believed that tape could not capture the energy of a live event--has led his most ardent fans to treasure the few bootleg videos out there.

Artistic integrity notwithstanding, what many longtime fans clamored for was any kind of officially released live video, mastered to Springsteen's exacting standards. They knew that it would likely not equal the live experience, however, they also knew that it would be wonderful to be able to pop in a DVD on those cold winter nights when the band was not touring.

At the end of Springsteen's epic 1999-2000 tour, which wrapped with 10 nights at New York's Madison Square Garden, the rumors began to spread. The last two nights of the tour would be filmed for some sort of release. And when fans walked into the arena those nights, the site of digital video cameras in the interior concourses and sweeping over the audience, made many fans downright giddy.

Still, many worried. Springsteen is known for being one of the most prolific yet stingy artists out there when it comes to his output. (As evidenced by the 1999 release of Tracks, a four-disc box set of rarities and b-sides that many fans believed should have been at least twice as long.)

After the tour drew to a close with two fantastic shows, the buzz began from Springsteen fans. When would the video come? What would be on it? Though appetites were quenched a bit early this year when he released a live double album from the shows and quenched a bit more when a truncated concert appeared on HBO. Those who saw the HBO special were impressed, but felt a bit cheated because they knew that there was more to be seen. So the questions remained. Where was the DVD?

Nearly 18 months after the band took their final bows and walked off the stage at the Garden, the DVD has finally arrived.

Still, I was concerned. I have seen Springsteen over 75 times. I saw seven of the final 10 shows at the Garden, including the last two. I lived the magic moments from those final nights--Bruce behind the piano for "The Promise;" the sheer euphoria I felt when the band launched into the rarely-played epic "Lost in the Flood," to name two--and I wondered whether DVD could capture the magic, the mystery, and the ministry of rock and roll that Springsteen preached about during this past tour.

Friends, I am overjoyed to say that my fears were laid to rest almost immediately. From the opening strains of "My Love Will Not Let You Down," on disc one to the joyous and triumphant rendition of "The E Street Shuffle" (which is played over the closing credits) at the end of disc two, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live in New York City does something that die-hard fans might not believe possible. Remarkably, it captures the feel of a Springsteen show.

Those words might seem like sacrilege to some, and it does not even feel right to write them, but it is true. "America Skin (41 Shots)"--Springsteen's controversial commentary on a New York City police shooting is haunting. Casual fans need only watch the trifecta of "Badlands," "Out in the Street," and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," to get a feeling for energy in the building. Diehards get "Don't Look Back," "The Promise," and "Lost in the Flood." Even those who were in the building on July 1 likely did not see the performance that Springsteen gave on that song. He sang it like he was singing for his life and the cameras did a remarkable job of capturing the passion. I did not think that I could ever be more amazed than I was when I heard the song, but after having seen the DVD, I realize that I was incorrect.

Director Chris Hilson and editor Thom Zimny deserve the utmost praise for their work. Under the watchful eyes of producers Jon Landau, George Travis, and Springsteen himself, the five have produced a set that defies description. Of course, great video is nothing without the audio soundtrack to accompany it and Toby Scott and mixer Bob Clearmountain--two legendary figures who have worked with Springsteen throughout his career--acquitted themselves beautifully. The sound is crisp and clear, organic and not overmixed. It is a triumph.

The disc includes a photo gallery and a 15-minute documentary entitled "New York City Serenade," that ably includes more video snippets and interviews with various members of the band. One wishes it could have been about an hour longer, but that is a minor quibble. While some might wonder why Springsteen chose not to include some of the new songs he premiered at the Garden (like "Code of Silence"), that too is a minor quibble.

Consider this set a must-have for Springsteen fans and a terrific gift for any music fans on your holiday shopping list who love rock and roll. Once again, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band have done the seemingly impossible--release a concert DVD that should be the reference standard for all other music video releases. Somehow, Bruce Springsteen manages to humble even the most jaded fan with an utterly brilliant release.