So, it's finally here! Steve's first DVD release ever. Entitled "Sects, Dregs and Rock & Roll", it's an extensive collection of material combining the Dixie Dregs live in concert with Steve in a solo setting. Not to mention an in-depth interview with the man himself. With a running time of over 2,5 hrs, it's basically what we've all been waiting for. Especially with the lack of video material in mind. With the advent of the DVD, it was only a matter of time, but luckily what we have here is a good product. It sets out to please everyone's tastes, and succeeds in doing so.

The complete Dixie Dregs show was recorded at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT last November. With a line-up consisting of Morse/LaRue/Morgenstein/Lavitz/Goodman, the gig features quite a wide selection of old Dregs classics (click here for the complete tracklist), as well as the odd individual showcase. The last tour was a bit special because of the fact that Steve asked the other guys in the band to bring their own material to the table. This was a refreshing idea, and thus, the show features an old Mahavishnu Orchestra song called "Dance of the Maya", which the band jams along to, a T Lavitz solo tune called "Justice For All" and a workout of "BusyBodies" from the Split Decision CD amongst many other things. I know people have been longing for a video recorded Dregs live experience (especially those abroad who never get to see them in concert), and this should make everyone happy, as it's a cracking show.

The show capturing Steve in a solo setting is from a performance at the Bottomline club in New York, April 1992. This was around the time when Steve was touring both with the trio and as a solo outfit. The solo gigs showed off a more eclectic side of him, and quite a few of the songs on High Tension Wires consequently got an outing. Thus, a big part of the show sees Steve focusing (literally!) on the acoustic, with sparse backing from Dave LaRue and T Lavitz. Having originally been taped for a Japanese TV broadcast, this show is of great quality, and features our man on good form, cracking the odd joke and generally letting the music speak its own language. Mesmerizing stuff.

Other features in the Steve Morse section of the DVD is an hour long interview done with Steve when he was on tour in Australia with Deep Purple in 2001. Combining the instructional aspects of guitar playing, and detailing numerous techniques and equipment issues, it's certainly one of the most thorough interviews ever conducted with Steve, and it makes for some very interesting watching. It's a really neat addition, and keeps "Sects, Dregs and Rock & Roll" from not 'only' being a concert DVD.

In short, this is the kind of release fans have been wanting for years, and I can honestly recommend it. For the fans who get so see Steve's solo gigs on a regular basis, it will serve as a great tour souvenir, and for Europeans and people outside of the US, the DVD will most likely be the closest you get to the real thing. Which isn't bad for 21,50 USD.

We would certainly be interested in your thoughts on the DVD, so please submit your own review, and we will add it to this feature!

Daniel Bengtsson