Reviews

First off, I’ll admit straight-up that I wanted this DVD for Tim Barry and his solo material, not for La Par Force. I’m a huge Avail fan and I love the music their frontman has put out on his own. I’ve also taken a few hints on music (and even books) recommended by Tim and he’s never steered me in the wrong direction, so I was willing to check out La Par Force, a German band who are much more versatile than you might expect from hearing their work alone.
 
I’ll also tell you this... for the most part I fucking hate reviewing anything music-related. All this shit is subjective and the fact record labels send me free stuff in hopes of getting some press is not lost on me. It’s not so hard when you enjoy what you’re watching or listening to, but that material is usually few and far between. It’s more of a situation where I want to tell you about something worthwhile I’ve found and maybe someone will take my advice and feel the same way.
 
So yeah, this DVD is one of the worthwhile ones. It’s billed as a concert film, nine songs from each band, but it’s way more than that. Tim Barry’s set is almost a lower-rent episode of VH1's Storytellers, with him sharing thoughts on his songs without any kind of gloss. It makes the show a bit more insightful and entertaining to say the least.
 
La Par Force are Tim’s backing band through most of the show and what they bring to the table provides a slightly different take than what you hear on the records. An accordion takes the place of a harmonica on one song, there’s drums on another couple that aren’t on the album, and there’s even a trumpet added to yet another tune. This type of added instrumentation breathes new life into the music and like I mentioned earlier, really shows the versatility of La Par Force.
 
As far as La Par Force’s set goes, I suppose it’s best to describe it like this... La Par Force, to me, is the kind of band I should experience live before anything else because I’m not familiar with their music. It’s simply how bands should be discovered, so right now, to pass judgement isn’t really fair. They put on a decent set and after watching them perform from the comfort of my own living room, I can say I’ll be sure to watch it again and if the songs stick, they’ll have found a new fan on the other side of the world.
 
Ok... so now picture this. You’re in a successful band with fans across the globe. Your home base is the United States and the type of music you play isn’t limited to the types of music you listen to. You put out a record that’s pretty different than what you’re mainly known for. Now imagine packing your guitar and some clean underwear and jetting off by yourself to a foreign land to share those tunes.
 
It’s a ballsy move, but one Tim Barry embarked upon despite any trepidation he may have had. It’s all documented as a special tour diary feature on this DVD. It takes you inside the tour process, from rehearsal to the final show and everything in between. Barry is a straight-shooter who isn’t afraid to discuss his shortcomings and his loves. It’s an honesty that commands respect and as corny as it sounds, it’s also very inspiring.
 
If even half the bands out there had the unflinching integrity of Tim Barry, the music world would be much better off. Unfortunately this isn’t the case and that’s what makes Barry’s music as special as it is. I’m just glad it was caught on film so I can experience it when I can’t see it in person.