Singer-Songwriter Rob Thomas has been racking up hits with Matchbox Twenty since 1996, and as a solo performer since 2005, with his first solo album, Something To Be. During the promotional tour for the album, Thomas' June 2006 concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, was recorded live for the Soundstage television series, and is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray, under the title Rob Thomas-Something To Be Tour: Live at Red Rocks. While the material is heavily weighted toward songs from the Something To Be album, it also includes several of Thomas' biggest hits with Macthbox Twenty including 3 Am, the smash hit If You're Gone, and Bent, a dynamic cover of David Bowie's Let's Dance, as well as, a Latin style acoustic version of Smooth, the Grammy Award winning hit he co-wrote with Carlos Santana.

The Red Rocks Amphitheater is the perfect venue for Thomas' smooth soul & blues tinged rock, accompanied by a first rate band featuring Matt Beck & Frank Romano on Guitar, Al Carty on bass, and Abe Fogle on drums. While this gritty, blue collar band, does not have quite the versatility and musical sensibility of Matchbox Twenty, they provide Thomas with a solid backing, in this rather eclectic collection of songs from his solo recording, and Matchbox Twenty songbook.

The show opens with a brassy electric guitar introduction to the album's title track, Something To Be, a rousing guitar and percussion driven rock tune. Additional highlights include a couple of soulful bookend numbers, When The Heartache Ends and Ever The Same, featuring Thomas' expressive vocals. After a couple of slower paced numbers, Thomas and the band revv up the audience with the catchy, mid-tempo, soft rock ballad The Difference. Thomas winds down from a couple of rowdy rock numbers, accompanying himself on piano with the lovely and poignant ballad, Now Comes The Night. Thomas and the band close out the show with the pulsating, hard charging, rock number, This Is How A Heart Breaks. The DVD also includes a bonus video of the infectious, up-beat, rock tune Streetcorner Symphony, as well as, a colorful 8 page insert with photos from the concert.

Thomas develops an easy rapport with the audience, as he prances across the stage, twirling his microphone stand, and swaying to the beat of the music. For the most part, he keeps the chatter to a minimum, in this briskly paced, 95 minute, concert.

One of the biggest disappointments in the recording, is the irritating backdrop, consisting of 5 suspended panels that serve as a reflector for the bright, flashing, disco style, lighting on the upbeat numbers. I was also not impressed with intrusive and busy camerawork, often abruptly shifting between close-ups and audience pans, and fondness for sideways angles, that seem oddly out of place.

The visual and sound quality on the Blu-Ray are quite good, but not superior, filmed in 1080i HD and with a choice of DTS HD sound, 5.1 Dolby Digital, or Stereo. Unfortunately, the flashy lighting and  shifting camerawork, compete with the natural beauty of the spectacular setting at Red Rocks.

Despite a few drawbacks, Rob Thomas-Something To Be: Live At Red Rocks is an entertaining live concert experience, showcasing Thomas' talent as a vocalist, songwriter, and live performer. While Thomas did not seem out of his element performing with a new band, I felt the performance lacked some of the almost palpable spark and chemistry and more polished sound of his performances with Matchbox Twenty.

Complete List of Tracks:

Something To Be
Fallin' to Pieces
If You're Gone
Where The Heartache Ends
Ever The Same
Not Just A Woman
3 AM
You Won't Be Mine
The Difference
Bent
Problem Girl
Let's Dance
Lonely No More
I Am An Illusion
Now Comes The Night
Smooth
You Know Me
This Is How A Heart Breaks

My Rating:  A Strong ***1/2

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older