For fans of Peter Gabriel, the word "in your eyes" is near to hold on a different meaning, as the rock icon is set to turn a new concert film.
Entitled Peter Gabriel - New Blood, Live In London 3D, the film was filmed in high definition during a two-night run at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo in London last March, and features orchestral versions of about of the Grammy winner's most famous songs in a refreshingly intimate way.
Gabriel, a Stone and Roll Hall of Famer, was in attending at Montreal's Scotiabank Theatre recently to enter the film, and divided his thoughts on combining a rock show with emerging cinematic technology.
"It allows the air to get through," he told journalists gathered at the Montreal theatre. "You get the smell of space; it's a bigger environment to do your work."
And for Gabriel, space is paramount. He likens the voltage of 3D to that of the stereophonic experience, which allows a listener to be immersed within a sound, except in the subject of 3D, it's a feed for the eyes.
"We were born with two ears_ but in case anyone hadn't noticed, we too have two eyes," Gabriel said. "3D is a good gadget, but in the saame way that your eyes are just gadgets, but they connect to the head and they let you to serve images. And you take two of them, so I guess it's a device, it's a tool, but it allows you into this man which is nearer to actual life."
Always an innovator, Gabriel got to thinking that he could use this technology to make viewers the picture of being right there on stage with the him, an exciting new growth in the concert film experience.
"I like when the camera is capable to run through the musicians," he offered. "Obviously you don't get to do that when you are seated in the audience_."
With his new film, Gabriel found a way to put the witness right in the pit with the orchestra, on stage beside the vocalist and in the center of the crew and the result is so seamless that it's easy to forget you're not watching a last show and connect the audience's applause.
And song selection for the concert film's set list was precisely as significant as visuals, with Gabriel opting for tunes from his extensive catalogue, including several cover songs from his recent album Scratch My Back, to fit with the orchestral sound. The thought of re-creating his medicine with a 46-piece orchestra was a welcome challenge as was giving himself a few rules: no guitars and no drum kits allowed.
"If you wish to alter an artist, tell 'em they can do anything they want," he offered, going on to say that the limitations presented him with bold opportunities to breathe new life into some of his well-known music. It's surely a bad move for the pop star, who understands that some of his fans may be turned off by new versions, while others will keep the dramatic new dressing these songs have adopted.
"If you do something different, you miss some, and if you are lucky, you win some, too," Gabriel said.
Seems liked he lucked out this time.
Peter Gabriel - New Blood, Live In London 3D plays at select Cineplex theatres on October 12th and 17th. Get the broad details here.
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