Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman September 8, 2015

To my lovely niece Tracy, who lives on Maui and who evidently repeatedly runs into Steven Tyler at the veritable drop of a hat (at least as evidenced by her social media photo uploads), as well as to any diehard Aerosmith fans reading this review, I apologize: Aerosmith has never been one of my favorite bands, though even I have to admire the high energy focus that Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton and Brad Whitford continue to offer in this 2014 concert, caught at the Download Festival held at Donington Park in Leicestershire, England. Tyler is an unbridled bundle of energy throughout this concert, cavorting around the stage and delivering a nice selection from Aerosmith’s well known catalog, along with a few lesser known tunes and even a cover of a Beatles classic. The boys seem to be excited to be performing before such a large and appreciative crowd, but there’s a decided lack of spontaneity on display, as if every “dance” with a microphone stand had been choreographed beforehand.

The complete set list for the concert includes:

1. Train Kept A-Rollin’
2. Eat the Rich
3. Love in an Elevator
4. Cryin’
5. Jaded
6. Livin’ on the Edge
7. Last Child
8. Freedom Fighter
9. Same Old Song and Dance
10. Janie’s Got a Gun
11. Toys in the Attic
12. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing
13. No More No More
14. Come Together
15. Dude (Looks Like a Lady)
16. Walk This Way
17. Home Tonight
18. Dream On
19. Sweet Emotion
20. Mama Kin

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal Music Group and Eagle Vision, an imprint of Eagle Rock Entertainment, with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This is a nicely sharp and well detailed offering, though in the by now familiar trend of concert videos, endless quick cutting and various bells and whistles ("digital grain" and other "distressing" techniques) tend to minimize detail or give at least the perception of softness at times. Despite a tendency to shoot directly into stage lighting (as can be clearly seen in some of the screencaptures accompanying this review), there are no instances of banding or posterizing on display. Also despite the interlaced presentation, combing artifacts are virtually nonexistent.

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 features a wonderfully boisterous DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which offers excellent reproduction across all frequencies, delivering Tyler's inimitable vocals with very good if sometimes slightly less than optimal prioritization. The rhythm section sounds crisp and well defined, though the midrange can occasionally sound slightly muddy at times. For the record, there is also an LPCM 2.0 track included on the Blu-ray.

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While there are no supplements included on the Blu-ray disc, this package includes 2 CDs of the concert and a lavishly illustrated booklet with an interesting appreciation by David Wild, Rolling Stone Contributing Editor and self-described "Aerosmith fan since puberty".

Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Aerosmith fans will most likely love this concert, which shows the band rockin' and rollin' with the best of them, even if it all seems a bit prepackaged at times. Tyler is in fine voice and the band sounds extremely energetic. Technical merits are generally excellent and for Aerosmith fans if for no one else Aerosmith Rocks Donington 2014 comes Recommended.