Hard Vision

Enchant
"Live At Last"
SPV/Inside Out (disc 1)
by Jonathan Mariante

This is a two disc DVD set from progressive rockers Enchant. They have been going at it for over a decade (although I was unfamiliar with them before I heard this) and this is their first live recording. It was filmed in March of 2004 in Oakland, CA, the band's hometown, and features twenty three of their songs. It is over two and a half hours long. Good value, no? Good music, too. The band are a very talented prog-rock band who play and write brilliantly, and are amazing musicians. Prog ain't really my cup, but these guys know how to do it. They really should be a household name but I guess the crappy taste of the American public and the current (not so tasty) flavors of the month prevent that from happening, although the band have found a good fanbase overseas. Enchant give it all they got at the show! One of their main influences seems to be Rush. I heard quite a lot of that in their music. Guitarist Douglas Ott (who is a brilliant player) is very influenced by Alex Lifeston, while bassist Ed Platt and drummer Sean Flanegan seem to have learned a few tricks from Geddy Lee and Neil Peart, respectively. Yes and the Moody Blues are two other bands that have heavily influenced Enchant, and there is also some classical and jazz stylings in their music. Vocalist Ted Leonard has quite a set of pipes on him, singing in a smooth and clear voice, with passion and emotion. Enchant's music is very atmospheric and emotional, especially the song "What To Say", which was inspired by a member of Ted's family who tragically passed away. The band breezes through all the songs, playing them like it's a second nature. Many of them are complex and sophisticated with neat arrangements and time changes, shifting gears often, going from rocking to emotional and then back again. Most all of them feature Doug's driving guitar work and amazing solos. This guy can play! He also sings backup and even is given the chance to sing lead on "Break", a heavy ballad. He does a good job, too. They also do another ballad called "Comatose", a power ballad that puts a foot into commercial waters, as does the poppy "Pure". They also throw in a couple of unplugged numbers, "Black Eyes and Broken Glass" and "Colors Fade", and do a good job on these too, played by Ted, Doug, and keyboardist Bill Jenkins, who is also very good. The band sounds really good in concert and puts on a really good show. A prog rock fan's wet dream!

"Live At Last" DVD (disc 2)
The second disc of this set contains mainly interviews, with the individual members of the band, where they talk about their music, their equipment, their influences (Ted says he once fantasized about replacing Steve Perry in Journey!), and playing live; an interview with the band as a whole, where they go into the history of the band, how the current members came to join, what they did before they joined the band, their influences again, how they got into music, how the band has progressed and how their earlier music compares with their current material, their fans, and this DVD itself. It is very in depth and informative, with brief clips of the band jamming inserted in a few places, and should hold the interest of fans and anyone who is interested in the band, as well as being enjoyable. The members of Enchant are intelligent and know a lot about music, and they crack a few jokes along the way. There is also a section that features commentary from some of the fans who attended the gig. They came from all over the country to see Enchant, as the band rarely plays live in the States, and they commented on the band and what they mean to the fans. Enchant clearly has quite a dedicated following. There is also a small picture gallery. And that wraps it up. Anyone who is into progressive music and hasn't heard of Enchant should really check 'em out. You'll not regret it. Enchant are a fine band who take classic prog rock elements and have created their own sound with them.

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