News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 85

NEWS-PRESS GULF COASTING, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1998 15 Video Let the Phil Rhino rocks with concert video series a ill -dDiwf Kr- "rr- ii if taaawwviMMMim if 11 Tap Dogs Turn tap dancing upside down! Take six young guys, combine them with intricate rhythms and an ingenious set and you have a rollicking 90 minutes that gives tap dancing a whole new meaning. The highly acclaimed Broadway production is part theater, part dance, part rock concert and all entertainment! $38 Adults, $19 Students George Balanchine's TM The Nutcracker iitmBifaWllir George Balanchine's Vie Nutcracker brings together the Miami City Ballet, the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and Tchaikovsky's best known and best-loved ballet in this delightful holiday classic. Always a family favorite, $40 Adult, $20 Students i By BEN WENER Orange County Register Of all the specialty labels and reissue houses, Rhino Records is by far the best. Born as an outlet for novelty tunes but quickly rising in the ranks of collector's labels, the Los Angeles com- pany has established itself as one of the most vital curators of historic recordings in operation. But then there's Rhino Home Video the homely sister to the music division's homecoming queen.

Often Rhino has to dig through the dregs or find creative ways to repackage what it has already put out. The latter is partly the case with "Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970" a brilliant, superbly shot document of the English band's transcendent appearance at what is often considered the last of the great outdoor festivals (at least of its era). Why repackaged? Well, portions of this set appeared on Rhino's "Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival" release, also shot by director Murray Lerner. "Listening to You" is required viewing not just as an addendum to "Message" or even just for Who fans but for all who study rock. Set the stage: It's 2 a.m.

on Aug. 30, 1970, and more than 600,000 people fighting to stay awake for the last show of the night. The Who saunter on and proceed to blaze through three hours of material, including most of "Tommy," concluding with a rousing (literally) version of "We're Not Gonna Take It." The set list may be predictable but even the standbys still wow. A must. "Ramones Around the World" another new Rhino title, is exactly what it says it is: a gonzo journey with one of the fiercest rock bands (punk or otherwise) to prowl a stage.

The clips are plentiful and the behind-the-scenes footage is often eye-opening, whether simply observing the tiring gruel that the band endured in its later years or capturing the mania that swirls around the band in places such as Chile and Japan. (It's nearly on a par with Beatlemania. Who knew?) The only drawback (and it's a big one): the sound. It's beyond tinny and, in spots, renders Joey Ramone's vocals almost unintelligible. (Gabba gabba what?) That's what you get for shooting on cheap video cameras from the wings of the stage.

And in the dregs category is "Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace" an amazingly bad 1978 special at the Las Vegas Hilton. Everything gaudy and extravagant is in place the tacky pianos, the studded outfits, the Rolls-Royces, the dancing waters. Plus, there's an embarrassing sequence from "Annie" (it was 78) featuring Debbie Reynolds, who also desecrates Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher," and there's Zsa Zsa Gabor and Phyllis Diller Oh, and a dancing marionette and some Chinese acrobats from Taiwan. I i. 1 W.

s.u uMuai 'i iOi Rock icon Gregg Allman! Gregg Allman has continued to score platinum gold records throughout his tumultuous 30-year career. Joined by his "Friends" band, this Rock ln' Roll Hall of Famcr's distinctive voice and brilliant keyboard and guitar arrangements will rock you in your seat! $28 1 I 4 Order Tickets Today! 597-1900 Naples 1-800-597-1900 Fort My, Or, visit our new Coasthnd Center Ticket Outlet (Adjacent to jcPenney) I ll PHILHARIVIONIC CENTERoreARTS 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. Naples, FL 34108 www.naplesphilcenter.org Cullomer Senrict tnd Coutlutd Center Outlet tcctpu Amerifu Expnu. Diicam, MuterCtrd ind Viu. ThrR $4 processing (re for til phone, hi (941-597-7856) mail orders..