Del Castillo – Live

 

Picture: C     Sound: B     Extras: D     Concert: B-

 

 

You have probably heard Del Castillo in films you have seen, even if you did not know who they were.  The six-man band consists of the two Del (or del) Castillo brothers mark and Rick, along with Alejandro Ruiz, Albert Besteiro, Rick Holeman, and Mike Zeoli.  Though the program has only six songs, they are long and interview segments are along to be found in between the following tracks:

 

Dios de los Angeles

Suenos Madrigales

El Camino Menos Transitado

Vida

Mi Carino

Para mi Sobrina

 

The best way to initially describe their music is Rock/Flamenco with a great deal of heart, soul and energy.  Most of the lyrics are in Spanish and the DVD had no captions or subtitles, but it did not impede my enjoyment of the music.  I still wish I understood what was being sung, and for those out there who just told me to learn Spanish, that kind of PC ignorance misses the musical point as all other PC edicts tend to desecrate and destroy any and all arts.  Remember, knowing the words is NOT knowing the music, so you’re wrong again!

 

The full frame image was shot on analog videotape by director Robert Rodriguez.  It is not always as good looking as I wanted it to be, but what is more surprising is how little form it has considering who the director is.  Now, to do Frank Miller’s Sin City graphic novel comic book, he is leaving the Director’s Guild of America.  It is hard to see what he is up to, and his Digital High-Definition shot Once Upon A Time In Mexico and Spy Kids sequels were no match for his previous filmed productions in either style or narrative strength.  What this will lead to, I do not know, but it is unimpressive so far and gets into other issues that stray too far from this review.  I just wonder if this would have had more impact had it been shot on film or by Rodriguez a few years ago.

 

The sound is available in two Dolby Digital Stereo options, 2.0 with Pro Logic surrounds and the better 5.1 mix, which is better and better than usual for Dolby.  It may not be what DTS would have been, but it is just enough to have the kind of impact playback of the band’s music should have.  There are times when I was enjoying this mix, when some limit kicked in and I was disappointedly re-reminded that it was Dolby, but it is good otherwise.  There are no extras.

 

Also, the program is only about 45 minutes long, with a low list price to match.  That is fine, but I think people would be will to send a few more bucks to have more bucks to have some more extras.  Either way, it is a good introduction to a band whose best days could still be ahead of it, so remember the name: Del Castillo.  You already have heard them… somewhere.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo