The concert DVD is the ultimate display of live music. I still remember the first time I watched 'The Last Waltz'. It was with a few buddies and for months all we wanted to do was watch it again and listen to the music of 'The Band'. To this day I will watch the DVD once a year or so, and still love the music. Here's my top ten list of all time.
The Grateful Dead lived and breathed for live music, so I will begin my top ten list with what I believe to be their best concert film.
A film chronicling the creation of Wilco's 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot'. Arguably their breakout album, the music is superb and this film is simply a tribute to the album. Filmed in a loft as this group of musicians tries to punch out the album, the movie gives us a unique view of the ups and downs of being a modern day musician.
A Rolling Stones documentary chronicling their 1969 US tour. The tour ended at the Altamont Free Concert, which was mired in controversy. Four deaths, including one homicide led many to describe this concert as the end of the hippy era. The film concentrates on this concert, but features many great Rolling Stones performances from throughout the tour.
A three day concert held in Monterey, California in the summer of 1967. This is one of the first widely promoted and heavily attended concert festivals and the DVD gives it much credit for its revolutionary position and musical brilliance. With performance from The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, The Mamas and The Papas, Simon and Garfunkel and The Grateful Dead, this truly was a festival you would not want to miss. Unfortunately it was 21 years before I was born, so the DVD will have to do.
The Dave Matthews Band is another beauty when it comes to live music. It is their bread and butter as they say. In front of a crowd exceeding 120 000, the concert was free. Sponsorship money and DVD sales went to charity though, so its all good.
In the summer of 1970 a group of producers rented a train and booked three concerts across Canada. It is said that Woodstock was for the fans and Festival Express was for the musicians. Headlined by The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, Buddy Guy, and Traffic, the train drove from Toronto to Winnipeg to Calgary. This is a stellar DVD because of the footage from the train, showing late late night jams by drunken members of different bands. In fact, somewhere between Winnipeg and Calgary they ran out of booze and had to make an unscheduled stop to pick up more booze.
4) Phish: It
Arguably the greatest live performers ever, this DVD captures their excellence perfectly. I saw Phish this past christmas in Miami and it was wicked. They kill it live, and this DVD captures that beautifully. Stay tuned for their DVD coming out in 3D.
3) Woodstock
Not much to say about Woodstock that hasn't been said. The mother of all music festivals. A drug filled, musically incredible romp that had over half a million people attend over the three days. Ravi Shankar, Santana, The Grateful Dead, CCR, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, The Band, CSNY and Jimi Hendrix... FUCK YEAH!
A Pink Floyd concert filmed in 1994 in London, England. This film is split into two parts. The first is a bunch of Floyd great including Shine On You Crazy Diamond, and Another Brick in the Wall. The second is a complete run through of Dark Side of the Moon. Set in front of a wicked light show / trippy circular screen, this beauty DVD will stimulate the ears, eyes and mind. Enjoy!
By and large the best concert DVD of all time. A film by Martin Scorsese, The Last Waltz chronicles the last concert 'The Band' ever played. Held on Thanksgiving day of 1976, it lasted over 6 hours. This epic concert featured greats such as Eric Clapton, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and Neil Young playing alongside The Band. The film is an essay on the careers of The Band, with highlights of the concert, songs later recorded in a studio and interviews with The Band. If you have never watched the movie, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy as soon as possible.
