The Greatest Concert Films
By: DThompson | in: Movies, Music |
Before I start this list I have a confession to make. I hate live music. Oh, not to say I hate going to a concert, but filmed or recorded live music just leaves me cold. When Dire Straits released their ho-hum album “Brothers In Arms” I, at the encouragement of a friend, went to see them tour in support of it. To my surprise the songs I had found boring were opened up, expanded upon, vastly improved in one of the most satisfying concert experiences of my life. Yet, when the live album came out, documenting this tour, I was again unimpressed. Where was the spontaneity? The looseness? The life? All that had seemingly vanished in the recording. My conclusion, recorded live music is an oxymoron – the recording itself stripping away that essential “liveness” that makes live music so exciting.
So, for me, a concert film is generally a dodgy experience, even if I like the music. Few such films truly capture and communicate the intrinsic energy of any given live performance. Lately, a DVD comes out for every major tour, clogging the Music section at your local video store with blandly shot, perfunctory “product” that has no soul or energy whatsoever.
OK, confessional time is over, on with the listing! These, in my opinion, are the best rock music concert and live performance films – arranged in chronological order.
1) The Beatles – The First U.S. Visit (shot 1964, released 2005)
This film not only gives an accurate feel for what it was to be a Beatle, but also for the in-studio audience. A congregation of glassy-eyed girls singing along with the mop tops couldn’t help but remind me of the Manson girls singing “We love you Cha-ar-lie” almost a decade later. All the same, the show has a high energy punch that still lasts. The advantage of having albums basically recorded live in the studio is that when The Beatles play on the Sullivan Show it sounds exactly like the LP. No wonder America went crazy
2) Elvis (1968)
Better known as “The Comeback Special” this show is beset with “spontaneous” moments that seem terribly contrived to this media savvy viewer. Also, the audience looks like they came in to see some sort of Vegas production number. Despite these problems, the King amply demonstrates why he wears the crown, particularly in the black leather numbers.
3) Woodstock (filmed 1968, released 1969)
More of a historically interesting cultural artifact than a concert film, though there’s plenty of engaging live music. Woodstock is perhaps the best concert film ever in its ability to put out a “you are there” vibe. I might even go so far as to say that Woodstock was the much ballyhooed “Summer of Love”. Anyway, you’ll witness the full flowering of the hippie ethos along with sterling performances by Janis and Jimi and a zillion others. God, can Jimi play guitar or WHAT?
ADDENDUM: How is it that Joe Cocker was popular, even for a second?
4) Gimme Shelter (filmed 1969, released 1970)
Watch the pot fueled love-in of Woodstock disintegrate right before your eyes. There’s a reson why they called it The “Summer” Of Love – by the very next year this free concert at Altamont, a hoped for Woodstock West, turned into a violent mess. It’s basically the same crowd of kids, minus the peace and love. Don’t lay all the blame on the Hells Angels, an ugly vibe is obvious in the crowd from the get go.
5) The Concert For Bangladesh (1971)
By now George Harrison’s laudable effort at a charity concert (the first of its kind) is held in a hall for paying guests only who remain firmly in their seats. Great music from Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and the best part, Ravi Shankar, who rocks the house, and got this film on my list.
6) Pink Floyd: Live At Pompei (1972)
Really more in the format of a long form video, as there are no spectators here. The music is live, however, so in essence you are the only audience this “concert” will ever have. I’m sure this was great to spark one up to back in the day and carries with it the heady, almost spooky, feeling of the psychadelic 60’s that Woodstock completely misses.
7) The Last Waltz (filmed 1976, released 1978)
Robbie Robertson wanted this all-star lineup to “be a celebration” and it really feels that way, the happy friendly vibe is palpable. Captured by uber-director Martin Scorsese this is the slickest of the early concert films. The Band shows itself to be the ultimate back-up band as they shift effortlessly from the piano driven hipster blues of Dr. John’s “Such A Night” to the acoustic guitar dominated “Helpless” with Neil Young, and sound great both times. This film is worth watching just for Dylan’s hat.
Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps (1978)
Roadies disguised as jawas and coneheads and a stage full of oversized props fail to take away from the acoustic beauty and the pure rock power of this phenomenal set of songs. If any concert film can lay claim to being better than Woodstock, it’s this one.
9) The Cramps Live At Napa State Mental Hospital (filmed 1978, released 1996)
Someone, somewhere, somehow got the idea that it would be a good thing for psychobilly punk rockers The Cramps to stage a concert at an insane asylum. They were right. What’s amazing is that the powers that be allowed it to happen. Talk about crazy, this is the definition. But, it’s a perfect meilieu for The Cramps and their music and a fantastic echo of Johnny Cash live at Folsom Prison.
10) Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (1983)
The first great new wave concert film is also one of the last concert films designed for the theaters. Talking Heads, after a lengthy trial separation, shine in their new-found popularity before an enthusiastic crowd. David Byrne in his big suit is one of those iconic images that pop stars and film makers dream of creating.
11) An Evening With Utopia (1983)
Originally simulcast live on the USA network, this is the opposite of the fancy full bore Talking Heads film. No light show, the stage is flooded in a uniform unchanging white. No theatrics to speak of, just a bare bones set, a two or three camera setup and a group operating at the absolute peak of their game. The energy from crowd and band lasts from start to finish and is as infectious as a child’s smile.
12) U2 - Rattle And Hum (1988)
I can’t decide if this is a legitimate documentary on U2 or a vanity project. Either way, Rattle And Hum showcases one of the most successful rock bands of the past twenty years and delivers the goods in gritty, grainy black and white style. The film opening ‘Helter Skelter’ and the brief technicolor blast of ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’are standout examples of how electrifying rock can be, even in a venue as impersonal as a sports collisseum.
13) Peter Gabriel - Secret World Live (1994)
Peter Gabriel might be going gray in this film, but he’s clearly at some sort of artistic pinnacle. The excellent music is complemented by a unique stage in the round. Gabriel’s theatrical embelishments for the songs aren’t always succesful but the Italian crowd loves it all and their enjoyment combined with the fun the band’s clearly having make this a great live DVD.
14) Depeche Mode - One Night In Paris: The Exciter Tour (2001)
This starts with a Spanish acoustic intro before Dave Gahan launches straight into an almost industrial song. The images seem just huge as widescreen cameras make the best of an enormous stage space. Most of all this film makes use of an astounding primary color saturated cinematography that’s like no other concert footage you’ve ever seen.
15) Paul McCartney – Live In Red Square (filmed 2003, released 2005)
Not as energetic as the Beatles ’64 footage, this arena rock show is constantly intercut with average Russian citizens explaining how meaningful The Beatles were to them in the communist 60’s and 70’s. As an illustration of how powerful music can be this is excellent, as a concert – well, the intercutting really yanks the rug out from any oomph the show might have. Still, the band and McCartney sound great and deliver a kick ass “Back In The U.S.S.R.”.
16) Nine Inch Nails – Live: Beside You In Time (2006)
Strictly a DVD video release, as all concert “films” are these days, this is one of the ‘product’ DVD’s I railed about in my introduction. But such product! The video image is so crisp you want to jump into the screen and join the crowd. The on stage performance is exhaustingly energetic with arresting visuals as well.
17) Glastonbury (2007)
Glastonbury, rather than focusing on a Woodstock-like concert, is instead peppered with well-filmed clips of the many artists who played there the year of filming. Standouts are Nick Cave’s performance of ‘Red Right Hand’ and Joe Strummer attacking the camera with a mic stand during ‘Straight To Hell’. Also awesome are Fun Lovin’ Criminals playing ‘Scooby Snacks’. Actually, what’s really amazing is the audience response to the song, as they jump and undulate like some great ocean. In fact, the musical bits are all so uniformly excellent it’s really a shame director Julian Temple doesn’t focus on them more. Unfortunately, Glastonbury shows a festival so large, so chaotic, catering to so many different groups, that the music, once a unifying force, has become just another part of the show, and just another part of this film. The original sense of community has vanished into a fenced in, CCTV covered, well-regulated money machine.
Posted on September 24, 2007
Comments
17 Responses to “The Greatest Concert Films”
Leave a Reply
-
Categories
-
Search
-
Archives
-
Blogroll
- Auto Parts for Brains
- Baron VC
- Berkeley Place
- Between Thought and Expression
- Each Note Secure
- Emonome
- EtherBomb
- Fangasm
- FreeIndie
- Funeral Pudding
- Here Comes the Flood
- Hit Chaser
- Independent Clauses
- Life on the _Grid
- Modern Music
- Motel De Moka
- Mozzer’s Musings
- Naama Hillman
- Nialler9
- Obscure Sound
- Phish & Chips
- Pinch My Salt
- Racket Scan
- Ramblings from the Marginalized
- Rusty Records
- Ryan’s Smashing Life
- ShowClix Blog
- Silence is a Rhythm Too
- Small Town Romance
- The Covers Project
- The Drill Down
- The Late Greats
- The Music Network
- The Music Slut
- The Technofile
- Tomer Kaplan’s photo-blog
- We Are Listening
- Webomatica
- Who Needs Radio?
- YouLicense - Music Licensing Marketplace
- YouLicense Music Industry Blog
- ZME Music
-
Admin
-
[…] Original post by DThompson and software by Elliott Back […]
It’s interesting…the so called “Concert Films” used to be great cinematical events and would often tour instead of the artist. Nowadays they are “DVDs” and aren’t usually given much credit. In any case, great job compiling this D, I know I already have a couple of those on order…
Although they’re both very different in style and genre, my choice is a tie between Led Zeppelin (2003) and ABBA: The Movie (1977), directed by Lasse Hallstrom. The latter being made 30 years ago - I discovered it just recently - is perhaps the best crafted (edited) music film.
Haven’t seen Zep 2003, Emon, did watch Song Remains The Same, which was one of those “gotta see it” films of the 70’s. I found it a not-bad concert intercut with the lowest budget fantasy ‘epic’ ever put to film, which really destroyed the live feel for me. But from the non-Lord of the Rings section I can say that there’s no doubt these guys could put on a great show.
Excellent writeup D. My favorite live DVD is Over The Years And Through The Woods by Queens of the Stone Age.
Great post D! I guess my fav DVD is Rust Never Sleeps, but also Alice In Chains Unplugged and Roger Waters-In The Flesh.
For my money the best of the bunch is The Cramps dvd. Shot on grainy black and white with the sketchiest of sound, you get to see Lux Interior out-insane a bunch of insane people. Not an easy task I would imagine. The Glastonbury movie is cool as well, but there is something sad to see in its evolution from ideals to cash. Woodstock is a big cluttered abortion, just like the generation that spawned it. Very cool list DT., but could you tell me the criteria you used to establish this list?
First and foremost, I looked for movies and videos that gave a sense of being at the performance, that projected a kind of energy and excitement, the more unique the venue the better. Your favorite, The Cramps - Live at Napa State Mental Hospital is a great example of both. Utterly unique and energetic as hell.
As much as I love Beside You In Time I think All That Could Have Been is even better. The Cure’s Trilogy is a brilliant series of shows for diehard fans.
The only Cure movie I watched was The Cure in Orange and while I liked the music and thought the venue was cool and the twilight setting interesting, I didn’t get a feel for being there. That said, I’ve read a lot of good things about Trilogy and the idea of them playing their album, Pornography, in its entirety is appealing to me as a Cure fan.
I completely forgot about that Cure dvd. I actually own only 2 concert dvd, one of which is the Cure’s Trilogy. The Disintegration show in particular is amazing.
You guys certainly stay on point! I love the Woodstock film (especially the Jimi Hendrix moments), everything that follows seems like they’re trying to hard to recreate that moment. The Elvis comeback was amazing and not one that I would expect but surely well-deserved. He was amazingly sharp and sexy at the age of 33. Sad how it didn’t take long to go downhill from there. Everything that follows seems like nothing more than a bad dream.
Great Review! I’m adding DM One Night in Paris to my list right away. Another great Paris gig film is Placebo’s ‘Soulmates never die Live in Paris Bercy’. Very powerful performance with a surprise at the end! Here’s a short extract from the extras: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Tnl3vOW9Y&NR
Ah…hello? Aren’t we forgetting the DVD upon which they started to manufacture home-cinema? the Led Zep “How The West Was Won”? I’m not about to name-drop zillion of other shows missed (Okonokos by My Morning Jacket, The Dead at 1978 etc etc etc) but Led Zep ? you probably forgot it accidently, otherwise, there no reason to leave it behind. Yair
Wow all these were great.. thank you
Live at the El Mocambo: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble (1991) still inspires me everytime, the performance was not even supposed to be taped. There is amazing footage of SRV’s fret board work, and the video is a sound masterpiece… The quality of sound I get from listening to it on VHS is so much better than the DVD sound… All the recommendations here are outstanding. Thanks!
Metallica S&M 1999 concert