I realize that this is a limited audience, but with the advent of HD widescreens and surround sound, all music lovers should be indulging themselves with what the technology can offer. Unfortunately, it has basically killed off SACD and DVD-Audio, but you gotta go with the flow. My Top 5 (out of about 80):

U2 Goes Home - sucky video (though 16:9), but a great DTS track and Bono's dad died a few days earlier producing a very emotional performance (Kite, Where the Streets Have No Name). Definitely best U2 concert DVD. Seen live twice.

Dave Matthews Band Central Park Concert - video mastered from 16:9 HD, with Dolby only, but a great performance with great production. Seen live once.

Foo Fighters Skin and Bones - All acoustic set with Dolby only but HD video master in 16:9. Awesome performance. Never seen live.

Boz Scaggs Greatest Hits Live - DTS track with HD 16:9 master. Awesome performance and production. Seen live once.

Eagles Live in Melbourne - Absolutely the best sound quality mix I have ever heard (DTS only) mastered from HD 16:9. Seen live once, also saw Don Henley solo in small venue in one of my best ever concerts.

Close, but no cigar:

Steely Dan Two Against Nature - Great sound with DTS track, but crappy 4:3 video and stupid interviews between every track. Seen live once, surprisingly awesome as always known as a studio band.

Jack Johnson A Week at the Greek - Great music and performer, but suffers from poor 4:3 video and an audio mix recorded from audience side rather than direct feed. Seen live once.

Every time I listen or watch a recorded concert I think about how much more I like the studio recording or how it would have been exciting if I was actually at the concert. There are exceptions of course, like “Live at Leeds.”

With that being said, I am looking forward to “The Song Remains The Same” to be remastered and released on HD-DVD in November.

Grateful Dead - Truckin' Up to Buffalo: July 4, 1989
Grateful Dead - View from the Vault IV
Phish - Live in Brooklyn
Dave Matthews Band - The Central Park Concert
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Slane Castle

quote:

Originally posted by GreenDrazi:
Every time I listen or watch a recorded concert I think about how much more I like the studio recording or how it would have been exciting if I was actually at the concert. There are exceptions of course, like “Live at Leeds.”

With that being said, I am looking forward to “The Song Remains The Same” to be remastered and released on HD-DVD in November.

Those are two of my favs as well, good choice. Along with that I'll add Eric Clapton Live at Hyde Park, the latest release Led Zeppelin DVD with them real young at Prince Albert Hall, White Stripes blackpool lights, and The Black Keys (the only one). My top 5 will change depending on my mood, I'm sure tomorrow I'll think of some completely different DVDs.

It's more than just a concert, but an all-time classic movie, period, is the Scorsese-directed The Last Waltz. Watching that, with the volume cranked up, brings tears to my eyes.

If you don't know what it is, Scorsese shot the last live performance of The Band at Winterland(?) on Thanksgiving mid-late 70s. Sitting in with The Band is a whos who of late-20th-century music. At various times, there's Clapton, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, Neil Young, Ron Wood (Stones), Dr John, Emmylou Harris, Paul Butterfield, Stephen Stills, a funny-looking Neal Diamond and others - as well as a spoken word performance by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (spell?).

Every music fan should watch this a couple times, loud, as the movie titles say...

My Top 5, in no particular order:

The Police - Synchronicity
(Stewart Copeland is a monster on the drums)

Yes - Yessongs
(Jon Anderson's voice and the band's musicianship are amazing)

U2 Live at Red Rocks
(Just before they broke out....amazing that they still have the drive...Wish they wrote more songs like "October"

James Taylor - Live in Boston
(like most of the wine in these postings, just gets better with age)

Eagles - Hell Freezes Over
(love Henley and Frey...but Felder is da man!)

quote:

Originally posted by Altaholic:
Grateful Dead - Truckin' Up to Buffalo: July 4, 1989
Grateful Dead - View from the Vault IV
Phish - Live in Brooklyn
Dave Matthews Band - The Central Park Concert
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Live at Slane Castle

Altaholic... we are scarily similar in these picks...

While I haven't seen that many, my #1 is absolutely:

Pink Floyd Pulse: Live at Earl's Court, London

All around, a spectacular performance, both visually and musically!

Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Rolling Stones - Rock and Roll Circus
The Band - The Last Waltz

How could I forget the The Band?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: steve8,

This is a tough thread.

I'll go with, in no particular order...

Roy Orbison, "Black and White Night." It's much more than a Roy Orbison "concert," it's something you'll be amazed by even if all you do is look it up at Amazon. Reference quality sound and visuals.

Talking Heads, "Stop making Sense." Great tunes, good sound, entertaining visuals. The complete package.

Another vote for The Last Waltz. It's the platonic ideal of concert films.

Neil Young, "Heart of Gold." At the end of this performance, you'll be tempted to stand and clap.

John Prine, "Live From Sessions at West 54th." Two reasons: I love John Prine, and the "Sessions" series is very well done.

Pink Floyd - Pulse Hands down #1!
David Gray - Live at the Point
Dave Matthews - Listener Supported
Sting - Brand New Day Tour Live
Metallica - S&M Tour or something like that with the San Francisco Orchestra
The Samples - Seventeen

I'll add another one: Monterey Pop, newly remastered DVD.

Don't own that many, but I love the ones that I do:

Roy Orbison: Black and White Night

Diana Krall: Live in Paris

Michael Buble: Caught in the Act

The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin'
(This featured Frank, Dean, and Sammy at a fund raiser in St. Louis, hosted by a very young Johnny Carson)

Ok. Hold on.

Without even reading any of the replies.

I believe art is subjective and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. However, for me, The Last Waltz is in a completely different category than every other concert DVD. I believe in some states it is actually a misdemeanor not to include it on your list of greatest concert DVDs of all time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: winetarelli,

quote:

Originally posted by winetarelli:
Ok. Hold on.

Without even reading any of the replies.

I believe art is subjective and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. However, for me, The Last Waltz is in a completely different category than every other concert DVD. I believe in some states it is actually be a misdemeanor not to include it on your list of greatest concert DVDs of all time.

Could not agree more. I have been in love with this since I first saw it when I was in High School around 1987 or so. Just caught some of it again the other night, while MLV tried to sleep she got to hear me sing along to Stage Fright and the Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.

Festival Express was a pretty fun flick as well.

Queen: Live at Wembley Stadium Concert

quote:

Originally posted by BRR:
While I haven't seen that many, my #1 is absolutely:

Pink Floyd Pulse: Live at Earl's Court, London

All around, a spectacular performance, both visually and musically!

I haven't seen many either. (Does opera count as a "concert"? I've got some of those...)

My first DVD player came with a free DVD of Sting's "Brand New Day" tour. It's pretty good.

But yeah, I have seen "Pulse" and it knocked my socks off. Great concert, that.

- Jeff

Another vote for Pink Floyd Pulse.
Kenny Loggins Redwoods
Michael Buble Caught in the act
Monterey Pop

I also have the music CDs for Pulse. I was so struck by the track on the DVD for "One of These Days" (with the pigs, etc.) that I ran out and bought the CDs but, alas, that track is only on the video version. What a song!

OK, you guys talked me into getting Pulse. I have a number of Floyd CD's and DSOTM on SACD, but sounds like I need to get the DVD. Others mentioned Talking Heads, RHCP at Slane Castle, and The Last Waltz would make my Top 10. Sting Brand New Day is good too, though it was shot on 9/11/01 and constant references to it are a downer.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: vinole,

Ramones, "we are outta here" x5 !

vinole-

You won't be disappointed. There is a killer rendition of "Comfortably Numb" with an unbelievable guitar solo in there. The lights, screens, etc. of the show are spectacular.

We are dating ourselves!

I can remember seeing Floyd at the Rosemont Horizon back in '87 maybe? Then again in Chicago and Madison in '93. God I wish they'd tour again! Such a killer band!

-mJ