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.
"Wine is bottled poetry." - Robert Louis Stevenson
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.
___________________________________________________ It's good to try them young too and then let them age - James Suckling Infanticide can be very satisfying - Robert Parker I drink mine young to avoid disappointments - James Laube
Posts: 5063 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: Jun 03, 2004
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
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Posts: 2039 | Location: o-HIGH-o | Registered: May 05, 2005
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.
“Being drunk is a good disguise. I drink so I can talk to *******s. This includes me.”
Posts: 1097 | Location: Pleasant Hill, Ca | Registered: Nov 07, 2006
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...
Posts: 673 | Location: St Louis, MO | Registered: Feb 27, 2005
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...
Wine, Cheese, and Friends are better with age.
Posts: 92 | Location: Arizona | Registered: Jan 20, 2007
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.
"What is man, when you come to think upon him, but a minutely set, ingenious machine for turning, with infinite artfulness, the red wine of Shiraz into urine?" -Isak Dinesen
Posts: 254 | Location: Las Vegas, Nevada - for now... | Registered: May 05, 2007
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
"Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive..." -Incubus Jersey Foodies/Wine Blog: http://jerseyfoodies.blogspot.com/
Posts: 1154 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: Apr 16, 2007
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,
"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields
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.
Posts: 2690 | Location: South Florida | Registered: Dec 30, 2002
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!
Cheers!
Posts: 1647 | Location: Seattle, WA, USA | Registered: Mar 22, 2004
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,
"Wine is bottled poetry." - Robert Louis Stevenson
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.
Cheers!
Posts: 1647 | Location: Seattle, WA, USA | Registered: Mar 22, 2004
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
"Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive..." -Incubus Jersey Foodies/Wine Blog: http://jerseyfoodies.blogspot.com/
Posts: 1154 | Location: Central New Jersey | Registered: Apr 16, 2007
I did go out and get Pulse and found it to be a good performance. Though, as it was recorded in 1994, the video and sound quality were not as good as most newer videos.
I also owe a thanks to you as the DVD came with a speaker setup test. I had recently turned up the volume on one of my surround speakers as it seemed too low and the speaker test made me realize that one of the drivers in that speaker was not working. I was able to replace it under warranty and it now sounds as good as new. So I like this DVD all the more.
"Wine is bottled poetry." - Robert Louis Stevenson
