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Before Jimmy Page can even pluck that first note to "Stairway to Heaven" you press pause and Led Zeppelin is frozen in time. With no beer lines or disgusting bathrooms, music DVDs are the next best thing to the real show. When it comes to bands like Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, these artifacts serve as the only opportunity for the current generation to put a face on the music. In hybrid rock documentaries, we are even given a look into the often quirky, seldom glamorous, lives of the rock icons who are usually given divine status. As Penny Lane said in 'Almost Famous', "Famous people are just more interesting." These prized films give us a chance to be groupies, or band-aids, from the comfort of our homes. Also, with the advent of new technologies, it has become easy for even the smallest bands to release a well-packaged DVD. Here is a short list of some of the best from both eras.
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
This freakishly delightful performance from one of the few new-wave bands that still matter (listen to anyone considered indie to see why) comes very close to "Burning Down the House." David Byrne, creative genius and lead singer, enters a sparse, fully lit stage with just a boom box and acoustic guitar and plays "Psycho Killer" over an artificial drum loop. A new instrument is added in each song until the entire band gets down on "Burning Down the House." Famous for including very little stage lighting and minimal shots of the audience, Byrne and company rely heavily on the strength of the music.
The Who: The Kids are Alright
This documentary should come with a disclaimer that reads, "Many innocent musical instruments were harmed in the making of this film." The Who bring us into their lives and charm us with their witty banter as they attempt to age gracefully in the late '70s. Keith Moon is outrageous, arguably living up The Who's early claim, "I hope I die before I get old." Sadly, he passed away shortly after production was finished. Luckily, The Kids Are Alright captures Moon's gaudy personality.
Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii
Before the release of Dark Side of The Moon, Pink Floyd's music was merely a disillusioned sketch of greater things to come. Shot in Pompeii among the volcanic ruins of an empty stadium, a youthful Pink Floyd immerses itself in its natural surroundings in this highly impersonal performance. The main set is sandwiched between both ends of the 20-minute epic "Echoes," which features perhaps the funkiest breakdown of all time with Roger Waters carrying the groove on bass. Sadly, this is one of the few videos to surface that features a Waters-Gilmour Pink Floyd.
Led Zeppelin: DVD
This behemoth double-disc offering of hits and rarities spans Led Zeppelin's entire career. At five hours and 20 minutes, viewers are able to watch "Whole Lotta Love" twice, each from a different era in the Zeppelin history. The notion of "less is more" is put to shame by Page's magical fret-work and Plant's chilling vocals. John Paul Jones proves to be versatile, often leaving the comfort of the bass to play keys or the mandolin. Complete with John Bonham on drums, live Led Zeppelin is certainly a lot looser than in the studio, but the energy and sheer talent of the four bring a refreshing new life to the timeless songs.
Phish: Bittersweet Motel
Phish, perhaps the only jam band that will ever come close to filling the Grateful Dead's long shadow, take us on its space-rock odyssey. The ride shows a reinvigorated band playing small clubs on their 1998 European trek and ends in front of a crowd of 70,000 at their Great Went Festival. Phish takes its music seriously and the performance footage is striking; however, what makes this documentary stand out are the playful personalities of each band member. An impromptu, country-shuffle ditty by guitarist Trey Anastasio about keyboardist Page McConnell's new shirt is just one of many laugh-out-loud moments.
Rage Against the Machine: Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Live at the Grand Olympic captures Rage's final two shows in the fall of 2000 before taking a seven-year hiatus. It serves as visual proof to the disclaimer found on the band's albums: that "all sounds are made by guitar, bass, drums, and vocals." Tom Morello proves that he should be on anyone's top guitarist list, showing no mercy for his six-stringed axe often producing a scratching sound more common to the turnttable. Also, do not skip over the bonus footage, which includes Rage's controversial set on the streets of Los Angeles during the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
moe.: Live From the Fillmore
Dueling guitars, bass lines that are as round as the person playing them, and a wall of percussion make this jam-heavy performance stand out among an impressive crop of modern jam-band DVDs. It is difficult to get bored with a five-piece band that features three lead singers, each sharing solo duties and filling out harmonies, two lead guitarists, both able to complete each other's musical sentence, and two drummers to hold it all in time. Bursting at the seams with musical tension and witty lyrics moe. is best enjoyed while dancing.
My Morning Jacket: Okonokos
Often hard to characterize, My Morning Jacket could be described as a contemporary rock band with a psychedelic edge.The refreshing live music offered by the sonic warriors shows that carefully constructed music can be just as potent on stage as in the studio. Heavy guitar interplay and Jim James' reverb-laden vocals are enhanced greatly by the subtle lighting, also making Okonokos a worthwhile visual experience.
Wilco: I am Trying to Break Your Heart
Chicago alt-rockers Wilco star in this grainy documentary about the making of their fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. In the band's attempt to create a sonic masterpiece, it loses a key band member and is dropped from the Reprise label. Wilco's determination to stay the course and refusal to cater to the motives of record executives proves how difficult it is to release an album on one's own terms. I am Trying to Break Your Heart is a refreshing look at the will of musicians; however, it uncovers a darker side of a business that is controlled by giants and their balance sheets.
The Band: The Last Waltz
Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Band's farewell performance in 1976 includes guest appearances from an impressive list of friends, including; Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond, and Muddy Waters. Often overlooked in the history of rock music, The Band was once Dylan's electric backing band. Characterized by a raw blend of dirty South funk and backwoods, front-porch sing-alongs, The Band created its own following with hits like "Up on Cripple Creek" and "The Weight." Woven throughout the three-hour concert, Scorsese includes a series of brutally honest interviews that portray the members of the band as tired and ready to move on after 16 years on the road. Reflecting on the days when they had to steal loaves of bread to stay alive in between gigs, it is easy to feel the emotional cries in Rick Danko's voice during "It Makes No Difference." The musical guests add a lot of luster, but the strength of The Band's original material and the chemistry that comes from years of musical servitude are what make this film a classic. Seeing Robbie Robertson go lick for lick with Eric Clapton and come out alive is entertaining, but when The Band conducts business sans guests, speaking musically from shared experience, entertainment becomes inspiration. From the most casual music fan to the seasoned expert, The Last Waltz is not only a musical relic but a necessary piece in any musical education.
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