Concert films are difficult to evaluate because they are similar to the television broadcast of a sports event. The entertainment value of the event is closely tied to the event itself. If a director misses a shot and the viewer misses part of the action, the mistake is recognized but excellent performance is rarely acknowledged. The Neil Young Trunk Show rocks but does it rock because Neil Young rocks or because it is an amazing film? Neil Young certainly rocks, combining acoustic and rock numbers. There are passionate lyrics, intricate solos, and a diverse selection of songs. Anyone could have …
Fun
First concert in a while Tuesday night. Saw The Hold Steady at the Phoenx. Last time that I was at that club, Beck was playing and people were worried about Y2K. Last time that I was at a show, Oasis were touring Don’t Believe the Truth at the Molson Amphitheatre. It was more or less enjoyable, a reminder to do so more often. It was similar to seeing Birds of Wales at the Mod Club, another band suggested by a friend. The Hold Steady turned out to be a band that I like (of course, any rock band that plays …
Shine a Light
Martin Scorsese’s film about a Rolling Stones concert, Shine a Light, puts on a good show. I was expecting more of a documentary; not This Is Spinal Tap but a film that shone light on the band’s intricacies, like how that Simpsons’ episode revealed that Keith Richards spikes his lemonade and Mick Jagger mows his own lawn. Bill Clinton introduces the Stones and mentions that he did likewise at a climate change fundraiser because “they care as much about this issues as we do.” Hopefully they purchased carbon emission credits to make up for lights that were “burning [Mick Jagger’s] …