OT: Best (Rock) Concert Films

[oliver1850]

I always considered Gimme Shelter, The Song Remains the Same, and Stop Making Sense as at or near the top of my list. Last night I watched "Zappa Plays Zappa" and was astounded by the level of musicianship, connection with the mostly 30+ year old material, and the players' obvious appreciation of what the other band members were doing. Dweezil Zappa, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, Scheila Gonzalez, Aaron Arntz, Billy Hulting, Pete Griffin, Joe Travers, amazing musicians all. I saw Frank Zappa live a couple of times (a year or two either side of 1980), have seen several concert videos, but I honestly think the Zappa Plays Zappa lineup is "the best band I never saw in my life". I hope the legal battles are over and the project will continue.

What's on your list?

[Peter P.]

I don't have a favorite concert film, but I did see Zappa Plays Zappa live.

Yes; the musicians showed tremendous respect for Frank's work by the way they reproduced the songs. That really elevated MY respect for THEM.

[djg21]

The Last Waltz.

[Plum Hill]

Originally Posted by djg21

The Last Waltz.

Ditto.
There’s also Festival Express. Interesting train trip across Canada.

[Blue Jays]

Whitesnake has an excellent one. The sound is superb.

[GOTHBROOKS]

thin lizzy live and dangerous

[Rpoole8537]

Crossroads in Chicago, 2012. Mostly because I was there.

[William]

Stop Making Sense

One of my go to's for riding the rollers. Entertaining, great music, starts slow and builds to a crescendo...just like my work out.







W.

[cmg]

going to say no to the "the song remains the same" not a fan. long boring film. Neil young's "Journey through the past" was interesting . Superchunk released a concert video that was pretty good, don't remember the name.

[GOTHBROOKS]

too bad they digitally edited out all the coke in neil youngs nose when they remastered/rereleased the last waltz onto dvd.

[Mr. Pink]

I still go with Monterey Pop for the classic performances. Still amazed at Joplin's Ball and Chain, before she went downhill. The Who and Hendrix destroying instruments. Otis Redding right before he died.

[Lewis Moon]

Originally Posted by William

Stop Making Sense

One of my go to's for riding the rollers. Entertaining, great music, starts slow and builds to a crescendo...just like my work out.

W.

SMS is a hands down favorite here, too. Also too: The Last Waltz.

HOWEVER.....Jazz on a Summer's Day is my favorite all time of any genera.

[2metalhips]

Woodstock. Last Waltz.

[yinzerniner]

....as Gimme Shelter and The Last Waltz are two titans of the format.

Song Remains the Same and Stop Making Sense are much more experimental ie trippy with their dream narrative and shot asides, but very much worth the time if just to experience Zeppelin and The Talking Heads at the peak of their performative power.

The films of D.A. Pennebaker are a must for any concert film aficionado. Monterey Pop is singularly responsible for the burned-in image of our greatest musicians from that time, even more so than Woodstock. Same with the numerous Scorcese productions, like Last Waltz.

Dave Chapelle's Block Party is a great bit of guerilla filmmaking, helmed by one of the most influential music-video directors ever, Michel Gondry.

People love Awesome, I Shot That, but IMO that's mostly due to their underlying affinity for the Beasties and not the quality of the film itself. I too love them but the movie falls short.

From a performance perspective it's tough to beat Okonokos. MMJ had just recorded their best album, they were at the height of their live prowess, Jim James' voice had maybe another year before wear and tear took it's toll, and the venue is the Fillmore.

Same applies to Allison Krauss and Union Station Live. Everyone was at their peak, and the entire band had just invigorated all things bluegrass with their contributions to the Oh Brother soundtrack. Not necessarily a concert film per se, but you can't beat the quality of their live performing work.

Though not strictly concert films, 20 Feet from Stardom, the Wrecking Crew and Standing in the Shadows of Motown are all must-see. They really get into the heart of how music is really made, and how the essential the unknown players are for the greatest songs you've ever heard.

Completely Non-Essential - Rattle and Hum. U2 at their most pompous and obnoxious.

Know that a bunch are missing, but the above are a pretty good primer. Also it might make sense to break down the types of concert film - whether it's the quality of the performance, or the documenting of a place in time for the band/world/music.

[fiamme red]

This probably counts more as pop than rock, but T.A.M.I. Show.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.A.M.I._Show

Definitely of its time, with lots of go-go dancers.

Here are the Rolling Stones doing "Off the Hook" in that concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMeNC1IPUnQ. Their act followed James Brown and the Famous Flames, not an easy act to follow!