Summer Concert Series: Festival Express (2003)

In Canada in 1970, a brand new type of music festival was created. It was one that would not be tried again and remains a unique and exciting idea. This idea was to have many great music artists travel a country by train, performing at the places where the train stopped. This great documentary tells the story of that tour.

The music in this movie is in many ways not surprisingly the highlight. Janis Joplin in particular is an artist that is just as fun to watch perform as she is to listen to. Her performance of Tell Mama is incredible. Her voice not only sounds amazing but she knows how to perfectly command the stage. What she gives us here is pure and utter rock and roll at its finest. After reviewing The Last Waltz (1978) earlier in this summer concert series, it is great to get a bit of a different view of The Band here. There was a polish and perfection to The Last Waltz that is not here, but what is in its place is a rougher edge more rootsy sound that is just as great in its own way. The Grateful Dead seem to be the main stars of this movie and they are at the top of their game here. The Flying Burrito Brothers appear much to briefly but are excellent. Buddy Guy was so good, he left me wanting more of him in this movie. The one part of the music that didn't work for me was Sha-Na-Na. I am not a fan and they still didn't impress me here

The story is extremely interesting and tells a great story about the history of rock music that is often overlooked. We get to hear the people who organized the concert as well as the performers talk about the tour and it is a joy to listen to. The scenes of the artists on the train jamming out are a sheer delight for fans of rock and roll.

-Michael J. Ruhland