Movie Review: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A real treat for Elvis fans. 

This movie begins with a clip of Elvis stating that his story had never been told from his point of view. This film however is completely from Elvis' point of view. It consists of interview clips, concert footage and behind the scenes clips. Every second is full of pure bliss for Elvis fans. The musical performances are simply wonderful. The song selection itself is fantastic ranging from many of Elvis' biggest hits to covers of the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Three Dog Night to gospel standards. Not only this but the performances show Elvis at his best. His voice sounds truly wonderful and his stage presence is incredible making him just as much a joy to watch as he is to listen to. Putting this film in IMAX helps give us the feeling of being at a rock concert. The interview footage mostly features Elvis talking about what goes through his mind as he puts on a show giving us a greater emotional connection to the performances and the work that goes into being such a master showman. I can picture someone who has previously not been an Elvis fan become a fan after watching this film, which is the ultimate achievement for a movie like this.  

Yet it is not just the quality of the induvial parts but also the rarity of them that makes this special. Many of these clips are not familiar to even the most dedicated Elvis fans. This alone makes this an essential watch for any fan who feels they have seen all there is to see of Elvis. That the new footage is so good is just a bonus. 

One can complain about how safe this movie plays it, not ever really delving into Elvis' flaws. However, when a movie is this much of a joy to watch that is hardly a problem. 

I don't know if this will go down in film history along such great rock and roll movies as A Hard Day's Night (1964), The Last Waltz (1978) or Stop Making Sense (1984) but I wouldn't be surprised if it does. 

Movie Trailer: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert

Movie Review: still playing possum: Music and Memories of George Jones

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A simple wonderful concert film that will delight all country music fans. 

As anyone who reads this blog knows, as well as movies, I am also passionate about country music. To me and many other country fans, George Jones is not just a country singer, but he is the embodiment of country music. The very idea of someone calling themselves a country music fan and not loving George Jones seems completely impossible to me. Naturally because of this it is only appropriate for country singers (both those who are fairly new and those who have been around a while) to put on a concert to pay tribute to the possum. I am even more grateful that this concert was not only filmed but was put on movie screens so that those of us who couldn't be there in person could enjoy it to. The line up of singers in this movie is incredibly impressive. Performing here is Tanya Tucker, Trace Adkins, Tracy Bird, Tracy Lawerance, Brad Paisley, Janie Fricke, Jelly Rolly, Travis Tritt, Wyonna, Sam Moore, Mark Chesnut, Gretchen Wilson, Uncle Kracker, Justin Moore, Jamey Johnson, Joe Nichols and Dierks Bentley. Not only is this a wonderful line up but all of them are at their absolute best. As they perform George's most famous songs, there is not a single performance that misses here, each one is wonderful. I guess there is something about paying tribute to one of the greatest country singers of all time that brought out the best in each and every one of these artists. 

If I have on complaint, it is that the way this movie was filmed is not very cinematic but feels more like a concert that also airs on TV.  However I would still rather watch this concert and a movie theater rather than on TV and the lack of cinematic visuals can hardly take away how great the music is. 

This is a pure treat for country fans. 

Summer Concert Series: Stop Making Sense (1984)

 

Note: I normally don't do Summer Concert Series posts outside of summer. However, since this film has been rereleased to movie theaters recently and I just saw it there earlier today, I felt it was the right time to make this post.  

Stop Making Sense has been referred to as one of the best concert films ever made. When you watch the movie, it is very easy to understand why.

Few concert films have ever so perfectly captured a band at their artistic peak. I feel that one of the best ways to determine if a concert film is a great movie is if you can picture someone who has never heard of the band or singer before, leaving as a fan. This is perfectly the case when it comes to Stop Making Sense. The Talking Heads have never sounded better than they do here. In fact, the movie versions of some of the songs here sound even better than the studio recordings. Even if you aren't normally a rock and roll fan, it is hard to find your foot moving to the sound of the music. The Talking Heads not only sound great here, but they are a lot of fun to watch. When you watch David Byrne's boundless energy on stage, Tina Weymouth's wonderful stage presence (especially when she takes over lead vocals on Genius of Love) or the sheer amount of fun backing singers (Lynn Mabry, Ednah Holt) are having it is hard not to be caught up in the pure energy.

The movie also has a wonderful start as David Byrne is alone on stage with his acoustic guitar (and a portable cassette player) playing and singing Psycho Killer. The next song (Heaven) finds Tina Weymouth joining him on stage. With the next few songs more and more members of The Talking Heads will join them on stage, with various equipment being hauled out as the musicians are playing to accommodate. By the film's sixth song (the top 10 hit, Burning Down the House) the whole band is on stage. This is not only excellent showmanship, but it also makes this movie feel more cinematic because like a good fictional film, it keeps building upon itself with each new scene (or song). 

Though one may think that directing a concert film is an easy job, where all the director has to do is point a camera at the performers, it is well worth noting that the best concert films are by great directors (think of Martin Scorsese with The Last Waltz (1978) or D. A. Pennebaker with Monterey Pop (1968)). This movie has a very acclaimed director at the helm, Jonathan Demme. This is the filmmaker that caused no less than Paul Thomas Anderson to say his three favorite filmmakers were "Jonathan Demme, Jonathan Demme and Jonathan Demme." Some of this great director's films include Swing Shift (1984), Married to the Mob (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and Philadelphia (1993). His other concert films include Neil Young: Heart of Gold (2006) and Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids (2016). His direction in Stop Making Sense is perfect. This is not one of those static concert films where the camera remains static. Instead, this is a very cinematic concert film. Yet the camera never moves simply to have the camera move. Instead, it feels like just as natural part of the concert as the music itself. There are times when the camera follows the performers making us feel like we are on stage with them. There are other times when the camera can stay still in beautiful shots that capture the whole stage (these moments need to be seen on a movie screen to be fully appreciated). However, the music always seems to determine what the camera does. Because of this it enhances the performance instead of distracting from it. It adds to the pure energy and fun of the movie. 

This is one of those movies that can be equally appreciated as cinematic art and as entertainment. This may be a concert film, but it is something that many aspiring filmmakers could learn from studying and those who look at cinema as a great art form can be amazed by. At the same time, it can simply be enjoyed by those who simply want to hear good music. A must see.   

Movie Review: The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A wonderful documentary about Tanya Tucker's wonderful 2019 While I'm Livin' album.

If you are a country music fan like I am then no one needs to tell you who Tanya Tucker is. Her singing songs like Delta Dawn, What's Your Daddy's Name and Texas (When I Die) will forever live int he fans of those who truly love country music and for good reason. Since she is such a country music great, it is strange to think that there was a gap of 10 years between While I'm Livin' and her previous album My Turn. While I'm Lvin' was also her first album of original music since 2002's Tanya. This movie helps us see not only why this was the case (the deaths of her parents left her devastated and emotionally drained) but also gives us a wonderfully personal look at the making of the album. The majority of this movie is made up of her in the studio making the album. For anyone who loves country music as much as I do, this footage is incredibly valuable and a pure treat. When don't only get to see Tanya as a wonderful singer but see her as a person, up close and personal. The moments with her talking about her career, her feelings about the album and life as a superstar from a young age (she began her music career at the age of 11) make it feel like we are personally spending time with her ourselves and by the end of the film, we feel somehow feel an even greater appreciation for her not only as an artist but as a human being as well. 

Much of this film deals with Tanya's relationship with Brandi Carlile. Brandi is not only a great singer and songwriter in her own right but a massive Tanya fan and co-producer of this album (the other producer was Shooter Jennings (who also appears in this film), son of country music legends Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter as well as a wonderful singer with a good career of his own). The deep friendship that develops between these two is incredibly sweet and quite touching. By the end of the film Brandi is not only in love with Tanya's music but truly cares about and adores her as a person. There are times when she becomes an excited and starstruck fangirl and these scenes are simply wonderful. They also make us so happy that she not only gets to work with Tanya but become a friend. This is a dream come true for her and we get to share a little bit of her excitement with her. Tanya also learns to deeply care for Brandi. It is also wonderful to see how both of them are truly there for the other, whenever that friend is worried or in need. This leads to some really touching moments. The moments with these two talking to each other are simply wonderful. 

Now for the most obvious praise for this movie. The music is fantastic. Not only is Tanya Tucker a true country music great but While I'm Livin' is a fantastic album (if you are a country music fan and haven't heard it, you really should seek it out). The performances of these songs and some of her biggest hits from the past (as well a song or two from Brandi) are country music at its finest. 

My only real complaint is the scenes that recount important parts of Tanya's career. These scenes not only feel like a more typical documentary but give only the simplistic look at these parts of her career. They will give any new information or insight that those who are already country music fans don't know. They can also seem to interrupt the wonderful studio scenes, lacking any great transition to them. However with the small amount of the runtime these scenes take up this is hardly a major complaint.

If you, like me, are a major country music fan, then this movie is a must see. 

Movie Review: Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A fantastic documentary on the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

This movie like all of the best music documentaries and concert films, works first and foremost as a celebration of music. Because of this, Jazz Fest is a film that you leave the theater happier than when you came in and isn't that just what you want from a trip to the movies. Both movies and music have the power to do this and so a film like this certainly does. Despite the name of this film, and of the festival it is about, being Jazz Fest, neither the festival nor the movie limit themselves to one genre. While there is some traditional jazz, there is also a wide variety of other genres including gospel, R&B, Cajun music, hip-hop and rock and roll. All of these genres are treated with equal respect and fans of any of these genres should be more than happy with what this film gives them. The highlight of the movie of course is the performances from the many great artists. These artists range from people that everyone reading this will know (Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Earth Wind and Fire, B.B. King, Jimmy Buffett, Katy Perry, Pitbull and many more) to some great local talent from New Orleans that you will be introduced to here. All of these artists give fantastic performances and even if one of them is not your taste and music, you will still truly appreciate their showmanship and talent. Plus there is a wide enough variety that everybody will find some music that they will love. Watching these performances makes nearly anyone who ever likes music want to attend this festival. There is a joyous feel in these parts that I don't see how anyone can resist. This film also gives a great history of this festival and the artists there and I am sure even many music buffs will learn something new. The interviews with various artists and people who work on the festival add to the movie's joyous feeling. They so passionate about everything they are talking about that it is hard not to get caught up in the excitement yourself. There is something that is simply always wonderful about seeing the joy in someone's face as they talk about something they are truly passionate about and that feeling is all over this movie. 

The only real problem I have with this film is the length. To cover 50 years of a festival in an hour and half, is just not giving yourself enough time and this can cause a bit of a rushed feeling. But when everything about the film is this joyous, it seems to only be a compliment to say that you want much more. 

A must see. 

Movie Review: Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A+ An incredible concert movie and one of the best documentaries in recent years. In 1969, the same summer that Woodstock happened another less documented but no less important music festival accorded. This was The Harlem Culture Festival. This festival featured some of the greatest black musicians in America. This concert was just as much a celebration of black culture as it was an incredible array of great music. The importance of a celebration like this in 1969 in the midst of the civil rights movement can not be understated. When Gladys Knight is interviewed she states that the importance of the night goes far beyond just the music and as we watch this film it is hard not to agree. Like the concert itself this film is just as much about the place, time and culture as the While a concert movie can never fully capture being there in person, this film comes as close as a movie like this can. Watching the performances and the audience, you can feel the excitement and get caught up in it. Adding to this is great interviews with not only the artists but also the people attending the festival, people arranging the festival and some of the security (the security was provided by the Black Panthers). Because of this we see the concert from all sides and the movie becomes all the more immersive. Director Questlove (in his feature length directorial debut) appropriately leaves out any narration leaving the history to be told mostly by those who were there. The most obvious praise to give this movie is that the music is fantastic. Featured here is B.B. King, Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, Gladys Knight, The Staple Sisters and so much more. All of them are at the top of their game and this is American music at its best. My only complaint is that I would have liked even more music here. This film is a must watch for all fans of music and/or movies. This is both documentary filmmaking and American music at its finest. -Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Gimme Shelter (1970)

This landmark documentary is still incredibly powerful and shocking today. This isn't just a movie about a rock band, but about a tragedy and the change in culture that created it. 

As many know the 1960's is often considered a time of idealism but thoughts of peace and love sadly couldn't last forever. This falling out of ideals is brutally and honestly shown at a rock concert in 1969 that took place at Altamont Speedway that erupted in a hideous display of violence. Though this film is technically about the Rolling Stones, the footage of this concert takes center stage and is what people remember and take away from this film. Anyone who wants a feel good fun rock and roll concert film, had better watch a different movie. The footage of this concert is unpleasant and will leave some with a feeling of discomfort and disillusionment. Yet this movie leaves such a powerful impression that anyone who has seen it can never forget it. Even as one of the most popular rock and roll bands in the world performs their most famous hits, they are unfortunately upstaged and overshadowed by the horror playing out in front of them. Of course the music is excellent but how musically talented the Stones are is not going to be your parting thought. There is little of the peace and love associated with 60's rock and roll, instead their is the violence and unruliness of a painful part of human nature that the hippie dream could not overcome no matter how hard it tried. What hurts all the more is that this is a documentary and what you see in the same is what actually happened as it happened. 

This is not an upbeat movie by any means but it is a thought provoking one that will stay with you long after the film is over. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Down from the Mountain (2000)

 The movie, O Brother Where Art Thou (2000) brought a renewed interest in folk and bluegrass music. In fact the music was so important to that movie that a concert film was created based around the performers who did the songs heard there. As strange of an idea as this is, Down From the Mountain works wonderfully.

Despite the presence of D.A. Pennebaker (Don't Look Back (1967), Monterey Pop (1968)) as one of the directors there is little cinematic about this movie. You can close your eyes and simply listen to the music and get pretty much the same out of it. That may sound like a major insult, but when the music is this good one hardly needs anymore. Those who know my taste in music (or anyone who reads my Cowboy Church posts) will hardly be surprised to hear me praise this movie, it is a perfect example of what I listen to when I am not watching movies. Such incredible artists as Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Union Station, The Cox Family, Ralph Stanley, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, John Hartford and The Whites perform here and all of them are at the top of their game. From the perfect voices of Emmylou Harris and Alison Krauss, to the incredible lyrics of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, to the incredible musicianship of Ralph Stanley and Union Station, this film gives country, folk and bluegrass fans all they could want from a concert movie and much more.

A pure auditorily treat, even if cinematically it leaves some to be desired. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Foreigner: All Access Tonight (2003)

In 2002 VH1 was doing a behind the music segment on British/American rock band Foreigner. When they were asked for archival footage of the band performing, they began to realize that they had none. Guitarist and founding member Mick Jones, decided that this was a fact that needed to be rectified. So he asked his friend Justin Bougerie (the director of this movie) to film the 2002-2003 tour of the band. In the end they had enough footage to make a feature length film.

This movie is hardly as polished as something like The Last Waltz (1978). It was filmed on one camera and therefore many of the cinematic touches seen in other concert films are completely missing here. The footage itself is about the same picture quality as a fan recording one of their favorite bands and concert and posting it to YouTube. However the sound quality is much better. There are some scenes where you see the band when they are not performing. While there is hardly the intimacy of say Don't Look Back (1967), these scenes are a lot of fun (with the exception of them checking into a hotel in a scene where nothing else happens).

While this movie may be lacking cinematically at times, it makes up for this with Foreigner's performances. They put on quite a show and are a joy to watch as they perform their hits. Many of these songs sound just as good if not better live. Despite this being 25 years after the band formed they had lost none of their talent by this time. Adding to this is that hit songs like Double Vision, Hot Blooded, Feels Like the First Time and Juke Hero are just as fun as they were when they came out.

This may not be anything groundbreaking but it is a fun concert film.

-Michael J. Ruhland  

Summer Concert Series: Jazz on a Summer's Day (1959)

Jazz on A Summer's Day is one of the earliest concert films and one of the best. This movie provides all one could wish for from a film like this, provided a great look at the 1958 Newport Jazz festival. Of course most important to this type of movie is the music and that is fantastic here. The line up of artists is fantastic. Included are Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Big Maybelle, Chico Hamilton and Mahalia Jackson. All of them are at the top of their game here. Watching Louis Armstrong continue showing that he was one of the world's great entertainers (as he did in many movies) is a pure delight. He and trombonist Jack Teagarden have incredible chemistry and it is a joy to watch them together. Though Monk is in the film only briefly his music leaves quite an impression. Chico Hamilton and Gerry Mulligan show that this type of jazz is just as great today as it was then. Chuck Berry gives his all and shows all the energy and fun that defined early rock and roll. There was no better way to end this movie than gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. If her singing doesn't move you nothing will. Her performance of The Lord's Prayer not only stops the show but glues your ears and eyes to the movie in a way free performers can. Time stands still and all there is are the words, music and her voice creating an incredible experience found in few concert films. 

The way this movie is filmed is fascinating. Unlike many concert movies where the camera is always on the performers this film spends just as much if not more time looking at the audience. It is often times just as much fun watching the audience as it is the performers. When you think of jazz in movies, you often think of a dark film noir type setting as well as dark and shady characters. Instead what we get here is a bright summer's day in a nice upscale looking place and a crowd of people who look like they are at a church service. They are mostly a restrained crowd but one that is heavily enjoying the music. Watching the crowd when Chuck Berry is performing is watching musical and cultural history happening. The younger audience members, who are restrained through much of the film are dancing and having tons of fun with the still new rock and roll. Meanwhile the older attendees (who probably came to hear jazz music) are cold and unemotional to this new fangled genre. As well as the scenes with the audience watching the performances, there also scenes simply showing the attendees having wholesome fun, when there are no artists on stage. This makes the movie more appealing today as it becomes a nostalgic time capsule of a time that is very different from how we live today. 

If you are a film fan, if you are a music fan or if you are both, this movie is a must watch.

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Summer Concert Series: The Big TNT Show (1966)

This semi-sequel to The T.A.M.I. Show (1964), is a great follow up and an excellent concert film.

The musical selection in this movie is as good as it gets. Artists including Ray Charles, Petula Clark, The Lovin' Spoonful, Bo Diddly, Joan Baez, The Ronettes, Roger Miller, The Byrds, Donovan and Ike and Tina Turner. Any movie that features a live performance of Ray Charles performing Georgia on My Mind (no matter how many singers sing this song, Ray's version will always be the best) is definitely worth recommending. All the artists are at the top of their gang here. After country music being completely left out of The T.A.M.I. Show it is a joy to see Roger Miller here and his unique style of country music as well as his quirky sense of humor. His performance of London Swings features the best use of background dancers in either of these films. The Ronettes give a high energy and fantastically choregraphed performance that is corny as all get out but so much fun. Joan Baez's voice as always is beautiful as ever, especially on her first two song, which are in the folk tradition that she upheld so well. Unfortunately You've Lost That Loving Feeling doesn't seem to fit her all that well. Ike and Tina Turner are so energetic and tons of fun to listen to. Donovan's performances of slower, sad songs don't quite fit in with the film's mostly high energy fast paced acts, but he is still fantastic here. Before this movie I was really only familiar with Donovan for the Bob Dylan movie, Don't Look Back (1967) and I have to say, I am very impressed. Bo Diddly is here much too brief of a time, but gives a fantastic performance. The Byrds are also at the top of their game here and show just why they were so important to folk-rock.

The biggest fault of this movie was simply the fact that the teenage girls in the audience scream a lot, like all 93 minutes. It is very annoying at first but to be honest, you get used to it pretty dang quickly. This film luckily does away with the awful comedy of Jan and Dean and the use of Go-Go dancers is minimized. Though to be fair, the climax of this film is an all Go-Go dancer spectacular. Personally part of me wanted to see Go-Go dancers behind Donovan, just for how little that would fit.

Like The T.A.M.I. Show if you like 1960's music this movie is a must watch.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: The T.A.M.I. Show (1964)

First off the question all of you are asking, T.A.M.I. stands for "Teen Age Music International" or "Teenage Awards Music International." Now on to the movie.

This is one of the finest concert films ever made. The musicians featured here are some of the finest rock and roll, pop and R&B artists of the era. The line up includes Jan and Dean, Chuck Berry, Gerry and the Peacemakers, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Lesley Gore, The Beach Boys, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, The Supremes, The Barbarians, James Brown and the Famous Flames and The Rolling Stones. The famous Wrecking Crew (Hal Blaine, Jimmy Bond, Tommy Tedesco, Glen Campbell, Lyle Ritz, Leon Russell, Plas Johnson) is the house band. All of these performers are at the top of their game. Probably the most talked about part of this film is James Brown's performance. This is appropriate as his pure energy and stage presence is incredible. He gives one everything they could want from a concert experience and it is impossible not to get caught up in the energy of it all. Keith Richards would later state that following James Brown was the worst mistake they ever made. It is worth saying that despite this famous statement, The Rolling Stones are fantastic here, giving us pure blues influenced rock nd roll at its best. Speaking of pure rock and roll energy and showmanship, Chuck Berry is just as much fun as anyone could hope from one of the founders of rock and roll. The Beach Boys have never sounded as great as they do here and it is proof that they were much more than the simple gimmick band they could have been. Their melodies and harmonies are simply beautiful and the songs were never as simple as they sounded at first listen. They are beautifully and perfectly put together in a way only true masters could do. Leslie Gore is someone who I have honestly not given much thought to before watching this movie, but after seeing her performance here, I fully understand and appreciate her appeal. She is a great vocalist and a fine stage presence. 

The music doesn't date at all but other parts of this movie do. The presence of Go-Go dancers in almost every performance kind of just looks silly today. The stage antics of Jan and Dean are to be honest kind of annoying. However compared to just how great the music these are minor complaints.

The director is Steve Binder, who rock and roll fans may know for directing Elvis' 1968 Comeback Special and this movie is every bit as great. He also directed The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), but let us not hold that against him as this movie is fantastic.

-Michael J. Ruhland     

Summer Concert Series: CDB Live (2005)

Note: Hello my friends, for three days this blog will cover concert films featuring country music and rock and roll icon, Charlie Daniels. Charlie recently passed away suddenly from a stroke. Though Charlie recorded many studio albums (most as part of The Charlie Daniels Band), what he enjoyed the most about his career was being on stage entertaining audiences. That is why these films are so important now that he is no longer around to do concerts. Films last forever and so through these movies we will forever be able to enjoy the man doing what he did best.

After the early full southern rock in Volunteer Jam (1976) and the bluegrass gospel of Charlie without the rest of CDB in Preachin' Prayin' Singin' (2005), CDB Live represents what most people think of today when they think of The Charlie Daniels Band (yes The Devil Went Down to Georgia is performed). This film features them as a country-rock band that stands for redneck culture, God and patriotism. They do a run through of their big hits such as The Legend of Wooly Swamp, Simple Man, Long Haired Country Boy, In America, The South's Gonna Do It (Again) and the aforementioned The Devil Went Down to Georgia. As Charlie Daniels had become a devout Christian by this time some of these songs feature a change of lyrics that replace cuss words and drug references. This may divide some fans of the band's earlier work, but I feel that that the Volunteer Jam movie still exists for anyone who wants to see the earlier rougher edged (and less political minded for those who don't agree with the right-wing politics of a couple songs in this film) of The Charlie Daniels Band. Also a feel that a film like this is created to be a document of a concert and a piece and time for the artist recorded and this is how Charlie was at tis time until the end of his life. There is also some lesser know music picked here such as The Intimidator (Charlie's tribute to Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt), Floreeda Road (a fun instrumental song that shows that the band has lost none of its musicianship since Volunteer Jam), Preachin' Prayin' Singin' and Heart of My Heart (a duo of great gospel numbers). The band is in great form performing the entire set list seemingly effortlessly and engaging the crowd. Most of all they create such a sense of fun and excitement that transferred perfectly to the audience and transfers to whoever watches this film. Like Volunteer Jam, the filmmaking is straightforward and never calls attention to itself keeping the focus on the music, which is fantastic. This is simply a typically great concert from CDB captured in a delightful film.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Preachin' Prayin' Singin' (2005)

Note: Hello my friends, for three days this blog will cover concert films featuring country music and rock and roll icon, Charlie Daniels. Charlie recently passed away suddenly from a stroke. Though Charlie recorded many studio albums (most as part of The Charlie Daniels Band), what he enjoyed the most about his career was being on stage entertaining audiences. That is why these films are so important now that he is no longer around to do concerts. Films last forever and so through these movies we will forever be able to enjoy the man doing what he did best.

This film shows a completely different side of Charlie Daniels than what we saw in Volunteer Jam (1976). While that movie showed Charlie rocking out with some of the greats of southern rock, this film shows him surrounded by bluegrass and country music greats (Mac Wiseman, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Gary Scruggs, The Whites, Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury)  preaching the gospel and performing bluegrass gospel music. This is a much more up close and personal performance from Charlie. He is laughing, joking and hanging out with his friends just as much as he is playing music. We see them discussing the history of bluegrass music (of which Charlie is very knowledgeable). This makes the movie feel like time spent with friends as well as a concert. This is not to say there is anything lacking in the music. This film is pure bluegrass gospel at its finest and Charlie sounds just as perfect with these songs as he does rocking out with the CDB. Of course the highlight for all bluegrass fans is when one of the greatest legends of the genre comes out to join, Earl Scruggs. He and Charlie's rendition of the bluegrass standard Salty Dog Blues would make this a must see film for bluegrass fans even if it was the whole movie.

This film was shot in black and white and that works perfectly as it adds to the intimate and unpretentious feeling of this performance. Other than being in black and white the filmmaking never calls attention to itself, yet does a marvelous job and this is actually quite a well made film as well as being a great concert. 

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Volunteer Jam (1976).

Note: Hello my friends, for three days this blog will cover concert films featuring country music and rock and roll icon, Charlie Daniels. Charlie recently passed away suddenly from a stroke. Though Charlie recorded many studio albums (most as part of The Charlie Daniels Band), what he enjoyed the most about his career was being on stage entertaining audiences. That is why these films are so important now that he is no longer around to do concerts. Films last forever and so through these movies we will forever be able to enjoy the man doing what he did best.



.The Charlie Daniels Band is best known today as the band that did The Devil Went Down to Georgia. However the band had a lot going on before that song was ever released. Luckily for us, the excitement of the band’s earlier days is captured in a fantastic concert film. Still this great movie seems to hardly get a notice, even from the band’s fans.

One of the most exciting parts of the band’s career were the Volunteer Jam concerts. These concerts showed just what the band was and is still all about, this is of course great music. The band never cared if their music was country, rock, blues, bluegrass or whatever. If it was good it had a place in the band’s repertoire. Along with performing some of themselves in these concerts, the band always had special guests. Causing much of the excitement is the audience never knew who the guests were going to be. Over the years the Volunteer Jams would have such legends as Roy Acuff, Carl Perkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Kris Kristofferson, Wet Willie, Bobby Bare. James Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Trace Adkins and The Allman Brothers Band. The first of these concerts lead to the live tracks from their Fire on the Mountain album. This was by far the band’s most successful album at this time featuring two big hits, The South’s Gonna Do it Again and Long Haired Country Boy. The album even went gold. After this success it was decided that the second Volunteer Jam would be filmed and released to theaters. The concert took place at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro Tennessee and featured as special guests, The Marshall Tucker Band, Dickey Betts and Chuck Leavell from the Allman Brothers, Roni Stoneman (Yes that incredible female banjo player from Hee Haw), Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie and Dru Lombar from Grinderswitch. It was released in theaters in 1976, then disappeared until a 2007 DVD version.

This movie was advertised as “The First Full-Length Southern Rock Motion Picture” and it might surprise those who only know the country side of the band, just how much of a rock and roll movie this is. No Place Left to Go features an extended instrumental jam that is pure guitar rock at its best. The movie also features The Charlie Daniels Band performing such pure rock and roll songs as Funky Junky, Birmingham Blues and Whiskey. All of those songs are pure originals and remind anyone who underestimates CDB, that these are incredible musicians. Of course there is also rock and roll when The Marshall Tucker Band performs Twenty Four Hours (With Charlie joining them on fiddle). The majority of the performers get together to perform some rock and roll later in the film. No need for Country music fans to worry though, The Charlie Daniels Band does do some pure country songs here, from their own Long Haired Country Boy, The South’s Gonna Do it Again and Texas, to such classic country songs as Orange Blossom Special and Mountain Dew (which includes some great banjo picking from Roni Stoneman). Whether you like Country, Rock or Blues, this movie gives you Southern music at its finest. Cinematically this is a very simplistic film. Most of the filming is invisible calling little to no attention to itself, just shooting the performers strait on. However the focus is on the music and the music is amazing.

-Michael J. Ruhland 

Summer Concert Series: The Rolling Stones Ole Ole Ole: A Trip Across Latin America (2016)

Here in the U.S.A. the fact that we can enjoy rock and roll music is completely taken for granted. Anywhere in this country you can turn on a dozen or so radio stations that play nothing but rock. Even for fans of the band The Rolling Stones having a concert nearby is nothing earth-shattering. Still in countries where even listening to a Rolling Stones album for decades was not only subversive, but could make you get in trouble with the law, the band performing in your country was not just a chance to have a fun night out, but a historical milestone that represented a new sort of freedom that went beyond just fun music. Because of this Paul Dugdales Ole Ole Ole is presented not as much as a Rolling Stones documentary, but a film about this new found freedom. If you want to watch this movie to learn more about the Rolling Stones music or who the members of the band are as people, there are a dozen or so other films about The Rolling Stones that will give you more of this. Still if you want a documentary about the true effect that rock and roll music has and the pure freedom it can give to so many people, this is a perfect film for you. The highlights of this film (with the exception of the actual concert footage, that will be discussed later in this review) are the moments being spent with the fans of the band. Rock and roll to them wasn't simply fun music, but a true act of rebellious freedom. There is a true devotion to the band who have in these countries due to their banned status for decades have become more than just people. They were the personification of freedom of expression and the freedom to be who you truly are to people who weren't allowed the luxury for so long. Because of this what you see here are people who have excepted the band as not only music they like but a life style choice. To say some of these fans are die-hard is an understatement. Even in the concert footage spends a lot of time with the camera looking out at the audience, who may be the most excited and spirited audience I have ever seen in a concert film.

Of course with this being a Rolling Stones movie the music is very important as well. As many of you know the reason The Rolling Stones are one of the world's most popular rock bands is that their music is really good. Even though the band was no longer young at this time, they have lost none of their talent and energy on stage. The performances of such classics as Satisfaction, Honky Tonk Women, Sympathy For the Devil, Start Me Up, Silver, Wild Horses and Gimme Shelter are as high energy and fun to both listen to and watch as any Rolling Stones fan could hope for.

-Michael J. Ruhland  

Summer Concert Series: The Last Waltz (1978)

 Probably no concert film more perfectly captures the pure essence of rock and roll than The Last Waltz. This movie has Martin Scorsese perfectly capture The Band's farewell performance (though they would reunite in 1983). There was no better way for them to say goodbye than with this concert. The group has simply never sounded better and the versions of songs like Up on Cripple Creek, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Stage Fright remain the finest versions of these songs. There is so much heart and soul put into this concert and honestly I don't see how anyone could fail to be moved by the pure emotion in these performances. In the interview segments The Band talks about how the road has worn them out and despite loving it, they are not sure they can live that way much longer. However by the performance alone, it would be impossible to tell this. There is so much energy on display here. Probably the highlight of this is the wonderful performance The Band and Bob Dylan do of Baby Let Me Follow You Down. Bob Dylan had previously done this song as a folk ballad on his first album. To be honest it was far from one of the standout tracks on that album. However here it is fully turned into one of the most rocking songs in the movie and this gives it new life beyond what it had before. This song becomes pure rock and roll in the best way possible. Bob Dylan is not the only great guest star here, also appearing in this concert are Eric Clapton, Neil Young (the story of a cocaine booger under Neil's nose being taken out by special effects is completely true, and it is not hard to tell he is on something by looking at him here), Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Dimond, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, The Staples, Ringo Starr, Ron Wood, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield and Ronnie Hawkins. Emmylou is one of my favorites (if you ever get a chance to see her in concert take it), and her voice is as lovely as ever here. Listening to Eric Clapton and The Band perfectly trade guitar licks on Further on Down the Road is not only incredibly impressive but they make it sound like the most natural thing in the world. Not being much of a Neil Diamond fan I was more than a little impressed the first time I saw this movie how much I enjoyed him here. Muddy Waters perfectly shows us the blues at their finest when he performs a soulful rendition of Manish Boy. The Band and Paul Butterfield's version of the Elvis Presley classic, Mystery Train shows the pure energy of rock and roll at its best. Martin Scorsese is a masterful filmmaker, yet he perfectly understands when to let the music speak for itself. Because of this his direction here is beautiful but never calls attention to itself preferring.

If you are a fan of rock and roll music or even just kind of like it, there is no excuse for you not to see this movie.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: Monterey Pop (1968)

It has often been said that movies from the past are like time capsules. Few however are as much so as so as Monterey Pop. For 78 minutes you feel like you have been transported back to the 60's. What may come as a surprise to some watching this film is to see the huge melting pot of people that attended this festival. While the excepted very hippie looking people are there, there are also Hell's Angles and average everyday people. However once you think about this it could not make more sense. Just like you don't have to be a hillbilly to enjoy country music or a highbrow to like classical music, you don't have to be a hippie to enjoy the music here. The scenes with just the audience are essential to this film's personality as it helps give you the feeling that you are there with them. Little things like a women who says she is cleaning the chairs because she is lucky, audience members in tents and sleeping bags (this was a three day festival) and how much the audience is visually moved by Ravi Shankar's performance, help make this movie more than just a concert film. However while everything feels peaceful in the audience (despite a police offer worrying that something might happen at the movie's beginning), there are some true acts of rebellion on stage. At the end of a loud rocking performance of My Generation, The Who go completely crazy causing much destruction including of their own instruments. Jimi Hendrix during his band's performance of Wild Thing humps a guitar amp and then his guitar itself (in case any of you thought this was a family film). Yet even this is counterbalanced by the rather tame performances of Simon and Garfunkel and The Mamas and the Papas. Just like the audience on stage the performers are just as much a melting pot. The feeling of pure sixties is enhanced by the psychedelic images behind many of the performers.


When I first saw this movie, I was surprised by just how much music there was and how we did not see these performers off stage. The reason I was surprised by that is that I was only familiar with director, D. A. Pennebaker for his Bob Dylan documentary, Don't Look Back (1967) which did not spend much time on stage but a lot of time with Bob off stage. However Pennebaker still gets to show a lot of his groundbreaking film-making style and this is certainly a well directed movie. Also with this great of music you want to listen to it.

While this is not the first concert film, it is the one that made this a popular type of movie for many years. Still compared to later films like Woodstock (1970), Gimme Shelter (1970) or The Last Waltz (1978), this movie can seem a little primitive. The technology used to record this film is far behind the ones used for those later efforts. As such the sound and picture quality feel more like footage for a newsreel instead of for a full blown feature film.

The 78 minute run-time, proves to be much too brief. After watching these talented artists give a great performance of song and want to see more, they leave never to be seen in this movie again. This was a three-day music festival and we wish we weren't missing out on all the great music we did not get to hear. Likewise the scenes with the audience are too brief to have the effect of, say, Gimmie Shelter. Still we feel this way because what we got was so darn good despite being way too brief.

While this may not live up to later concert films, it remains a much watch for anyone interested in 60's pop-culture or music and a darn entertaining movie for others.

-Michael J. Ruhland

Summer Concert Series: 65 Revisited (2006)

I am sure many of my readers are very familiar with the excellent Bob Dylan documentary directed by D.A. Pennebaker, Don't Look Back (1965). Well more was filmed for that great movie than was used in the final film. Much more. Because of Pennebaker released a whole feature film, mostly made of unused footage from Don't Look Back four decades later. If you want to see this film, it does appear as a bonus feature on the Don't Look Back Criterion DVDs and Blu-rays.

The major difference between 65 Revisited and Don't Look Back is that in this film the focus is more on the music. With Don't Look Back Pennebaker explained that he did not want to make a film about Bob Dylan as a musician but rather as who the poet was behind his poetry. Because of this in that film, clips of Bob performing songs were used but rarely whole songs. 65 Revisited lets the songs play from beginning to end, including some we just got clips of in Don't Look Back. These performances show Bob at his best. Not only are the songs he is performing, some of his best songs of the era, but he performs they with such joy. He just looks so comfortable (something rare to see Bob being on camera) on the stage and is putting his full heart and soul into these songs. In Don't Look Back Bob stated that people went to his shows for entertainment not because they were great art. This concert footage could be the perfect argument for that. While the songs he is performing are great works of art, these performances show that he is as great of an entertainer as he is an artist. Dylan fans like myself will eat this footage up as it is truly indispensable. Not all the music is concert footage though. There is plenty of great footage of Bob and Joan Beaz singing songs together for themselves between shows. These songs are just pure fun.

The non-music footage is equally indispensable. Bob gets one of his best wisecracks in this film as he tells a reporter that asks him "Where do you see yourself in the future," "Sleeping." I also love his interactions with some young fans. I especially love some young girls chasing the train Bob is in waving to him. These scenes seem like the opposite of the Bob Dylan we see in Festival (1967), who hides from the crowds. It is just as nice to see this side of Bob.

It is hard to believe a movie comprised of outtakes from another movie could possible be this good. However this is not only a great companion piece to Don't Look Back, but a fantastic film in its own right, that can be considered a work of cinematic art on its own terms.

-Michael J. Ruhland