In Honor Of Woodstock, The Best Rock Documentaries and Concert Films By Farr

I'm one of those unfortunate children of the seventies who was old enough to know about Woodstock as it was happening, but way too young to attend. This cruel injustice stuck in my craw then, but the pain has eased with repeat viewings of the seminal documentary shot in and around this incredible "happening" exactly forty years ago, come this weekend.

Watching this and other similar titles, I've found that if you're equipped with a decent home theatre and quality speakers, it's hard to go wrong with a rock concert film. On a fundamental level, if you like the music, chances are you'll be entertained. And since great rock is also timeless, you're also likely to draw in the younger generation, and thus end up with a real crowd-pleaser.

Here now are ten rock concert/performance films I always swear by:

A Hard Day's Night (1964)- With this landmark film, director Richard Lester unveiled the inner workings of a rock n' roll band experiencing unprecedented super-stardom. The disarming charisma and spontaneous energy of the Beatles made no traditional plot necessary. It was sufficient to portray a day in the life of the world's most talked about rock band. Lester's documentary-style shooting makes the proceedings feel breathtakingly real- all four Beatles were natural performers, especially John and Ringo. The Fab Four are also matched here with fine British character actors like Norman Rossington (as their manager), and Wilfrid Brambell (as Paul's incorrigible grandfather), who provide additional comic support and flavoring. All these years later, "Night" remains a breathtaking musical ride.

The Complete Monterey Pop Festival (1967)- It was 1967: the Summer of Love was in full swing, and the "Sergeant Pepper's" album had just hit store shelves. This was a charged moment when you could sense that rock 'n' roll was evolving in daring new directions, fueled by psychedelic drugs, the sexual revolution, and a new generation finding its voice. Documentarian D.A. Pennebaker covers the Monterey Pop Festival like a blanket in this feature-length concert film- really the first-ever filming of everything and everyone at a large rock event, and showcasing landmark performances by immortals Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, and The Who, among others. Drinking in all the pungent sights and sounds makes you regret you weren't actually there, but also makes you doubly glad that Pennebaker was. A toe-tapping treat.

Gimme Shelter (1970)- Master documentarians the Maysles Brothers were on hand to record the soon-to-be-infamous free Rolling Stones concert at Altamont, which along with the Manson murders, brought the decade of flower power and free love to a dark, ominous close. We see not only the fateful concert itself, but much of the planning leading up to the event. Given what the camera actually captured here, "Gimme Shelter" remains a uniquely powerful, often disturbing film document. Scenes of the advance work for the Altamont concert impart a queasy feeling of dread. Then, coverage of the concert itself juxtaposes fabulous renditions of Stones tunes with the emerging reality of a volatile situation just off-stage. There, drugged-out Hell's Angels bikers start beating audience members, causing one fatality. Jagger's numbed expression as he later views the video playback of the incident is unforgettable. This fascinating, frightening film records a tumultuous moment in our popular culture, and a turning point in the history of rock.

Elvis: That's The Way It Is ((1971)- The king of '50's rock-n'-roll is still kicking in Denis Sanders's rousing tribute, which finds Elvis at a crossroads. With the waning of his movie career allowing him to get back to live performing, Presley rehearses for his much ballyhooed Las Vegas opening, yukking it up backstage with his band, and traipsing around with his entourage until his big-night debut. Elvis still looks (and sounds) terrific in this docu-portrait of the Memphis legend's bid for glitzy Vegas glory. Beyond the force of his charisma and talent in full blossom, we get a glimpse of the star's comical, playful side, which humanizes this larger-than-life entertainer. "Way" culminates in a predictably triumphant opening-night performance, with such luminaries as Cary Grant and Sammy Davis, Jr. in attendance. Elvis fans should be delighted, because "That's the Way It Is" lends poignancy to this last moment when the King appeared at his very best.

The Last Waltz (1978)- Continuing a tradition begun with his co-editing of "Woodstock" close to a decade earlier, Martin Scorsese captures "The Last Waltz" for posterity. This was The Band's final 1976 tour, after a back-breaking sixteen years on the road. To mark the milestone as a celebration, not a wake, the group assembled a veritable rock hall-of-fame to join them, including Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Dr. John, and Neil Young. The rest is music history. Often hailed as the greatest concert movie ever, it may just be. Robbie Robertson, the film's producer and guiding light behind The Band, is charismatic off-stage, electric on. All the guest musicians sing and play at the top of their games. Highlights include Joni Mitchell's "Coyote", Waters's earthy, soulful "Mannish Boy", Dr. John's dreamy "Such A Night", and Clapton's jaw-dropping guitar work on "Further On Up The Road".

Stop Making Sense (1984)- Filmed over the course of a three-day stint at Hollywood's Pantages Theater, this concert documentary celebrates the inspired pop energy of New Wave pioneers Talking Heads- David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison- as they are joined onstage by a succession of phenomenal players, including keyboardist Bernie Worrell. Director Jonathan Demme's infectious first outing captures the ecstatic fervor of the Talking Heads at the very peak of their fame, but it is much more than a filmed performance. Working from an idea hatched by super-quirky frontman David Byrne, "Sense" opens with Byrne's solo rendition of "Psycho Killer" (accompanying himself on boom-box) and builds, song by song and player by player, to a roof-raising climax with "Burning Down the House." The result is an uplifting, concept-driven dance party that avoids all the clichés.

Roy Orbison: Black and White Night (1991)- This star-studded 1987 concert by the groundbreaking rock-and-roll singer Roy Orbison, filmed at the Coconut Grove in downtown Los Angeles, features the falsetto-voiced pop star at the peak of his powers. Joining Orbison onstage are Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, and many others, singing gently rocking ballads like "Pretty Woman" and "Crying" in a rollicking hour of delightful, swinging collaboration. Originally aired on Showtime, "Night" evokes a 1940s nightclub environment complete with art-deco set design, gorgeous black-and-white photography, and Orbison's trademark shades. But aside from the nostalgic, ever-inviting aesthetics, it is the musical performances that remain so compelling. Orbison sounds like he hasn't lost a beat (or missed a note) since his Sun Records days, and his duets with Elvis Costello, K.D. Lang, Tom Waits, and producer T Bone Burnett feel warm and rich, rather than like a stale imitation of previous successes. Who else can croon "Only the Lonely" so hauntingly?

Festival Express (2003)- This intimate doc showcases a memorable 1970 rock tour which traversed Canada by train. Complementing the live performances and fly-on-the wall sequences of the tour are current interviews with surviving participants. The impressive line-up of musical talent includes Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band, and The Grateful Dead. This under-exposed performance film recreates the heady times of 1970, when the memory of Woodstock was still fresh. Grateful Dead fans in particular will enjoy seeing the late, great Jerry Garcia in his prime, Joplin breaks your heart offstage (and dazzles you on-), and you simply can't go wrong with those other acts. "Festival Express" is a must-see for any true rock fan.

Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (2005)- Martin Scorsese's ambitious two-part documentary covers the enigmatic balladeer's rise, focusing on Dylan's artistic courage in shifting from folk to rock-infused songs in the mid-sixties, and his steadfast refusal to play a broader cultural role in these tumultuous times. He wanted simply to make music, and let the music speak for itself. Scorsese fashions a masterful portrait of a pivotal crossroads in Dylan's career, leading up to the serious 1966 motorcycle accident that signaled a prolonged hiatus from touring. This intimate, insightful film makes it clear that Dylan would likely have taken a break from public performances anyhow, as his mid-sixties tour in England was met with hostility every time the singer picked up an electric guitar, further straying from his sacred folk roots. "No Direction Home" constitutes a fascinating sixties time capsule, and a revealing meditation on artistic integrity and the pitfalls of fame. (It's also a perfect companion piece to D.A. Pennebaker's earlier Dylan profile- 1965's "Don't Look Back".)

Neil Young: Heart Of Gold (2006)- In the fall of 2005, legendary rocker Neil Young debuted a suite of new songs, "Prairie Wind," at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry. This exquisite concert film captures Young performing these and a few older chestnuts with his pals, including Emmylou Harris, wife Peg, and a who's who of country session players. Evocative backdrops, moody set lighting, and Jonathan Demme's fluid camerawork only add to the experience. This lovely, deeply affecting music doc gets the red-carpet treatment from "Stop Making Sense" director Demme, who briefly introduces each of the players on their way to the show before literally zooming in on Young's remarkable performance. Singing folk-country songs about mortality, empty nests, and aged parents, Young's choppy rhythms and images of swaying Canadian cornfields harken back to his early '70s work on "Harvest" and "Comes a Time." It's obvious he's enjoying himself, and his between-song banter is tart, concise, and utterly charming. If you don't come away from "Heart of Gold" humming, you better have your ears checked.

A final word on these films: they were all meant to be played loud. So crank it!

For close to 2,000 more outstanding titles on DVD, visit www.bestmoviesbyfarr.com.

Also check out John's weekly movie recommendations on www.reel13.org.

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Comments

[RepugsOut08]

I'm still waiting for Let It Be to finally be released. It's not that it's one of the greatest rock films of all times, but I'm hoping and praying they'll edit together the final Beatles' live performance on the rooftop of Apple headquarters as a very special extra.
Even if it's just the movie as is, the rooftop concert is not to be missed. Did all those Londoners who complained about the "noise" not realize the free historic experience they were being handed?
Only The Beatles' last live performance after a nearly three year break from live performing. Oh, to have been there that cold English day......

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I've seen it, and I have to say it's really bittersweet. you can sense the estrangement in the band...

[RepugsOut08]

If you're a George Harrison fan, you will love "Concert For George." The concert at Albert Hall put together by Eric Clapton and George's many friends.
It's truly filled with great performances of George's Beatles catalogue all the way up to his later recordings including The Traveling Wilburys.
Many of the Beatles era songs are played live for the first time, and they sound FAB!
Everyone from Eric to Tom Petty, along with Paul and Ringo and many others, deliver great performances of George's music.
Also, you get a great comic performance from the Monty Python gang. I won't spoil it by saying what it is, but look for a cameo appearance by Tom Hanks with the group.
The only part that some folks might not be into, is the beginning segment with Ravi Shankar and his lovely daughter playing an Indian Music set. I loved it myself, but if it's not your taste, you can always go straight to the Harrison songs.
A splended time is guaranteed for all!

[3fingerbrown]

I think a newcomer, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," might force its way onto this list. And we have to give "Spinal Tap" an honorable mention here. It might be fiction, but in so many ways it's the ultimate rockumentary.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

love spinal tap... the best rock spoof ever.

[ziggypop]

yes, Decline of Western Civilization The Punk Years should be on the list.

also URGH! A Music War- featuring performances ranging from the sublime (XTC,Gang of Four)
to the ridiculous (Skafish, Gary Numan)...a virtual new wave time capsule.

Glastonbury Fayre-(1972) excellent lineup (Traffic, Gong, Fairport Convention) marred by sloppy zonked-out presentation.
Fearless Freaks- Flaming Lips - blissed-out, celebratory rockfest Lips-style -absolutely the best concert ever filmed in Oklahoma.
Jefferson Airplane- Fly...not a regular concert film per se...but an anthology of excellent live clips
from their sixties heyday....includes the Jean Luc-Gordard film excerpt of JA performing on a New York hotel rooftop...months before the Beatles did it in London.
Neil Young- Rust Never Sleeps- first unplugged and then plugged in and set to 11....classic Neil.
Soul to Soul- omigod...it gets real funky as Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Les McCann and Eddie Harris and Santana go to Africa and jam their asses off.

[spiderbucket]

John Farr - how can you write such an article without having seen so many of the suggestions ???

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I don't claim to have seen every rock concert film.
The article lists ten I especially like.
The whole purpose is to have you all share your favorites- and give me ideas for ones I've missed.

[rsaillant1]

I'm surprised by the absence of "Pink Floyd."
No mention of "Pulse," or "The Wall."
Sad.

[rich3324]

Mad Dogs and Englishmen, great music and on crazy tour.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

great stuff, and title taken from an old noel coward song.

[KenSki2008]

"The Last Waltz" is one of my favorite Concert fims , however after reading Levon Helm's biography "This Wheel's on Fire" I don't think you would be refering to Robbie Robertson as "The Guiding Light " of The Band. How Robbie could end up with most of the spoils of The Band's hard work and Rick Danko dying almost penniless is a sin.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I guess scorsese favored robbie...and obviously he was pretty central to the Band, tho not as benign a force as some had imagined.

[RepugsOut08]

The Last Waltz is AMAZING. I share your feelings about the situation between Robbie and the rest of the group, but that's one of the best concert films, maybe THE best concert film, ever made.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

agree.

[stratdude]

I love Neil Young, but horns on "Prairie Wind" ruined it for me. Who wants to listen to Earth, Wind and Young?

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

what a band that would be!

[bookwench]

Another post here recommends the "Decline of American Civilizati­on"--which you won't find because the title is the Decline of Western Civilization and it is a great film and one that is long overdue for the DVD treatment. Thought that you might find it easier with the true title.
I was expecting to see The Kids Are Alright on your list! An amazing compilation of clips of the Who chronicling the breadth of their career as a band with Keith Moon---an incredible testament to the power of the band and the chemistry that made them so volatile and exciting to see.
And I also love X: the Unheard Music.
Thanks for a fun list!

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

thanks...will screen "kids are alright" soon.

[rektruax]

Baby Snakes?
Does Humor Belong In Music?

Just my 2 cents...

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

don't know these, but thanks for the input!

[zippywpinhead]

they are both well worth seeing, as is kids...

good choices on your part, just need a bigger list, lol

btw, these days much of what I watch is downloaded off the bit torrent sites- a buddy of mine scours them for CDs and DVDs. I've literally got spindles full of performances from the 60's through now- many are from broadcasts here or around the world, most all of them priceless to a music junkie...

[Joey C]

D. A. Pennebaker is a true hero of mine, could you imagine, documenting 3 crucial moments of Rock History? Dylan in 65/66, Monterrey Pop, and Ziggy's final performance? What a lucky and talented man. That said, I have to give a shout out for The Ramones, whether it's Rock&Roll High School, or the doc End of the Century.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I'll try to find these...thanks.

[hapkidokid]

What, no AC/DC Let There Be Rock?? Ptttttth! :-D

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

an issue of musical taste more than quality there...the ramones were huge of course.

[JDM73]

"Gimme Shelter" is one of my faves. And "Velvet Redux", the film of The Velvet Underground's 1993 reunion, gets my highest recommendation.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

wow- never heard of redux...will investigate.

[johnlaw55]

Have you seen "Concert for George", done in 2001 or 2002 and organized by Clapton. Many great parts. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers play Harrison's "I need you" and "Taxman" and it is sublime! Loads of top notch guests, including Jeff Lynne, MacCartney and Ringo. Much Much more.

[SamEllison]

I'll second "Concert for George" and add
"One More Car One More Rider". Clapton
has the production down, row J, center!

[zippywpinhead]

both of those are great...

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

I'll watch Clapton, anytime, anywhere.

[John Farr - Huffpost Blogger]

saw "concert"...
fantastic...
I miss him...

[RedDogBear]

This one isn't what I would call one of the best rock documentaries but the movie One Plus One also released as Sympathy for the Devil is definitely worth seeing. On paper it sounds amazing Jean Luc Godard (along with Truffault the most influential of the French New Wave directors) recorded the Rolling Stones in the studio creating Sympathy for the Devil. Unfortunately Godard was in his crazy marxist phase at the time so he cut the scenes in the studio with revolutionary gibberish. Scenes of black guys reading bad revolutionary poetry while carrying guns and hanging out with scantily clad french women. Even that sounds more interesting than it really is. Thank god for DVD's you can skip past those parts. But the parts of the Stones in the studio are really interesting. Its almost like a reverse image of Let it Be. I always thought Let it Be was flawed because you could tell the Beatles were all aware of the cameras and were in some ways mugging for them. In this movie the Stones ignore the camera and you really see the creative process. Jagger starts by playing the initial chord changes and teaching the song. Then they evolve through various versions. The song is almost unrecognizable at the start and as they play with different kinds of rhythms it gradually evolves to what we all recognize. Its a fantastic view of the creative process.