- The Gram Parsons
Tribute Concert on Video (SIDVID011)
- The video of the CD of the concert is finally
here - well you didn't expect it to be released
on time did you? The video opens up with some
nice soundcheck footage of the guys trying out
their harmony vocals, with Sid saying "if
you're gonna be off key, just be funny"!
There's also some footage of the band fooling
around backstage, including Kate St John covering
her ears at something and Sid in his Sweetheart
Of The Rodeo sweatshirt.
-
- Once the concert starts there are two main camera
angles - the view from the stage next to Pat
McGarvey and an audience view about half way back
from the stage. This second view whilst showing
the whole stage unfortunately has half the screen
in silhouette by the backs of the crowd in front
of the camera. To begin with Rob Childs is mostly
in darkness hiding his stylish guitar work,
though there are better shots of him when he sits
to play pedal steel. However as the concert
progresses, the camera moves around the stage and
the variety makes it easier to accept the
shortcomings when they do appear.
-
- The highlights of the video are mainly of the
musical kind. Luxury Liner opens the set in
style, whilst Drug Store Truck Driving Man and
Sweet Mental Revenge get probably the best
reaction from the ever enthusiastic audience.
Generally the band are in a no nonsense, get on
with the job sort of mood and it's not until they
burn through Six Days On The Road as an encore
that we see them start to smile, relax and enjoy
themselves, per haps realising that the gig is
almost over. It was also good however to see Bob
Stone back on keyboards again and to see Rob on
pedal steel and Sid's Roger McGuinn beard if you
haven't seen it before.
-
- To be critical, some of the shots of the band
through the audience heads and shoulders
disappoint somewhat and there isn't enough
variety throughout the hour to keep the attention
from wandering at times. Perhaps more backstage
shots in between songs might have broken up the
video and added a lighter note occasionally.
Furthermore the video contains no musical
material that isn't on the CD of the concert,
which is a bit disappointing. We've been waiting
a long time to see this release and for it to add
nothing to the CD might put off many fans from
buying it which would indeed be a shame.
- That said, this is a unique piece of Coal Porters
material and the more of that there is the better
as far as I'm concerned. It should also be
stressed that concert videos rarely live up to
expectations and capture the event and atmosphere
as it really happened. What we do have however is
a unique event captured for all to see and
hopefully enjoy.
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