Concert dvd recommendations - Page 2

Stevie Ray Vaughn: Live in Austin
PBS Austin City Limits full-screen.
DD only I think.
If you like rowdy rock and roll this is a good one.
The best part is watching the faces SRV makes when he plays!
I always get chills when he plays Texas Flood.

Nine Inch Nails - And All That Could Have Been (DTS)

Only 4:3,but works well in "subtitle" wide mode on my Sony projector. Video quality is pretty good considering it was filmed using mostly handheld DV camcorders. They filmed each show throughout the tour and then mixed and matched the best shots. They filmed it this way so they wouldn't be distracted by the filming and so they didn't have to change the lighting for the "filmed" show. It has less of a "staged" look and does a great job of capturing the show as it was live (I saw the concert - this is a great souvenir).

On the DVD there is an alternate angle which lets you see a portion of the concert from a straight-on viewpoint in order to appreciate the video art wall at the rear of the stage.

You definitely want to start the DVD with your volume turned down a bit - I think it is mixed to approximate concert level volume. The sound track is a great 5.1 mix.

My only complaint is that the concert spans two DVD's I guess this was done in order to keep a high bit-rate on the video, because each DVD is only a little over an hour long.

This is my first and probably only (for awhile) DVD live concert purchase:

Product Details


Starring: Alison Krauss, See more

Encoding: All Regions
Format: Color, Dolby, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound, Surround Sound

Rated: NR
Studio: Rounder Records

DVD Release Date: July 15, 2003
DVD Features:
Region 0 (NTSC format)

Disc 1:

Let Me Touch You for Awhile, Choctaw Hayride, The Lucky One, Baby Now That I've Found You, Bright Sunny South, Every Time You Say Goodbye, Tiny Broken Heart, Cluck Old Hen, Stay, Broadway, Ghost in This House, Forget About It, Faraway Land, A Tribute to Peador O'Donnell / Monkey Let the Hogs Out, The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn, Take Me for Longing, I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow, Maybe, We Hide & Seek, But You Know I Love You, When You Say Nothing At All, New Favorite, Oh, Atlanta.

Disc 2:

Exclusive interviews with Alison Krauss + Union Station

Exclusive behind-the-scenes and on-the-road footage

Over 150 rare and unreleased photos and home videos

Alison Krauss + Union Station discography

Video for "New Favorite"

Tribute to Frank Edmonson

Widescreen anamorphic format

Number of discs: 2

Needless to say, I loved this DVD set. It meets all your criteria, and frankly the only reason I knew about this was through PBS HD on Time Warner Cable HD here in NYC. I stumbled onto the performance after watching the Tonight Show Jay Leno, and couldn't go to sleep. Had to watch it until it finished. Checked out Amazon.com and sure enough it was there. My favorite song? It's gotta be "Let me Touch you for awhile"... My wife totally loves it as well. Stop reading this and go pick it up, you will not be dissapointed!

S.Anderson

Rieper, you should probably try Down From The Mountain as well.

I would recommend you get something from a band you like....

how about Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe-ing thru the tulips"?
DTS/anamorphic ws

Watched the HEart (Live from Seattle DVD).

PQ is pretty nice and the csound quality is also great. Great bass.

I did notice the vocals get a little lost in the mains and somewhat in thethe surrounds rather than being at the anchored in the center channel.

All and all an excellent concert experience. Recommended!

Do they extent their sets or do they pretty much play the song as recorded? I'm not much into groups who play their songs live, as they play their releases. This is one reason I like Dave Matthews Live, they expand the music into a journey, rather than a walk through the park. I realize there are some songs you can't do this to, but for the most part, extending them really adds to the experience.

The Last Waltz

The Band's swan song performance. Filmed by Scorcese. Guest stars include: Dylan, Joni Mitchell, a coked-up Neil Young, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters and, urg, Neil Diamond.

The recent special edition was well done. 5.1 audio of this fabulous performance. Robbie Robertson is a bit of a drip, however.

I wonder what is the name of that Allison Krauss DVD described above?

Jim:
There is only one Alison Kraus DVD out (that I know of). It's title is: Alison Kraus & Union Station: Live.

I know this really dates me but has anyone seen any of the MOODY BLUES DVDS that are out and hows the PQ and audio?

I can't believe it!! No one has mentioned the best DVD live concert ever recorded as of today (IMHO):
Bella Fleck and the Flecktones at Quicks Hall. Both picture and sound are the best I have (and I have almost all other concert DVDs mentioned on this thread). You guys have to check it out.

Some don't like that it was recorded on film, but Kansas - Device Voice Drum is one of my favorites. Of course, being a wheathead, I am probably a little biased.

Heart has also been spending a lot of time in my player of late too.

Live at the Royal Albert Hall with the London Symphony is terrific, with a great DTS soundtrack and excellent direction and camera work. Not widescreen, but no matter-if you're even casual fan, this is a must have disc.

Also strongly recommended is Peter Frampton's Live in Detroit-another great DTS track.

Hmm...soon as I find out WTH they are, I'll consider it.

Dude!!! Only the baddest (like "Shaft" bad, that is) electric banjo based jazz/space rock band on the planet!!

(and featuring the baddest bass player on the planet, BTW)

Great disk, but I think the decision to go with film was a mistake. It's very grainy under the low light level. Plus it must have cost a bundle to shoot and edit. Best the band has been musically though since the 70's, IMO.

Doesn't that usually indicate that it was recorded on standard definition video tape rather then film? In my experience with concert videos, that's often been the case.

It's not a low-quality type of grain. It's just that with film, even newer faster films, you have to throw a lot of light or you will get a grainy look. Kansas wanted to use their regular stage lighting. The film-look does give the show a certain class that video wouldn't get, at least earlier standard video, but new 24P HD video formats are coming closer to a "best of both worlds" solution for this type of shooting, as far as what I've seen. People with more technical expertise (I'm a sound guy, not a video guy) feel free to jump in

The Corrs - Live in London...excellent PQ.

And, the most recent Queen concert at Wembley.

_______
Rick

Queen: "We Will Rock You" is no slouch in 5.1 and performance.

Michael

I posted my review/comments about this at this thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...hreadid=281003

I didn't even know this existed. I am so there. Victor Wooten gives me goosebumps. Is it the original Flecktones, with Howard Levy? Or is it the later Flecktones?

(crossing my fingers for Howard Levy).

-Jon

Man, there are SO many great concerts on DVD. Many are 4:3 though (MUST get a Panasonic RP91). www.newegg.com is blowing them out @ 199 delivered. I am a former concert lover with 2 kids, no social life, and a kicking HT. Needless to say, I have concerts at home! Here are my favorites in no particular order:

Eagles Hell Freezes Over - DTS version ONLY
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense
Sting - All this time
The Corrs - Live in London
Portishead - Roseland NYC
Santana - Supernatural Live DTS
Sarah Mclachlan - Mirrorball
Diana Krall - Live in Paris
Norah Jones - Live in New Orleans
Metallica - S&M (not clean version)
U2 - Elevation 2001 Live from Boston
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Live at the el Mocambo in Toronto
Nine inch nails - And all that could have been DTS ONLY! (has Marilyn Manson hidden performances)
Depeche Mode - One night in Paris
Cranberries - Beneath the skin V2 ONLY! ( has audio fixed)
Dave Matthews Band - Live at Folsom Field AND Listener Supported
Sade - Lovers Live
Korn - Live
The Last Waltz
Family Values Tour 1998 - the original
Faith Hill - When the lights go down
Pearl Jam - Touring Band 2000
AC/DC - Stiff Upper Lip
Queen - Live at Wembley Stadium
Blue Man Group -Audio (actually video, lol)

Most concert video quality is pretty atrocious - only the music makes it tolerable in many cases (I like concerts, too). Most early concerts were shot in 16mm film with analog stereo sound (if not mono), making the images excessively grainy. Then there was a (thankfully short) period when analog 1/2" videotape was used, even worse for my taste. The single shining exception to the poor video quality was Scorcese's The Last Waltz, shot in 35mm and stereo sound (the DVD was a remix).

Live video footage from DVs I see as a considerable improvement over the typical 16mm film concert master. The biggest remaining problem is the uncontrolled lighting, but I think DV technology deals with such much better than film - although it has a different look, of course.

For those of you who want a glimpse of how good a concert can be, at least from a technology standpoint, check out an HDTV broadcast of the newly revamped PBS series Soundstage this season. These concerts are shot in achingly clear high definition video (1080i/60fps) and offer 5.1 Dolby surround sound. They are incredible. Last week was "Alison Krause and Union Station", and I was totally blown away by the incredible picture and sound. Although this is a studio environment, and what you see has been edited, there is a live audience and it IS definately a concert. In the happy circumstance that the performers match your taste in music (as for me this past Sunday evening) the experience is incredible. Here's the link to find the viewing times on your local PBS affiliate - hopefully you have a digital broadcaster with surround sound capability:

http://www.pbs.org/wttw/soundstage/airdates.htm

Highly reccomended - it doesn't look or sound better than this unless you are there in person - and my 90" screen is almost that good with this quality HDTV material.

Edit: for those who want a glimpse of what I am talking about, here is a screen capture:

http://www.kaleirish.com/Allison_Krause_HDTV_02.jpg

....and when you add to this the silky smooth motion of the 60fps, the result is amazing (I realized I used "incredible" 3 times above - I don't usually do that...)

Gary

Has anyone seen the Jethro Tull DVD? Worth buying?

Jim

$6 bucks for the "Hole in the World" DVD, DVD extras and a separate CD of same.
Really good I must say. Hell Freezes Over has always been one of my demo music surround sound choices. Hole in the World although filmed in a studio and black and white may replace it. It starts out in stereo but when it kicks into surround sound mode it provides a wonderful display of the benefits of 5.1.
The song is simple but very catchy with beautiful harmonizing. My wife and I sat through it 3 times last night.

I had never been a fan back when they were hot but since getting back into AV a few years ago and seeing the HFO DVD I've become a fan of the Eagles.

Going to see them at the Concord pavilion August 20th!
Very excited.

Question about the Heart Alive in Seattle. Is this 5.0? I'm not getting any subwoofer and the lights not on. Anyone?
Pablo

Well aside from the couple obvious ones mentioned so far (The Last Waltz, Roger Waters in the Flesh, and Talking Heads Stop Making Sense) which meet the 5.1 and Anamaphoric requirements of the thread, I'm going to throw in a favorite of mine that is only Dolby 2.0 or PCM but still an outstanding performance captured on video formated to 16:9, Supertramp The Story So Far...