|
With Live at the Fillmore Auditorium-Denver--March 23, 2002, the String Cheese Incident has delivered a long-awaited live DVD that showcases this jamband at its best. Previous DVD releases by SCI, such as Evolution and Waiting for the Snow to Fall, are entertaining but offered only limited live footage. This 2-disc release captures a top notch live concert in full, with superb technical quality. A stellar setlist and outstanding guests make this a DVD that every String Cheese Incident fan should own.
Filmed during its 2002 “Winter Carnival” tour, Live at the Fillmore, contains a good mix of song genres for which the Boulder-based quintet (Bill Nershi--guitar, vocals; Michael Kang--guitar, fiddle, vocals; Kyle Hollingsworth--keyboards, vocals; Keith Moseley--bass, vocals; Michael Travis--drums) is famous. From bluegrass to funk to jazz to psychedelic rock, the easy interplay between the band members creates a sound that is more than the sum of its parts, with the improvisational jams during and between songs taking on a life of their own. The band was “on” during this performance, and it shows in the obvious joy exhibited by both the band and the high energy crowd.
Disc 1 (Set 1) quickly establishes the band’s musical chops, with each member having the opportunity to strut his stuff on such tunes as the keyboard-heavy instrumental “¡Bam!,” the psychedelic “Cedar Laurels,” and funk-rock “Lost.” The band then returns to its bluegrass roots in style, with a guest visit from country-bluegrass great Ricky Skaggs and two of his regular bandmates. You know you’re in for a good time when Skaggs playfully joins SCI (known for playing barefoot) in spirit by taking off his shoes--but keeps his socks on. The ensuing collaboration is a special treat for any bluegrass fan, kicking off with the traditional “Nine Pound Hammer” and some hot mandolin work by Skaggs. Skaggs takes the lead on Jimmy Martin’s “Hold Whatcha Got,” overseeing the musical summit with a steady hand. The bluegrass mini-set winds up with a rousing version of the instrumental "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," with Skaggs leading the group through a round-robin jam that pushes everyone to the limit. Musical genres switch gears again with the SCI originals “These Waves” and “Don’t Say,” before the set closes with an extended, inspired reading of the Zawinul/Hendricks jazz classic “Birdland” featuring particularly excellent work by bassist Moseley.
As good as Set 1 is, Set 2 (Disc 2) is even better. From the opening beat of the Celtic-themed instrumental “Rivertrance,” featuring signature fiddle work by Kang, to the anthemic “Rhythm of the Road,” to the hallucinatory “Emma’s Dream,” to Nershi’s jazzy “Miss Brown’s Teahouse,” the band covers some of the strongest material in its repertoire with confidence and authority. When former Grateful Dead (and current The Dead) drummer Bill Kreutzmann emerges to join the band as its second special guest of the evening, the anticipation in the room is palpable. Kreutzmann turns in a fine performance on the crowd favorite “Land’s End,” an instrumental written by Tim O’Brien which String Cheese has made its own with climactic jams and an epic finish. Percussion fans get an additional treat as Kreutzmann remains on stage for a short duet with SCI drummer Michael Travis. SCI closes the set on a high note with a joyful “Restless Wind,” and the rollicking encore of their popular environmental anthem “Roll Over” sends the fans home with smiles on their faces.
The technical quality of the DVD is outstanding. The audio is phenomenal, with all instruments and vocals crystal clear and well balanced. The excellent camerawork takes you on stage and up close. This is a state-of-the-art live concert shoot that looks and sounds as good as anything else in release today.
Hula Hooper
at 2001's NYE |
If I have any complaints about this release, it is with the bonus features. The primary feature of the disc is “MX Multiangle” which allows the viewer to select between camera shots during the concert, in essence allowing you to “direct it yourself.” Unfortunately, only one alternate camera is offered at any time during the MX feature, meaning that you can only choose between the regular multi-camera shoot and a single camera shot of one band member. So, for example, you may be able to manually switch between the professional shoot and a steady shot of Michael Travis or Kyle Hollingsworth. There is no real correlation to the song that is being played and the multiangle camera choice that is offered. It seems like a waste of disc space to include arbitrary single camera shots of some band members at seemingly random times.
The other bonus feature, a single live clip from the annual Red Lady Ball in Crested Butte shot during the same tour, is much more intriguing. Additional clips from this tiny-venue concert were included as bonus footage on SCI’s Waiting for the Snow to Fall DVD. It’s too bad they didn’t just include more of this footage instead of the MX Multiangle.
Despite these very minor complaints, Live at the Fillmore is an outstanding DVD release that presents a true picture of the String Cheese Incident live concert experience. The viewer is taken on a ride through musical genres, highs and lows with consummate musicianship and good humor. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience that captures a unique band at the very top of their game.
John Waldman
JamBase | San Francisco
Go See Live Music!
|
