Five Post-Madness Concert Films and Music Docs to Check Out This Weekend

Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same, one of the most well-known concert films in rock history, was released 37 years ago this weekend (October 20, 1976). Led Zep ruled the world in the late 60s and 70s, and they’ve provided the beloved soundtrack for millions of late-night bong sessions ever since, but the film is widely regarded as a mixed success at best, with relatively lackluster live performances and some unintentionally hilarious, Python-esque fantasy sequences. As we head toward the much-anticipated Midnight (Big Blue) Madness tomorrow night, here are some other, arguably better concert films and music documentaries you might want to check out this weekend while you’re basking in the joy of finally getting this truly epic hoops season underway. What are your favorite concert films and/or music documentaries? Give us your recommendations in the comments below! http://youtu.be/RDnlU6rPfwY The Band, The Last Waltz – The Last Waltz is as good as what you’d expect from Martin Scorsese filming the final concerts ever played by one of the classic rock era’s greatest bands. The movie is jam-packed with searing live performances filmed at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom as a true “last waltz” before The Band called it quits in 1976. Pretty much every musician on the planet joined the Band's final hurrah for a song or two, including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Emmylou Harris, Muddy Waters, Joni Mitchell, and Neil Young, just to name a few. Scorsese brings his auteur’s eye to every element of the film – not only the live show, but also the backstage interviews and soundstage performances. Simon & Garfunkel, The Harmony Game – If you’ve ever seen any of the excellent VH1 Classic Album documentaries, you’ll know what to expect from The Harmony Game. It’s an informative, richly detailed account of the making of Simon & Garfunkel’s legendary 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. You probably have to be a certain kind of music fan (and Simon & Garfunkel fan) to geek out over learning how the drum part of “Cecilia” was recorded, but if you are in that small subset of the population, The Harmony Game is a huge treat. It’s also fun to see the behind-the-scenes footage of a very young, and charmingly pretentious, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel during the process of making and promoting the album in 1969 and 1970. http://youtu.be/l2BVXmL7Xhs Archers of Loaf, What Did You Expect? – I’ll reveal my age here and say that the Archers of Loaf were my favorite band when I was in college. I saw them live eight times in four different states in the mid-90s, but after the band broke up in 1998 I was sure I’d never see them on stage again. But over the last couple of years the gods have smiled, the heavens have parted, and the Archers have come together to play a few dozen reunion shows, including the one I saw in Atlanta in July 2011. I would say I heard the angels singing that night, but I’m pretty sure they were drowned out, deafened, and had their faces melted by the Loaf’s glorious guitar feedback. Gorman Bechard’s outstanding concert film What Did You Expect? was filmed in 2011 at the storied Cat’s Cradle in North Carolina Tarheel country (try not to hold that against the band or the film). I’m 100% biased because I’ve loved this band for 20 years, but I think the film is an effective introduction to the Archers and/or a potent reminder that they were one of the greatest indie-rock bands of the 90s. Sigur Ros, Heima – Part concert film, part chronicle of the band’s return home to Iceland after a year on the road, Heima is a worthy visual complement to Sigur Ros’ otherworldly musical beauty. Even if you don’t care for the music, the stunning scenery is sufficient to serve as the greatest Iceland tourism video ever made. Seriously, I’ve seen Heima several times, and it still makes me want to hop the next plane to Reykjavik every time. If you are a fan of Sigur Ros’ sound, then I think you’ll also be moved by the frequently unusual, but still powerful, renditions of some of their live staples in some of the most striking settings imaginable. For those attuned to what Sigur Ros is all about, Heima is much more than a concert film; it’s an overwhelming experience. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, God is in the House – The crack Bad Seeds band, dapper as hell, expertly weaves through my favorite era of Nick Cave’s songwriting (mid 90s through early 00s). Cave convulses around the stage, smoking cigarettes and raining verbal brimstone like a drug-fevered preacher at the world’s most unholy revival. What’s not to love? Again, this music probably isn’t for everyone – I’ve had friends look like they wanted to punch me when I’ve played Nick Cave in social settings – but this concert film gives me one of my favorites at the top of his game, so I had to include it here. http://youtu.be/jj0HTcSKX1Q And finally, this isn’t technically a concert film, but this live footage of the immortal John Coltrane is one of my favorite things on the Internet. Especially the 1965 version of “Naima” with Trane’s immortal quartet (including McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums), which starts at the 1:06:20 mark. Among things on the Internet, I like this even more than I like yelling goat videos. Enjoy!