Antone’s Home Of The
Blues (Documentary)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C Documentary: B
Some places are so important to music and its history that
is key and vital. Antone’s Home Of
The Blues (2004) is Dan Karlok’s fine documentary about the four eras of
one fop the most celebrated, visited, performed at and beloved concert
locations in Blues history. Located in
ever-vital Austin, Texas, everyone from Albert Collins and Willie Nelson to
Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughn, Kim Wilson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, B.B. King, James
Brown, Ray Price and an unbelievably strong group of legends and giants in the
business.
Of course, they were not on top all of the time, but they
kept Antone’s that way. Not enough has
been said about this special house of music, but the 99 minutes of this
documentary are loaded with facts, rare archival footage, great stories and a
love of music we just cannot see enough of.
Well edited and paced, Karlok gets some great current interviews and is
saddled with the job of what to choose that best serve the story. Needless to say this could have been a
mini-series, but it is ultimately a tribute that does justice to a home for
musicians that was also a school of though, a way of being and sense of life to
American Music that should never be forgotten.
The 1.33 X 1 image varies throughout with film and video
clips all over, as expected from a documentary this rich in talent and
history. Some old NTSC video from 1975
is particularly interesting in its flaws.
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is stereo at best, but some of the music is
monophonic. Extras include original
trailer, additional interview clips and a 12-page booklet with illustrations
and John T. Davis essay about Antone’s.
- Nicholas Sheffo
