SXSW Live 2007 (DVD-Video)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Concerts: B-

 

 

Slowly, one of the more interesting trends has been concerts with multiple guests.  Many new acts are getting exposure this way and some old favorites (often not getting enough recognition) also surface.  The South By Southwest series (aka SXSW) of concerts has been a particularly big hit and the 2007 show has been issued in a fine new DVD from Shout! Factory.

 

The show is split in this case between two locations and features the following artists and songs:

 

Live From The Bat Bar

 

THE BRAVERY "Honest Mistake"

PETER BJORN & JOHN "Young Folks"

OZOMATLI "City Of Angels"

THE AUTOMATIC AUTOMATIC "Monster"

AQUALUNG "Pressure Suit"

RICKIE LEE JONES "Nobody Knows My Name"

BOWLING FOR SOUP "1985"

POLYPHONIC SPREE "When The Fool Becomes A King"

 

 

Live From The Lone Star Lounge

 

MARC BROUSSARD "Home"

RACHEL FULLER W/ PETE TOWNSHEND "Sunrise"

ROCCO DeLUCA & THE BURDEN "Colorful"

ANNUALS "Complete Or Completing"

RAZORLIGHT "In The Morning"

MANDO DIAO "Long Before Rock n Roll"

LEE "SCRATCH" PERRY "Kiss The Champion"

STARS OF TRACK AND FIELD "Movies of Antarctica"

KRAAK & SMAAK "Money In The Bag"

JOE PURDY "White Picket Fence"

 

 

What I like about this concert is that these acts take their music, the audience and the event seriously since it is one of the premiere events.  It takers real talent to make it and the show is becoming more refined since its start to boot.  If you like all or any kinds of music, you’ll want to experience this concert.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is pretty good, more like a recent HD production should be, with good color, clarity and depth.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is very nice, so much so that I wish it were in DTS as well, but the Dolby will suffice until this is reissued in an HD format with better sound.  The only extras is a set of interviews of all of the artists done in sections by singer/songwriter Andrew W.K. for the HD broadcast, but there is more to be said here and next time, we hope to see more extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo