simpletonistic
This DVD is entitled, "Jeff Buckley: Live in Chicago." It was recorded back on May 13, 1995, at Cabaret Metro, during Buckley's "Mystery White Boy" tour. The DVD nearly marries up to a CD entitled "Jeff Buckley: Mystery White Boy: Live '95 - '96," lacking Jeff's originals "I Woke Up in a Strange Place," "The Man that Got Away" and "Moodswing Whiskey," while supplanting the CD with covers of MC5's "Kick Out the Jams" and Big Star's "Kango Roo," and two Buckley originals, "Vancouver" and "What Will You Say." Their concert set included every song from the brilliant "GRACE" CD. In direct correlation to the complexities and majesty of those songs Jeff and his band delivered the goods--as expected.The DVD also includes two live songs, "So Real" and "Last Goodbye," that were recorded, seemingly during the early morning hours--considering Jeff and his mates' "Can you get me a cup of coffee?" countenances--in-studio at a local Chicago cable station. These "acoustic" versions have an MTV-Unplugged, stripped-down feel to them. Despite the fact that Jeff and the band look dog-tired, the versions are not to be over-looked.Lastly, the DVD includes the electronic press kit for the "GRACE" CD, some of which features shots of the band, et al., hanging out at a club I used to frequent in Cambridge, MA., the renowned Middle East Cafe. The press kit is kind of cheesy at times, though it too presents enough "live" footage of Jeff, and his band, to make one forget about the publicity dross.For Jeff Buckley fans like myself who never saw him live, the DVD concert footage supplies the fix. Sure, as it was recorded back in the nascent days of DVDs, the recording lacks the bells and whistles available these days. Not to worry because Jeff's vocals were clear and crisp, as was the accompanying music. Neither impinged upon the other.The highlights, for me at least, were the very much rocking, almost punky "Kick Out the Jams," a sort of heavy metal, industrial version of "Eternal Life," and a bluesy lament entitled "What Will You Say." The latter being a beautiful piece somehow reminiscent of The Doors "The End," if just for the frame of reference of the narrator and his inclusion of both parents into the song's narrative. The repeated question, "What Will You Say?" a query put towards the narrator's father and mother when he sees them, again, presumably in heaven.One major drawback, from this fan's point of view, was the overall attitude of the crowd in attendance. To me it appeared from their sometimes diffident reactions to songs and their often challenging banter that some members of the crowd were not there to see Jeff Buckley specifically, perhaps having received gratis tickets from the radio station whose banners were hung around the club. Watch closely and you will notice that their reaction, at times, seems to lack in proportion to, say, MY reaction upon hearing Jeff & Co. play something, anything from the aforementioned "GRACE" CD.Sure, they applauded after songs were done but sometimes their applause fell away rather quickly.Adding to my point, at one moment between songs (there is a bit of between song banter throughout the concert) Jeff chastises an audience member, stating, rather firmly, "Shut the F**K up!!" He augments that directive, asking, "Why would you say something like that?" It is more than obvious that whatever was said to him upset him!! Evidence providing fodder for my belief that some of the Cabaret Metro crowd-members could have cared less if it were Jeff Buckley on stage or a random house band. Their attitude being, "Hey, we're only here for the free beer, man!" As for "Hallejujah," Jeff's brilliant cover of Leonard Cohen's song, it is delivered at the very end of the concert. By that time it is readily evident that Jeff was kind of tired, not just from the duration of the concert but seemingly of the too often repeated requests (yelled out after EVERY F**KING previous song!!!) to play it. To his credit he provided yet another brilliant take on the song, adding some subtle guitar-work that totally enraptured, and silenced, the crowd at one point.While I would love to see concert footage of the band in full regale before a crowd that was primed to see them, this DVD supplies the next best thing. If you are a Jeff Buckley fan in need of concert footage to augment the "GRACE" or "LIVE @ the SIN-e" CDs, purchase this DVD--money well-spent.
