Disco de Old 97's: “Old 97's Live [DVD]”

I have never seen the Old 97's live, but bought tickets for the May 8th show in Cleveland the minute the credits rolled. I own all of their CDs, but always thought the band would have to be seen live for true appreciation. The DVD was great! I felt like I was there! Good/fun interviews too. I like the older stuff better, so I wish there had been more from Hitchhike to Rhome, Early Tracks, and Wreck Your Life, but I'm not complaining. I have been listening to the CDs non-stop since I watched the DVD, and even enjoy the recorded music more now too. Wow!

There are few better experiences in the music universe than the Old 97s live. I have seen them several times and every show has been wonderful. This DVD is a good presentation of a March 2004 show in LA. Most of their fan favorites are here but, sadly, 'Barrier Reef' is not included. The sound quality, with a dolby 5.1 choice offered, is excellent and the video quality is superb. My only minor complaint is that there are way too many close-ups of Rhett and not enough shots of the whole band in action. Overall this DVD is a great choice for fans and a good alternative for people who like the music but have never seen them live. Buy it, you'll like it!

DISCLAIMER: I've been a card-carrying, hometown 97's and Rhett Miller fan since 'Hitchhike to Rhome', and have multiple copies of everything they've ever done, yadda, yadda, yadda. Ahem. But apparently the "Shawn Cassidy" rider in Rhett's contract (the one that gave us the cover photo on 'The Instigator') required the incessant, soft-focus-frontman-glam shots that make this DVD hard to watch, frankly (and something - maybe the lighting - doesn't seem right...we're they filmed in the 'Flashdance' studio and spliced in with footage of the rest of the band later?) I now look for 'The Facts of Life' reruns on cable, and turn the sound down, when I play this DVD. That Tootie is such a card!

No experience can replicate seeing the greatness of the Old 97's live, but this DVD is a fitting portrayal. The venue and camera angles were great, and the editing was crisp and fit the flow of each song. I would have loved for the sound to have picked up more of the crowd to help bolster the energy that the band puts out, but all in all I loved it completely. And best of all, my five-year-old prefers it to watching cartoons!

I've been following these guys since a friend of Kenny's introduced me to the band in 1995 Dallas. I remember seeing some of the best shows I have ever seen in little known places like The Ginger Man and The Barley House and Club Dada. As other reviewers here have alluded to, there simply is no better live band anywhere, and I have seen the Stones 3 times, the Who 4 times, and Led Zeppelin. No one has the energy of this band. When you combine a hard driving beat fed by a relentless drummer and a rip-roaring bass line, raunchy guitar, genius lyrics and harmonies, a frontman with a persona that is a little bit Jagger and a lot Pete Townsend, and songwriting that combines twang, pop, and punk in a unique concoction that, quite simply, rocks the house--you have a rock and roll dream team. When I see the 97s I think of the Who when they first came over.

If you ever see they are coming to your town, do not hesitate to go. The video captures their energy as well as can be done short of being there. But it isn't the same as being a part of the crowd when they hit the stage.