Customer Reviews

CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I was at the Crossroads 2010 show and eagerly awaited the theatrical release. The first thing you have to realize is that nothing, not a 2 hour movie or a 4 hour DVD will capture what it was like to have actually seen some of the brilliant performances of that day. The editing was shaky at best but the sound was quite good (I'm sure the sound varied greatly depending on the theater). Although I was dissapointed in the movie, I'd see it again and here's why. The movie missed a lot of the high points of the 11 hour show, but it caught enough to remind me of how great the entire experience had been, and that's all I asked for. I was pleasently surprised at the applause in the theater after some of the better performances. The most dissapointing thing about the movie was the performances that weren't included. John Mayer, Buddy Guy, and Jeff Beck all played sets that deserved complete coverage (and I would pay money to buy a DVD). "Going Down", "Killing Floor", "La Grange", "Mystery Train", and "Comin' Home" were all songs I was sad didn't make the cut. And although he didn't add a whole lot musically, Bill Murray's intro's were hysterical. Addressing a negative critism: I don't know what a "I-IV-V progression in G with a capo" is, but I could watch Robert Randolph, Jimmie Vaughn, and Hubert Sumlin play it all day!(I've seen a lot of pictures of Muddy Waters with a capo and I heard he's pretty good!). I'm quite sure the DVD will capture more of the esscence of the complete concert, but, as we all know, that's impossible.

I love when people rate a DVD that they haven't seen because it hasn't been released it yet. I especially like it when they are actually just getting some anger out and venting to the unwitting amazonian world. And I love it when they sound pretentious about guitar playing and don't seem to like or appreciate the blues (which Clapton and many of his invitees seem to love). But best of all about this person's emotional outburst: they watched only 30 minutes of a 2 hour theatrical release (which I would give 3.5 stars because the second half was very good), which is only 1/8 of the four-hour (as yet unreleased) DVD/Blu-ray of the film. I love people that do this SO much that I decided I had to get into the action--at the very least to offset the maroon (as Bugs Bunny would say) that fits the aforementioned descriptions.

A lot of people seemed to think the film was pretty good--so I'm interested to see the other 87.5% of the performances when the DVD actually comes out.

I have both of the previous DVDs of the Crossroads festivals, 2004 and 2007, I have played guitar for almost 15 years, I have been in the music business in one way or another for over 40 years. These are some of the best live music videos I have ever seen, especially the 2007 one, the songs Jeff Beck does are worth the price of admission alone. His technique is unmatched. I have pre-ordered the 2010 DVD just to see Jeff Beck again, but I know there will be more jems inside waiting to be enjoyed. The guy who gave it a one star is probably a guitar snob, I've had to deal with them over the years, not everybody who's good gets famous and makes a lot of money, in fact almost nobody gets famous and makes a lot money, especially people who are only trying to do just that. So buy this DVD, enjoy it, buy a guitar, practice and have fun, there is nothing wrong with playing a 1,4,5 progression 'till the day you die! It's a blast!

I couldn't disagree with the first review more. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hour theatre release. My big disappointment? Only 30 seconds of BB King (in the finale). The DVD is FOUR hours so I hope to see BB King on the DVD. I am buying this DVD for two brothers, one a percussionist, one a guitarist. The biggest query I have is about Citizen Cope. Has Eric Clpton taken him under his wing, although the performer has been around 14 or more years? "Cope's" performance showed a lot of Clapton virtuosity. I also hope the DVD has more 'Ronnie' Wood. ZZ Top can do no wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed the artists I was not familar with, especially the young man playing with Buddy Guy "Five Long Years." I liked the performer and performance "Chicken in the Kitchen"(Robert Cray?). The first reviewer- pshaw. $12.50 is a dinner at Chili's, this concert will satisfactorily stay with me in memory longer than my last meal. The "four" is probably a bit premature because IF the DVD has more Ron Wood and BB King, I will rewrite my review and give it a "five".

If you like guitars and blues, you'll like this DVD. After looking at the internet I note that not all the music was included. For instance, Jeff Beck wasn't nearly as featured as he should have been. Also, the trio with John Mayer was awesome. Also Earl Klugh and John Bonamassa were great, as was Sonny Landreth w/Eric Clapton. I must say Hubert Sumlin didn't belong on this DVD. Same with Ronnie Wood (he's getting to look as bad as Keith Richards). Thank the good Lord Johnnie Winters wasn't on the DVD.

Clapton's session had some very uninspired music included, but he's really good when he's playing with someone else. Concerts are also great to watch and I'd buy this DVD if I didn't already own it.

Unlike the other "Guitar Festival DVD's, this one did not show enough close-ups of the guitar playing. I really enjoy watching the lead player. For example, John Mayer is a real pleasure to watch what he can do with his guitar, on this DVD, forget it. You see him play a bit, then it goes to another view of his band. So, in my opinion, just not enough guitar. After all, this is the 'Crossroads GUITAR Festival' !!!

So far, it seems that the reviews are focused on the Fathom movie release, not the actual DVD itself. Do we know for sure that the Fathom movie is a subset of what Rhino is releasing as the DVD? I don't necessarily think so. And I expect much better editing from the Rhino DVD (as with previous Crossroads DVDs). The movie was worth my $12.50 and I would pay 10 times the $29.95 for the DVD, especially if it included the entire day.

I saw the 2hr version in the theater and was very imppressed. It was a little long to sit through all at once -- that is why the DVD will be nice as you can watch it at your leisure. I thought Doyle bramhall (or whatever his name was), was very good. He added a different feel to the show -- a little more energy. He was perfectly placed in a mix with the older legeneds and John Mayer and the other young dude (who sounded like a 50 year old blues legend) that played with Buddy Guy (who was that guy?! The kid was excellent, but I could hardly watch him, as he was over-enthusuastic. ZZ-top was fun, Jeff Beck was awesome, and Robert Cray was spectacular. Cray is also very animated and is any wonder he can play so well as he shakes all over the place while he jams. Joe Bonamassa was great, but Derek Trucks and Susan Tdeschi stole the show.

BUY THIS DVD . The combination of songs & Musicians is unbeatable. The people that play togeather on this CD is amazing. They learned, because My earlier Crossroads DVD was mostly one artist doing their music. This one is Multiple big names having a jam session that looks like open mike night. The Best. Sound Quality is great & so is the camera work.

After watching the great 2004 version I was expecting some improvement. To my disapointment the camera crew stole their money.
It seemed that kids were behind the cameras. Obviously Eric Claptom contracted non-musicians probably to save $$$ but BIG MISTAKE.
This is evidenced because when solos were being performed, the camera was filming something other than "hands-on-guitar" shots.

DO NOT WAST YOUR MONEY ON THIS VERSION. GET THE 2004.