Customer Reviews

Jefferson Starship - The Definitive Concert

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Every great band has a "moment;" a time when they are at their most brilliant, most socially relevant, most musically profound. For the name-changing, member-changing band that was once known as Jefferson Airplane, this DVD is not only NOT that moment; it's not even close.

Message to Grace: Have somebody collect film and tape from a much, much better time in your band's history. Somewhere around the release of "Volunteers" would be a good place to start. Have them work backwards from there, to the beginning. Then, have a talented director make a documentary out of it, with a small emphasis on interviews and history, and a big, big, big emphasis on the MUSIC. (That means LOTS of concert and studio footage...) Put it on DVD, promote it a little, and sit back and watch it sell, sell, sell. I'll buy one for me, and one for everybody I care about; because you did something really special, really important, really profound and quite beautiful during that time, something you should be proud of. Ditch this 80's BS, and give us something real. Please.

A bad idea?

I agree with Kireviewer, if you care about the music, it's hard to get past the dumb opening, a host who even Will Rodgers couldn't like, a set apparently built in a high school shop class, and the many annoying interruptions. They took a too short concert, and turned it into a bad, too long music video. I guess the mindless filler was necessary to get the length up to the claimed 1 hour. The music is OK, but it was neither the band's best period, nor their best work.

What were they thinking? The music on this DVD is OK, in the three to four star range, but is has a juvenile begining and breaks between the songs.

It comes from a 1983 concert when Grace Slick and Micky Thomas were the lead singers. This was the Jefferson Airplane/Starship "Corporate Rock" period when they were at their most popular. It wasn't one of the best periods in Rock and Roll. This bland arena rock was competing with Disco, creating an artistic void that was filled by Punk. Grace Slick is dressed up as a cross between Joan Jett and Pat Benatar. Paul Kantner looks pretty ridiculous, too.

Compared to the Jefferson Airplane, and the early Starship, it is easy to take potshots at this eighties version. But, Slick and Kantner are excellent song writers and they recruited two excellent songwriters/musicians in Pete Sears and Craig Chaquico. They still were one of the better Corporate Rock bands of the period.

This DVD is about 60 minutes long and consists of 14 songs, mostly the Starship hits of the eighties. There are also nice renditions of White Rabbit and Somebody To Love. The songs are played with alot of energy and there are some nice, but short solos for Sears and Chaquico. But, since the DVD is only an hour, only the hits are included, and the group never really opens up. During this period, Sears used to perform an amazing base solo that is sadly missing here. A full concert DVD would have been much better.

The real problem with this DVD is the opening and breaks that come every 3 songs. There is this cheesy sci-fi set with this moron introducing the songs. It looks alot like Mystery Science Theatre 3000, only not funny and totally inappropriate. It is bad enough to have it at the beginning, but with it inbetween songs, it really breaks up the flow of the music.

Jefferson Starship at the time(1983)had released 3 outstanding albums, Freedom at Point Zero, Modern Times, Wind of Change. If anyone had the opportunity to see the band with drummer Ansley Dunbar, You know how disappointing this video is. Unfortunately, when listening to songs like "Stranger" you could hear the bands new drummer(???)the mistakes and missed drum fills. It's a shame that the band never released any Video performance of the band with Dunbar. It's a good mix of song selection. Too bad they didnt fine tune the playing.(Why didnt they play "Save Your Love" "Lightening Rose" "RockMusic")

Let me start off by saying this is not a great concert video, and not the definitive concert it claims to be. However, that being said, it is an entertaining DVD, with some nice footage of the band. This is a concert DVD from the early 80's, on what looks to be the "winds of Change" tour - recorder live in Canada. One problem I had with this is that it is rather short - clocking in at a little over an hour. I would have liked to seen the entire show. Sound is decent - not great. The band seems to be having fun playing the songs, and it gives a nice snapshot of the band in their early 80's mode...just a few years before they released the god awful "We built this city"...and they went completely downhill. I think if your a fan of the band, you will find this well worth the money. If your a hardcore fan from the early versions of the band( I.E. - the stuff with Marty Balin)...this may not be for you, as it is loaded heavy with the Mickey Thomas stuff. All in all...well worth the price!!!

Apparently there's no video available from the Marty Balin / Papa John Red Octopus era. Too bad...when the first Starship album, Dragon Fly was released (Blows Against the Empire was a Kantner solo project), it was such an improvement over the final Airplane albums that the future seemed bright indeed. The final Grace and Marty album, Earth, showed that the second incarnation of the Airplane / Starship / whatever might be running out of steam. The first Mickey Thomas album, Freedom at Point Zero, wasn't bad, but it soon became obvious that the Thomas-fronted version of the band was going after the MTV crowd with a vengeance.

As the Jefferson Starship. Platinum & Gold Collection CD illustrates, there were a few tunes from the Thomas era that could be considered "Greatest Hits," but when it comes to this DVD...an exercise in Grace being back in the fold and Mickey filling the Marty chair...it's not the band's shining hour.

Jeff Tamarkin's excellent bio Got a Revolution! : The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane reminds us of the fact that the peak (or valley) of Grace's alcohol abuse problems came during the Starship years. If you compare her stage presence here with the Airplane Grace found on the Fly Jefferson Airplane DVD, it's easy to see that she's become more annoying and less or a rascal and a rebel. It's also painfully easy to see how this edition of the band was able to morph into the hit-making unit (minus Kantner, of course, and "Jefferson" in their name, which he won the rights to in a court battle) that created the wretched "We Built This City."

The single greatest impression that I walk away with after watching this DVD is the fact that the band had been more enjoyable, more authentic, more film-worthy in the past. This crew had a job to do...make records, play concerts, make money, all while attempting to keep the "Jefferson" brand alive. This is commerce, not art. I own it because I'm a fan from the Surrealistic Pillow days.

But a new listener, one who may be a casual fan? If you liked the wretched "hair pop metal" that was MTV's bread and butter in the 80s...if you still have fond memories of that special Loverboy or April Wine concert you attended...this might be the DVD for you. If not, maybe the aforementioned Fly Jefferson Airplane DVD is the one you should buy.

For those of you who love this stuff, Mickey Thomas still continues touring to this day as "Starship"...with no players from the original "Jefferson Starship" or "Starship" bands. He's become his own cover band, playing the songs you loved...or liked...or maybe didn't care for at all.

.... This JS concert, pretty much represents the band well for where they were, at the start of the 80's. They have always been a band that appeared to be on the verge of chaos and confusion, as foretold by even some of their own lyrics. All the elements are here and all the quirky individualities of each member...Grace's mysterious antics, Paul's leadership, Craig's guitar, Mickey's high octane vocals(see KNEE DEEP IN THE HOOPLA album)BUT most of all THE MUSICIANSHIP and GREAT SONGS!!! One thing people forget too, is that this band has always evolved and they represent each era perfectly!!! Even Paul Kantner being the sci fi buff that he is, needs to realize this. Everything evolves and the STARSHIP continued right through this show and on through the 80's!!!

This concert in Toronto from 1983 portrays Jefferson Starhip at it's best! On the heels of the release of Winds of Change, they play many of the hits off that album as well as some of the classic Jefferson Airplane tunes such as "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love". Grace Slick shines on vocals along with Mickey Thomas. Craig Chacquico on guitar is awesome and there are great guitar solo parts in this conert video. This is a must for any Jefferson Starship lover.