Customer Reviews

Jewel - Live At Humphrey's By The Bay

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, let me get this off my chest: Finally, a Jewel concert on DVD!

This is Jewel's first concert release on DVD. I thought it was great-- no rapid cuts between cameras, no quirky sound issues, and the picture is crisp, clean, and clear. Jewel is radiant, and I thought this recording did well to capture her sense of humor.

For those who prefer pre-0304 before the makeover, this was performed well before 0304, so it's folkie-acoustic-Jewel. Whether you like her recent transformation or not, this DVD boasts the same great voice her fans have come to know and love.

Though some have complained about the sound, it's not an issue unless you're *really, really, really* a sound buff. I popped it in the player and was able to enjoy it just fine with my TV speakers and the occasional stereo headphone (when I play it on the computer).

About 3/4 of the songs are done solo, so fans of "Jewel & Guitar" won't be disappointed. The last four songs (You Were Meant For Me, Hands, Everybody Needs Someone Sometime, Who Will Save Your Soul) are performed with a band backing her up. (She picks up the electric guitar in the 'Hands' performance.)

Also included are 3 bonus performances of Love Me Just Leave Me Alone, Do You Want to Play, and Jesus Loves You. There's also a Standing Still video, which is basically a montage of various behind the scenes and concert clips showing while the song is playing. Then there's an interview with Jewel that's about 12 minutes long in which she talks about her creative process and the long break she took between before recording 'This Way.'

Jewel's forte is live performances. Though I wish there were more songs, I'll take what I can get. I especially enjoyed her lively banter with her audience, and it was great fun to see her start off her concert with opera, off all things, a cappella. I also liked Who Will Save Your Soul, which when performed live nowadays is nothing like what it was on the album. It's become a jazzy number that serves her as a vehicle for improv, and improv she definitely does on this one!

Just to set the record straight, I did some research on Jewel since some people have complained that the material is old (from 2001). The new tour for the 0304 CD is currently underway in the US, so it's 1) impossible to get a concert DVD for the new tour, since it still hasn't wrapped up yet, which means 2) this DVD was probably released partly to help promote the 0304 tour.

Sound quality I thought was fine. Jewel's voice rang crystal clear. Picture quality was terrific, clear, and sharp-- no fuzziness/blurriness like on Sarah McLachlan's Mirrorball DVD. The editing wasn't distracting in the slightest, so no rapid-chops like on Sheryl Crow's C'mon America release.

If you're a Jewel fan, definitely get this. If you like the genre or if you loved Lillith Fair, this should be of interest to you. However, if the thought of a girl and her guitar for an hour makes you sleepy just thinking about it, pass on this. My take on this is that it isn't my all-time favorite concert, but it was worth the money and I'm definitely happy with this purchase. I like the genre, I like Jewel, and this concert was 15 bucks decently spent.

First of all I am a big Jewel fan. I think she is simply an amazing talent. Just recently saw her on her solo acoustic tour here in the Midwest. She was simply stunning and I have been waiting for her to come out with a live DVD for awhile now. Unfortunately this is a bit disappointing. My initial feel is that product was somehow rushed to take advantage of the current craze for DVD material. My first question is why footage from 2001? I mean it's already mid 2004. The footage somehow seems "old". Jewel is beautiful as always on stage. The camera work is top notch. I hate when there are too many rapid cuts here and there and thankfully this doesn't suffer from that. Even the song list is acceptable, albeit 2001. The first 9 songs are acoustic solo which again is great. The next 4 are with her band, though they are very subdued and are almost non-exsistent. My biggest complaint is the sound mix and mastering are awful by today's standards. The whole acoustic portion has a very dry mechanical sound to it. It lacks sufficient dynamic range and though Jewel does her typical vocal tricks it somehow leaves the listener feeling unemotional and uninvolved. I have bootleg recordings of Jewel that capture her vocal dynamics and finesse better than this DVD. When the band finally plays the bass drum has no punch and the snare has no snap. The bass guitar sounds very weak, overall very disappointing. The bonus tracks are recorded much better but still leave a lot to be desired. I would have enjoyed a much better cross section of material from the early days right up to the present. I realize that the "This Way" tour might not have been as exciting because of Jewels horse riding accident. I have seen footage from the early part of that tour and she can't hardly move at all. Almost
every bootleg recording and video I have represents Jewel in a better light than this DVD. I still can't somehow feel this was a rush job. Still waiting for the real Jewel Kilcher DVD to arrive. I am very picky about how things sound and having heard Jewel live in person, and other live recordings, this is a big dissapointment sound wise. That's why I rated it a 3 but it's really a 2.5. Every Jewel fan should buy this DVD, if you are looking for stellar sound this will disappoint. Thanks for reading.

I have listened to Jewel since she started. I like her music and anybody can tell me anything they want about it this aging hippie still likes it..including 0304.
I hadn't seen any footage of her, had only heard her. This dvd was just what I wanted to see, her and her guitar on stage singing to a moderately sized audience. No grand theatrics or light shows, just simple music and a beautiful voice.
If I have any complaints it would be that I wanted more but then if she gave it I would still want more.
All in all the dvd is very enjoyable, doesn't get you seasick with camera tricks or poor editing. Just plain music from someone who can keep it simple and wonderful at the same time.

Please don't say I love you,
Those words touch me much too deeply.
They make my core tremble.
Don't think you realize the effect you have over me.
And please don't look at me like that,
It just makes me want to make you near me always.

Jewel's music, her poems and her concerts all show a heart on display. In her first concert disc, there is an overwhelming feeling of intimacy and connection.

So break me
Take me
Just let me
Feel your arms again
Break me
Make me
Just let me
Feel your love again

The intellectual dances with the child as Jewel's heart opens to the world. She is in touch with the pulse of humanity and even her political statements show an intuitive understanding of society.

Welcome to the new wild west
Each man for himself
A nation of civilized steeples
And lonely people
Welcome to the new wild west

"The New Wild West" is stunning in content and such a contrast to her love songs. Some of her songs had me in tears and a few left me stunned because her lyrics were potent and intellectually pleasurable.

Songs:

Per la Gloria d'Adorarvi
Near You Always
Kiss the Flame
Rosy and Mick
Everything Breaks Sometimes
Sometimes It Be That Way
Grey Matter
Break Me
The New Wild West
You Were Meant for Me
Hands
Everybody Needs Someone Sometime
Who Will Save Your Soul

Bonus Performances:

Love Me Just Leave Me Alone
Do You Want to Play?
Jesus Loves You

I loved the part where she invites a girl up on the stage to whisper the words as she sings. It is amusing, although we can't imagine she would really forget the words. She plays along nicely and the audience is amused to no end.

At times she is sassy as she dances before singing, but she continually connects with the audience in a way I've rarely seen. There is an interesting change as she goes from playing and singing with her guitar, to playing with her band. There is a change from intimacy to a more professional formality. While I noticed this change, she still remains authentic throughout the performance.

Extras: A short interview with Jewel and a photo gallery.

Also recommended:

A Night Without Armor : Poems
Chasing Down the Dawn (More observations about our society...)

~The Rebecca Review

I really like this concert DVD, even though I don't have anything to compare it to. But let me tell you something, this DVD does NOT do a good job of showing what a real Jewel show is like. During a regular Jewel show, she spends 2-5 minutes talking in between every song, which she does not show here. Also, she tells stories about many of the songs, and performs comedy acts. This is a good concert DVD is you are a beginning Jewel fan and you would like to have a taste of what she is like live.

BUT, please note that this does not do a good job of representing her live shows. So if you saw this and you decide not to go to one of her shows because you didn't like the DVD, please reconsider. She never plays with a setlist, and the whole show is composed of 95% requests from audience members.

Getting back on topic about the actual DVD, the song selection is very poor, and while they did a good job of making sure her hit singles are included, they did not include many other note-worthy performances.

In my opinoin, the only thing that makes this DVD worthy of $20, is the special features and a few good performances. But you would definatly be better off seeing her live.

When I bought Jewel: A Life Uncommon, I was looking for great concert footage of Jewel and maybe a little insight into her personal life. However, I got little of either of those things. When I watched this DVD, however, I was absolutely thrilled.

The DVD is nothing but Jewel in concert, which is her in top form--joking with the audience, singing gorgeously, and pulling people in with the beauty of her music and voice. Best of all, she avoids material from 0304 for the most part, concentrating on her older, folkier material, to which I hope she is making a swift return. One of the highlights, for me, was bringing a fan onstage to help her with the words to "Kiss the Flame." The best thing about Jewel is her ability to interact so wonderfully and intimately with the audience, and this DVD really demonstrated that talent. The bonus material includes an interview with Jewel, which is interesting, but the real reason to buy this DVD is the concert itself.

If you ever get the chance to see Jewel in concert, you should do everything you can to take it. However, if you are unable to attend one of her live shows, this DVD is a great substitution. You will definitely NOT be disappointed.

I recieved this DVD yesterday and when I first watched it I thought that it was pretty good but not fantastic. However, after listening to it and watching all the bonus goodies on it I really changed my view. I LOVE IT! The "Who Will Save Your Soul" performance is fantastic and makes me realize why I love Jewel and her music so much! It has some songs that haven't been released on any of her albums such as Rosy and Mick and Per La Gloria D'adorarvi. The sound quality is excellent and I am very proud to be a Jewel fan after hearing her amazing voice live. She sings EVEN better live and I am yearning to go to a Jewel concert. I recommend this to anyone who even slightly likes Jewel because after seeing her perform live on this DVD you will become a full-fledged Jewel fanatic!!!

Live at Humphry's is excellent. The DVD which contains the excellent audio of Dolby Surround Sound 5.1 is great. It conatins great songs such as WHO WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL, KISS THE FLAME, YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME and HANDS. Dont be expecting anything like INTUITION or basically anything from 0304. If you like her album THIS WAY you will love this DVD. Essential for any Jewel fan. Special features include Interview and Discography( not much :( ) it is the only thing lacking on the DVD.

This live recording captured over a few summer nights in 2001 at San Diego's Humphry's by the bay is an awesome showcase for the raw and emotional filled songs of this talented beauty. She shows her vocal ranges by beginning with an aria, and who else could pull that off? She also shows forth her song writing skills and her sense of humor early on by pulling a nervous audience member and having her whisper the words of a song she supposedly had forgotten, we think not, but it was a nice moment. All in all, a great DVD to have if you are a jewel fan.

I was never a close follower of Jewel. But I must say, she's actually improved quite a bit over the years. This is a beautiful collection, very moving, very genuine. A good purchase.