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50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Open, drink from the bottle, then pass it around, October 9, 2002
This review is from: Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos: Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 (DVD)
What a timely performance to release on DVD. What with the Stones currently on tour and making themselves relevant yet again, this DVD becomes a touch stone for fans and students of rock'n roll everywhere. It might be easy to forget that the Stones chartered the original pirate ship that is modern Rock n' Roll. All the original attitude, bluster, sound and fury has not been diminished after all the years. On those occasions when the Stones choose to set sail, reviews often dwell on the tarnished treasures they bring to the stage. Gold is gold, you don't need to polish it to establish it's value. It just is. The Stones are the gold standard for modern Rock n' Roll. For that matter, they are also the gold standard for modern Rock n' Roll performance. Stadium, hall or club, the Rolling Stones bring more precious treasure to share than any other band. Their catalogue of songs is vast and impressive . Whatever album or show you identify as the pinnacle of their essence, each is a voyage unlike any other. The sum of the parts, produce a whole that is still the best in all of Rock n' Roll. Obviously, Keith Richards is a large part of the whole that is the Rolling Stones. Some say he is the Rolling Stones. This DVD proves just how unique and gifted a performer/writer Keith is. Without the Stones show and Mick beside him, Keith just tears into HIS music and almost makes you forget he is a part of the Rolling Stones. Each song stands on it's own. Sure, the Stone's riffs are there but they're Keith's riffs. The Chuck Berry chords, the R & B melodies, the reggae groove, the soulful horn of Bobby Keys, all this adds up. You watch this DVD and cannot help but feel moved by Keith's love of the the music. It shows in his performance. He's not self-conscious or stage struck. He's carried off by the music and so are we. The highlight for me is HIS version of "Time Is On My Side". With Sarah Dash on lead vocals, you completely forget the Stones version of this song. It reveals the deep soulful base that is at the heart of this song. Every song is a torrid work-out rhythmically. The band is just superb. They leave lots of space for Keith to play those timely open chords he owns a patent on. Then there is his lead/rhythm solos that are just masterful, subtle moments that punctuate the melody/groove. He finds just the right balance between power and passion when stretching out. It might seem a stretch, but Keith's only rival in this respect is Willie Nelson. Their personality infuses every aspect of the song , every note they play. The one interesting thing about this DVD is the lack of a true blues number. It seems to suggest that Jagger might be the blues conscience of the Stones. Not to suggest that Keith is uncomfortable in this genre, it is just interesting to consider the absence of a blues number in this performance. This in no way diminishes the set. This DVD is a must. Rolling Stones fans will be astonished at how "happy" Keith is. He holds the stage, he leads the band, he is in full sail. The one last detail to mention is the sound. I believe the transfer of the video footage is appropriately grainy, but the sound is full on crisp. You hear this show and all the musicians clearly. PLAY LOUD.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Precious Stone: Keith Live, November 3, 2003
This review is from: Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos: Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 (DVD)
When Keith released his first solo album, Talk is Cheap (1988), critics said that it was the best Rolling Stones record in 17 years. It was considered the best record since Exile on Main Street. This was probably an exaggeration since both Some Girls (1978) and Tatto You (1981) were extraordinary records. But Talk is Cheap was an important album. It was the first solo album by Keith Richards. After Keith released Talk is Cheap, he went on tour with his new band, The X-Pensive Winos--Waddy Watchel, Sarah Dash, Steve Jordan, and Ivan Neville. The tour was very successful. It won an award for the best tour in small theaters. And it won the attention of many bootleggers. Keith decided to produce a live record just to stop the circulation of bootlegs. That's why the Live at the Palladium was made. The concert was indeed a very good one. Keith does some of his best singing ever - I mean it !- and the band is very energetic. Keith's song set is made up mostly by the songs from his solo album- You shouldn't take it so hard, How I wish, Make no mistake, and so on. There are also an soulful rendition of Time is on my side (sang by Sarah Dash), Too Rude (that Keith recorded the previous year with the Stones for the album Dirty Work), Happy (a vintage Keith from Exile on Main Street) and Connections. It's really a nice concert and it's really nice to watch.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
KEEF ALMOST IN THE FLESH!!, October 3, 2004
This review is from: Keith Richards and the X-Pensive Winos: Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 (DVD)
Great performance, tight band, great sound, great selection of songs!!! The picture is a bit grainy, but it doesn't distract from the enjoyment, because the colors are otherwise bright - it looks like it was meant to be grainy. It's great to see JUST Keith without Parody of Himself Mick distracting from the real star of the show! Keith's in fine voice, and looks his always-cool-self. Fans of Keith, this is a GREAT DVD!!! Great chance to view our hero at his best! Only complaint: wish it were longer!!
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