DVD Review: Ashes of American Flags: Wilco, Brendan Canty;Christoph Green: Movies & TV
DVD Review: Ashes of American Flags: Wilco, Brendan Canty;Christoph Green: Movies & TV
Product Description
Ashes of American Flags follows Wilco from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Cain’s Ballroom) to Washington D.C. (9:30 Club) during its 2008 U.S. tour of ballrooms, clubs and concert halls, capturing the six-piece band, and three-man horn section, at such
hallowed venues as Tipitina’s in New Orleans and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This feature-length DVD is a concert film of extraordinary intimacy, with the HD cameras focused primarily on the stage and often inches away from singer songwriter Jeff Tweedy’s microphone or drummer Glenn Kotche’s cymbals. Ashes of American Flags also functions as an evocative travelogue, a document of the band’s physical and emotional journey. Co-directors Brendan Canty, the former Fugazi
drummer, and Christoph Green track Wilco’s tour bus across the country, taking in both the wide-angle beauty and William Eggleston-like desolation of the highways and cities they pass through. At each stop, the filmmakers record candid moments
at sound check, back stage and on the bus, where band members offer insights into their lives on the road and their remarkably intuitive communication as a group.
Current Wilco at Their Very Best,
By Sweet Beacon
(Missoula MT USA) -
“Ashes of American Flags” documents a short concert swing from about a year ago, with Wilco playing such classic small Southern venues such as Tipitina’s in New Orleans and the Ryman Theatre in Nashville. They filmed five shows in their entirety, and picked out the best performances from them. The result is a 90 minute document of the current Wilco lineup at the their very best. The film-work is great, but mostly importantly, the performances are astoundingly good, and they cover a wide range or materials, from the super-rocking “Monday” from “Being There” to material from “Sky Blue Sky,” including an absolutely remarkable version of “Impossible Germany.” This is certainly a “must have” for any fan of Wilco, and I think even those who only know a little about the band will be moved by the powerful and profound performances.
Great Perfomances,
By Michael L. Link -
The concert itself is great, the video/sound quality are top notch and the Wilco lineup shown here is incredible. The reason I gave it four stars instead of five is simply because I don’t think it’s really a “documentary”, there are some interviews and behind the scenes stuff but these feel like an afterthought. Having said that there is a half hour of “bonus” live footage and you can download the audio tracks for free. This dvd is well worth the money and since I’ve seen them live a few times I can say it is a very good representation of their live shows. It is definately a must have for Wilco fans and if for some reason you don’t already own the “I am trying to break your heart” documentary by Sam Jones I would buy the two together… you will probably get free shipping that way:)
What would we be without wishful thinking?,
By M1986 (USA) -
“Ashes of American Flags” is Wilco’s first concert film, and it’s a great one. With about 20 songs being performed live, they’re all staggering. As another reviewer noted, this version of “Impossible Germany” is just breathtaking. Beautifully filmed, and with superb audio, the songs are inter-cut with snippets of life on the road, and glimpses of what hanging out with Jeff Tweedy might be.
If you’re new to the world of Wilco, there is no better introduction than this live dvd. To those already enamored , you will not be disappointed. If the engaging B&W “I am trying to break your heart” was Wilco at the brink of self-destruction, “Ashes of American Flags” is the bands cinematic colorized re-birth. It’s proof that this band is alive and well, and we couldn’t ask for more.
Search Ashes of American Flags: Wilco, Brendan Canty;Christoph Green: Movies & TV from AmAzon
[asa]B001RTYKWM[/asa]
First tagged "video" by Athrun Aznable Customer tags
