Best Concert film
Added 2/17/2010
Festival Express is a documentary film about three concerts that took place in 1970 during a one week period. The concerts were linked together because all the musicians travelled and lived together on a private Canadian Railroad train which was open only to the perfomers, roadies and a few groupies. No one left the train during that week except to perform in the concerts. The movie was not realeased until recently due to legal issues; but if it had been released when it was shot, it would have attracted more attention and would be more well known as well as easily rank as one of the greatest concert movies of all times. The movie shows "behind the scenes" as well as "on stage" for some of the most iconic bands and performers who ever lived; Janis Joplin, the Greatful Dead, The Band and more. The week long train trip is shown in context and the movie audience gets a unique look into the life style behind the concerts as well as the three incredible concerts. By the time the train arrived for the final show in Calgary, the personalities on the train had fused into a rock and roll family; and that is what makes these filmed concerts different than all other films. I was on that train and that trip was the greatest rock and roll experience I ever had but more importantly; the movie captures all the thrills, chills, and excitement of being on the train. If you were not on the train, you can still get on board.
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Wonderful concert footage and music, though nothing special as a document of the times
Added 2/14/2010
FESTIVAL EXPRESS is a filmed document of the abortive 1970 trans-Canadian railroad tour featuring Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Buddy Guy, The Band, Sha Na Na, etc. Obviously inspired by Woodstock, the idea was to travel to several major Canadian cities, play a big day-long show at each, and collect a tidy sum. As with Woodstock, though, the dark side of hippiedom surfaced and there was a big hue and cry about the "outrageous" ($16 I think?) sums charged for the shows; eventually, so many people got in free to most of the shows that the promoters nearly lost their shirts.
Contemporary interviews with survivors (Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, and Phil Lesh of the Dead; Buddy Guy and the principal promoter) are interspersed with archival (16 mm?) on-the-train footage and concert footage. The interviews are disappointingly pedestrian and similar, "oh it was so cool man we hung out and partied on the train and drank our asses off and took all these psyechedelics and then we got to play a lot and bummer that these kids were so ungrateful and bashed the police and bashed us because we didn't want to give it away free"...other than the promoter Ken Walker, they were all fairly dispensible. The train ride stuff was pretty cool, particularly a shot of Jerry Garcia doing a mostly-solo old gospel tune, and a nice vignette of The Band's Rick Danko, Joplin and Garcia doing a stoner improvisation...but there wasn't enough of this stuff overall, which is certainly rare and unique material.
The concert footage is for the most part pretty awesome, though, and is the reason to see the film. Buddy Guy is incandescent in the one song we get to see complete("Baby Here I Come), Janis amazing on "Cry Baby" and almost as great on "Tell Mama" (though obviously messed up, on this song and everywhere else in the film...on the road to an early death), The Band impressive on "The Weight" and even more powerfully emotive doing "I Shall Be Released". The Dead's three songs are fine, but nothing really special from them - much as with "Woodstock" they are going to be a big part of why a lot of people see this, but are not at their best; I wish they'd showcased Pigpen just a bit, as he was still singing in 1970...what, no "Hard to Handle"? Well worth seeing if you're a fan of any of the principle musicians...not much as a documentary. I'm a fan, so I liked it, but it's not for a general audience, really. Ya gots ta be a hippie, dude - or at least able to fly your freak flag while watching this.
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Peace Train
Added 1/24/2010
This documentary is one of the best of its kind. It seemlessly works in great quality concert footage with an amazing story line of the Festival Express in the glory of 1970. This is really something you won't get in most music documentaries; actual close up footage of Jerry, Bob, Janis, and Rick Danko of the Band all jammin' together on a train through Canada. The train footage is what did it for me. It's priceless stuff, like Buddy Guy and his band playin' the blues( horns and all) on a train with the Dead, Janis, an the Band. The film itself couldn't have been done much better, except for the fact that it leaves you wanting more. This is a great buy and a must for any fan of any or all of the artists in the movie. Serious document of 1970 music history gold!
Great extra concert performances too!
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Powerful, heartfelt rock documentary.
Added 12/28/2009
This rock documentary chronicles the journey via train, of several famous rock bands performing throughout Canada, in the summer of 1970. Most of the acts aboard the Festival Express train, were legendary; The Grateful Dead, The Band, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, etc.
The film emphasized the genuine camaraderie, between the bands as they travel on the train between performances. They were more like drinking buddies having the time of their lives together, than egocentric rock stars. Much jovial fun was had by them all, throughout their train trip together through Canada.
The performances by the musicians, were exciting and energetic. Janis Joplin's performance, was especially powerful and electrifying. The Grateful Dead, led by a young Jerry Garcia, gave a sensational performance as well. The viewer can see why the Dead, were the reigning kings of psychedelic rock. Buddy Guy and his blues band, played with an absolute, ecstatic joyfulness.
The overall tone of this film was uplifting, despite the troubles of the overextended promoters, and the scuffles between the Canadian police and the audiences, that took place at the concerts. There is a palpable sense of hippie idealism left over from the 60s, throughout this film. It was as if The Festival Express concerts, were truly the swan song of the 60s counterculture utopia, rather than Woodstock.
This film is a must-see, for those who want to see some trailblazing rock musicians in action, and how they helped influence the 60s counterculture.
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Great music DVD
Added 12/7/2009
I love this music DVD. It features several bands performing shows across Canada while traveling by train. There is great footage from the train as well as the concerts. Definitely check it out.
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