Jeff Buckley - Live in Chicago (2000)

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jeff Buckley's untimely death gives this 108-minute live performance inevitable poignancy and power as a rare, complete document of his passionate writing and playing style. At the time of Buckley's ascendance in the mid-'90s, both his high-flying vocal attack and his edgy poetic sense struck older listeners as genetic markers from his father, folk-rock legend Tim Buckley. Yet Buckley fils pursued a much more electric, rock-ribbed style, nodding toward behemoths like Pearl Jam and even Led Zeppelin.

This 1995 concert is a single, complete show from the tour that yielded the posthumous Mystery White Boy live album. It likewise impresses, both for Buckley's own songs and the bold cover choices included, here including songs associated with Nina Simone and the MC5 (a range that explains the emotional epics that Buckley favors).

Visually, the unadorned lighting scheme casts an often harsh light on the pale, dark-haired frontman, but a generally solid performance is sonically captured with satisfying detail, and the 5.1 surround sound mix gives the DVD version an appropriate club ambience. The DVD also includes two bonus acoustic performances. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com

jeff buckley and chicago; what more can i say

really, if you are a buckley fan, THIS is a must have DVD. his voice, words and musicianship take it from there. March 24, 2008

I almost hate to write this...

Let me be clear that I absolutely adore Jeff Buckley. I love his music and I love his voice and I am incredibly sad that he is no longer with us. Grace is absolutely one of my favorite all-time albums.

I really, really tried to like this DVD.

But.

This DVD is pretty terrible. The performance, and I really almost feel bad saying this, is really not good. The sound quality is a bit abrasive at times. I love Jeff's personality and he's so good with the crowd (even when they were bothering him) but musically, it wasn't up to par - and not in the "it didn't sound like the album" par. At times Jeff would play on a tangent and his bandmates would have to watch him just to figure out what the hell he was doing.

I really wouldn't recommend it. February 16, 2008

The Most Beautiful Voice in the World Deserved Better!

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is indeed a stellar concert, but there are two problems that plague it:

1. Camera Angles : The entire video recording is very 'amateur', to say the least. Most of Jeff is captured with very bad lighting, sometimes he is obscured in the dark completely. Also, the camera sometimes lingers on the same spot for too long with no other angles to speak of (possibly because there were no other cameras?) and even if you're a huge Jeff fan (as I am), this could be tiresome.

2. The Sound : I was not entirely happy with the audio of this recording. Most of it is obscured by the audience screaming and there is a perceptible hiss that runs through the background permanently. This is not a good thing at all. In fact, some songs that require a delicate rendition such as 'Lilac Wine' have possibly been ruined by the weak transfer of audio. I suspect the original recording itself wasn't that clear, which is why.

3. Special Features : Now, heres the thing. When Jeff had only one actual studio album in his lifetime, how on earth would a 'Discography' section benefit a true fan of his? It does not make any sense. Of course you get listings of everything he's ever worked on (such as 'Sketches' and his earlier collaboration album) but I would hardly call this a special feature.

The good part of this is that this remains the only officially commissioned Jeff Buckley video recording out there. Under Mary, his mother, much more archived video has been promised to us, his fans. As a starter kit, this works fine. Jeff was ON this night, and brought a lot of tenderness to his performance. Watching this more than ten years since his death, its very nostalgic and inspiring. Then you think of whats on the radio these days and miss the time when you could actually listen to Jeff Buckley on radio. Where have those days gone?

I consider Jeff Buckley to be the closest thing to a perfect male musician. Apart from his obvious ethereal beauty, his voice remains truly a divine gift that hasn't diminished in its' resonance through the years. I think that had he lived, he would certainly be regarded as some sort of pioneer. Sadly, all we have are remnants such as this DVD release. Get this today. Like I said, its not great, but its all we have of Jeff.

Five Stars for the man and his music. Three Stars for the DVD. I'm rounding the rating out to a total of four Stars. September 28, 2007

Buy Anything By Jeff Buckley

Any true fan of Jeff Buckley will obviously have Grace, a truely remarkable album by one of the most awsome, talented, and passionate songwriters/singers ever to "grace" this planet!! And if you are that fan, then you will want to have this concert in your possesion. Just to see Jeff perform, along with his talented band, you see his ability expressed in his playing, and his vocal range. It is all just so great to be able to see this talent in person.

Yes, the production may be somewhat raw and less than perfect,however, Jeff is just that.....perfect. I don't care about the sound production being less than perfect, but seeing Jeff play live and in concert, is just a thrill. We fans have a limited selection of CD's that Jeff has performed, so having this DVD available is a must BUY for anyone who claims to be a Jeff Buckley die hard fan.

JLMankin July 14, 2007

Poor Jeff

This would have been a wonderful Dvd were it not for the boisterous hecklers tormenting Jeff throughout the entire concert.I did however enjoy the way Jeff dealt with them. I am saddened by the way he was treated. If I had ever had the opportunity to hear him play live I would have surely been grateful and respectful. Jeff gives a stunning performance nevertheless and for that I commend him. November 6, 2006

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