Okay, hippie alert!! - have to do that one today, because I went to see Festival Express.
It is a very cool movie!!
...if you like The Band, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, blues jammin', acoustic jammin', and so on. Now, it happens I do like these things, especially back in 1970, when this film was shot (my opinion of the 'Dead 1970-77 being much higher than before or after that period.... plus The Band and Joplin kick ass live).
some background-- the bands decided to bring the mountain to Mohammed on this tour, going by train across Canada rather than make everyone come to one place a la Woodstock (or Altamont or Monterey etcetc). The tour was marred a bit by (selfish) crowds protesting that they should be let in for free, causing some riotous scuffles in Toronto and the subsequent news of this travelling across the country leading to more angry-crowd-demands for free admission throughout the whole tour.
The ticket prices were $14-16 in 1970 Canadian bucks... adjusting for inflation, that's probably a good $40-50... but that seems reasonable to me for a multi-band festival. One of the most interesting parts of the movie is when Bob Weir defends the Toronto police to indie/hippie journalists, saying that a mountie suffered a severe brain injury from an attacking protester (compared to no major protester injuries), and asks, "Is that worth a $16 ticket?"
Highlights of the film:
-The Band doing "The Weight," "Slippin' and Slidin'" and "I Shall Be Released"
-anything Janis does-- she is on fire, and supremely entertaining
-the 'Dead doing an acoustic "Don't Ease Me In" and a nice "New Speedway Boogie"
-Buddy Guy jamming (with a good amount of distortion) on "Money," walking offstage into the crowd
-A drunken Rick Danko leading Janis, Weir, and Jerry on "Ain't No More Cane," filmed on the train
The other folks in the film are okay too. Sha Na Na do "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay" and frankly at this point (July of '70) they all look a lot more ragged-disheveled-hippie than '50s-throwback.
added bonus - the theater played the movie very loudly
It is a very cool movie!!
...if you like The Band, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, blues jammin', acoustic jammin', and so on. Now, it happens I do like these things, especially back in 1970, when this film was shot (my opinion of the 'Dead 1970-77 being much higher than before or after that period.... plus The Band and Joplin kick ass live).
some background-- the bands decided to bring the mountain to Mohammed on this tour, going by train across Canada rather than make everyone come to one place a la Woodstock (or Altamont or Monterey etcetc). The tour was marred a bit by (selfish) crowds protesting that they should be let in for free, causing some riotous scuffles in Toronto and the subsequent news of this travelling across the country leading to more angry-crowd-demands for free admission throughout the whole tour.
The ticket prices were $14-16 in 1970 Canadian bucks... adjusting for inflation, that's probably a good $40-50... but that seems reasonable to me for a multi-band festival. One of the most interesting parts of the movie is when Bob Weir defends the Toronto police to indie/hippie journalists, saying that a mountie suffered a severe brain injury from an attacking protester (compared to no major protester injuries), and asks, "Is that worth a $16 ticket?"
Highlights of the film:
-The Band doing "The Weight," "Slippin' and Slidin'" and "I Shall Be Released"
-anything Janis does-- she is on fire, and supremely entertaining
-the 'Dead doing an acoustic "Don't Ease Me In" and a nice "New Speedway Boogie"
-Buddy Guy jamming (with a good amount of distortion) on "Money," walking offstage into the crowd
-A drunken Rick Danko leading Janis, Weir, and Jerry on "Ain't No More Cane," filmed on the train
The other folks in the film are okay too. Sha Na Na do "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay" and frankly at this point (July of '70) they all look a lot more ragged-disheveled-hippie than '50s-throwback.
added bonus - the theater played the movie very loudly
VIEW 7 of 7 COMMENTS
I haven't seen this movie yet, my theatre's showing it really soon..
I think Fred Durst is a big dumb animal but probably not as much of an asshole as he's made out to be. I think Creed has a positive message. I think Andrew W. K. would be cool to hang out with. I think Eamon is a poser. This doesn't make for good music.
Uh, what "n" word? "naphthalene" weren't you paying attention.
"I love "black" chicks with "English" accents, even if they don't hunt zombies. I would like to "get with" Zadie Smith." You're a little heavy-handed with the quote and italic text button, No? Do you use air quotes when you talk? More importantly, do know the connection between these two women?
Your answer to # 16 in BrookeLynne's journal was very interesting. I wish I could think of something I learned in school. I'm not a fan of America's so called educational system.
Aside from the hippy bands (Phish) I'm a fan of your favorite bands. Not enough people have heard of Drive-by-truckers. (or Wet Hot American Summer)
I though I watch a good amount of TV but I haven't heard of most of those shows. If you're from Canada then I don't feel so bad.
Has anyone ever told you you look JUST like Bob Dylan! WOW.
Actually you look a high school teacher.