"It might get loud"... (Page 1 of 2)

I'm going to Köln to see it tomorrow evening, I'll let you know what I thought about it.

This film is definetively worth seeing - because of Jimmy Page. It´s so heartwarming to see him acting. As Eva was writing already: the two other guys- not really our cup of tea. So you sit in the cinema like in a rollercoaster: highly pleased about Jimmy´s playing, about old Led Zep pictures, (one of the best scenes) Jimmy listening to "Rumble" played by Link Wray, and then getting a bit bored about the other guys. Why didn´t they take Buddy Guy for example, Derek Trucks or even a newcomer called Joe Bonamassa?
Günter

interesting comments and reading, thank you, - I would like to put up a couple of opinions as answers to the comments made by Eva and Guenter,  although should state that I have not seen the film, - but happy to class myself as a fan of Jimmy Page and more importantly in this debate of The Edge and Jack White.

Simple answer as to why The Edge and Jack White were included; commercial reality. All 3 of these guys appeal to different people, - all 3 approach their music in a different way and I would imagine will draw in an audience, - being realistic I am sure that there will be a few kids who go to see this film because of each or both of those 2 and are bored by the old boy with the grey hair!

To me it is great thing when musical genres mix, - appreciation of music is about being open minded and ALWAYS taking the positive out of what you are hearing, - and perhaps disappointing when you hear or read music fans picking others apart when perhaps they don't get it? I posted up a thread in this section after I saw U2 last month and as I said in that thread music is about emotion, - I have different emotions ergo different music plays on different emotion.

U2, - probably the biggest band in the World today, - I appreciate that size is not everything but it certainly gives credibility to (in my mind) The Edge as a fascinating individual who has reached and stayed at the pinnacle of the music industry for some years. As Bono (singer U2) says, The Edge is not "Rock 'n' Roll" as he is a bit of a techno geek, - but does that make him any worse than any other guitar player? Not in my book. The song that you mention Eva with the 2 notes is "Elevation" and The Edge himself is openly stating and showing the World that it is this simple, - but to understand the song (its lyrics are almost nursery rhyme like) it perhaps need to be understood that this is a stadium song. U2 play to enormous audiences IRO 90,000 and in those venues complexity is lost as was proven my Kings of Leon trying to play in the O2 Arena earlier this year. U2 absolutely have stadium rock nailed, - to see their show is to be taken on a musical journey of highs and lows, - I have never seen anything like it. The other and perhaps most important factor with The Edge's songs is the room needed for Bono, - so invariably he keeps his part simple as does Adam Clayton and Larry Mullins Jnr and the melody of the song appears.

This is a great video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkgvIPpdboA of The Edge talking about a lovely song "With or Without You" and I think he is essentially again saying how simple can be absolutely mind blowing and when you are part of a 88,000 crowd absorbing that it sends a shiver down your spine. This is my video of that moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFi28AAFXSE

They are big enough as a band to give the song to the audience, and very few can do that as well as they do. A lot of bands/musicians will go into some long complex self-congratulatory solo and absolutely there is a place for that and we can all shout and scream our appreciation but perhaps it is the bigger man who stands back and lets the audience be part of the song? The Edge is that man.

Jack White.... Certainly an appeal to the younger audience, - he is a bit of an Emo, he is an experimenter, and his shows are a bit theatrical.- He has written one of the best riffs of the last 10 years with "Seven Nation Army" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VutMLnjXTY4 recognised as such as being in Top 10's in NME and Q magazine polls, - and good enough for inclusion in The Simpsons.... It is a blinding tune that engages people, - and more importantly is accessible: My 10 year old sat there with his guitar and worked out the riff and gets a real buzz from playing it...Simple can be good, very good.

I guess I am lucky to appreciate all 3 of these guys, - as does my son so we can't wait to see it, and get the DVD , and the Tee shirt....

If you ever get the chance to see U2 go for it, - it is an amazing experience and for me it is when a lot of their songs come together.   

Ian

footnote after typing the above I read Eva's reply below but I have not the patience to go back and edit now, - I think you have it lady. -

We need the Blues fans (I am a music fan) on this site to open your eyes and ears and let in other sounds and artists, - how we can we expect U2 fans to appreciate JB if we don't try and appreciate their taste! Get onto the U2 sites and tell them about the World that is Joe Bonamassa...We know that they will be pleasantly surprised.

Very good post Ian - thanks for adding your comments to the discussion and coming up with another point of view (I was secretely hoping that someone would do so )!

First off - I really don´t dislike the stuff that The Edge and Jack White did in the movie. And I totally agree on songs like "Elevation" and "With or without you" being both great tunes and perfect stadium-songs ("The Joshua Tree" has a place in my CD shelf as well). The White Stripes - I never really got into them ... I thought that "Seven nation army" is a really catchy tune, but ever since I saw them do that song at Rock im Park, I can´t hear it anymore - it was just so extremly bad (here´s the video of Rock am Ring, which is not much better, if you need proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdH9ktj2vDM). I kind of think that it´s sad how Jack White gets himself in bands that don´t bring out the good stuff he can do - and he CAN do good stuff, that´s for sure. Plus, I´m really bored by Emo-attitudes, but I can see that it seems to appeal to a lot of folks of my generation.
I can´t say that I was bored watching the bits in the movie that showed Jack and The Edge - on the contrary. I thought it was very interesting to put a "gear-head" and "techno geek" next to someone, who builds his guitars out of plastic stuff and uses all these old recording machines and thinks you have to fight your guitar to the point of nearly destroying it.

Jimmy Page, of course, was like floating in other spheres ... but I think the movie is supposed to to get that image across - just look at the scene where Jack and The Edge look up to Jimmy as the tune he plays suddenly bursts into "Whole lotta love" - and they look at him like little kids watching the great master. I guess the movie plays with that image ...
But in my personal opinion, Jimmy´s playing is in another league - I can´t put it in words properly, but there´s just more to it than writing a catchy tune or a song that would send shivers down your spine in a stadium ... there´s this spark. In both the diversity of his playing and - even more importantly - the powerful soul behind the music. I do sound melodramatic now, but that´s how it comes across to me. Led Zeppelin is more than a band - it´s what Jimmy called "the fifth element arising between the four band members"... just something magical. O.k., now I start sounding like a Voodoo priest, but anyway.
Not many bands can do that to you (Joe can for example) and I wonder if that feeling is something strictly subjective or not... would be another discussion ...

Eva

Yeah really...all I can do is tap my feet and play my bass.

Great movie, I don't regret my trip to Germany! More comments to come, but I'm tired so you'll have to wait 'til tomorrow (well, later today in fact)

May I agree with everything that has been said ?

I like Jimmy Page and Jack White - in the White Stripes or alone, the Dead Weather and the Raconteurs aren't my cup of tea - a lot, but I'm not a huge U2 fan. Nevertheless, I found The Edge really interesting. I wouldn't say that one is less good than another, they just feel music in different ways. And it's good to see these three guys talking about music and the sounds they seek.

I don't know what else to say. I'm still speechless after seeing a signed Gibson Les Paul Joe Bonamassa at the Music Store...

I plan on seeing the show, but haven't yet.  I watched an interview with the director on CNN about a week ago.  I can't find the interview but some of the info is in this article from the director's perspective.  And IMHO, the choice of 3 different guitarists who peaked at different times playing 3 different kinds of music = diversity, which is how the director wanted to present his film.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-08-26 … ar-heroes/

And from Jimmy and Jack...
http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/04/jimm … -the-edge/