Festival Express

[Tony Plachy]

Folks, If this has been posted already I apologize. Last night I saw the Festival Express. Highly recommended. The film is grainy, the acoustics are only fair, but the scenes with Janis and the Band are incredible. Go see it if it comes to your area. :thumbsup:

[Joseph]

I saw it live when it came to Toronto. I look forward to revisiting it on film.

[Tony Plachy]

I saw it live when it came to Toronto. I look forward to revisiting it on film.

You lucky dog! :agree:

[Jimbo]

I took in a screening last week. Terrific movie. Janis is electrifying. I only wish the film was longer, I'd love to see more footage. Here's hoping for an expanded DVD release sometime soon.

If you get a chance, go see it!

[Chris R]

The tour came to my hometown, Winnipeg, Manitoba. I was too young to see the concert. My parents didn't let me go to shows until a year or two later. Had an original poster on my bedroom wall for about 10 years. Wish I saved it.

[jamesmaya]

"Festival Express". Was this some sort of Canadian Woodstock on wheels? I only have a vague idea what this was.

Jim W

[davenav]

Festival Express was a tour that took place shortly after Woodstock. Janis, The Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, Ian & Sylvia (featuring Buddy Cage on steel guitar!) and many more!! The tour was a financial disaster, but the musicians didn't seem to care. They were having so much fun on the train that the gigs seemed almost an afterthought.

It's a really good documentary, but the first five notes of Janis's Cry Baby are worth the price of admission alone!!

[jdw]

"Festival Express". Was this some sort of Canadian Woodstock on wheels? I only have a vague idea what this was. Jim W

Woodstock On Wheels is a good description. The official Festival Express website is excellent and has the basic background on the tour;

www.festivalexpress.com

There is also an article at the San Francisco Chronicle's web site detailing all the legal problems that the tour and the film went through over the years.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/07/12/DDGHK7JAR91.DTL

And by the way, the film is great! I hope the upcoming DVD will have additional performance tracks. A commentary track by the musicians would be interesting, too.

[Joseph]

During that era there was a lot of debate that music should be free (nothing's changed today). There was even a semi-organized group who's goal was to get in to the concert for free. I recall bands of kids trying to climb the barb wire fence at the Toronto concert. Police on horseback charged the crowds in an effort to disperse them. The demonstrations followed the tour from city to city. Great concerts though! IMO one of the great unheralded festivals now finally getting some recognition.

[Gary]

From a local newspaper article.

... there was controversy with some people in Toronto thinking the concert should be free, and protesters clashing violently with police outside. The protest repeated itself in Calgary with the mayor leading the way for a free concert.

"He called me an Eastern scum, a capitalist rip-off, son of a b*tch" recalls Walker. (Ken Walker, promoter).

Walker wanted the train ride event to be a party and included drums, a B3 organ and amps in the bar car. There's one scene where Joplin, Jerry Garcia and Rick Danko are featured doing a jam.

:cool:

I gotta see this movie! And buy the (hopefully available soon) DVD!

[Tony Plachy]

Go for it Gary, you will love it. :righton:

[d.r.cook]

NY Times had a pretty big feature within the past few Sundays; prob cost to download now, though. the footage had been tied up in litigation forever.

doug

[Tony Plachy]

NY Times had a pretty big feature within the past few Sundays; prob cost to download now, though. the footage had been tied up in litigation forever.

doug

Doug, You should not see this film the first time in a download, go to the movies. :righton:

[Kayaker]

Doug, You should not see this film the first time in a download, go to the movies. :righton:

Think Doug was talking about the Times article costing $$ to download.

[czeskleba]

During that era there was a lot of debate that music should be free (nothing's changed today).

It's funny how back then, people were happy to pay for records but thought that concerts should be free. Now, people are happy to pay $100 or more for a concert ticket, but think downloading records should be free.

[Tony Plachy]

Think Doug was talking about the Times article costing $$ to download.

oops! :o

[Burningfool]

How was the Dead's performance in the film?

Jerry wrote "Might As Well" about that tour.

I keep waiting for a Pittsburgh-area screening. Hopefully soon.

Chris

[Tony Plachy]

The Dead's on stage performances were good, but the best part was when they had them on the train jamming especially Jerry. :thumbsup: He looks so young in this film.

[Burningfool]

I think Jerry was still in his 20's when that was filmed.

Chris

[guy incognito]

It's funny how back then, people were happy to pay for records but thought that concerts should be free. Now, people are happy to pay $100 or more for a concert ticket, but think downloading records should be free.

Who are you, Andy Rooney? ;) :laugh:

You're right, though, it's an interesting point.

[ceddy10165]

the 2 disc DVD came out yesterday. I picked it up at Best Buy on sale for 19.99 at lunch today and can't wait to go home and see it. I've been reading about it for years, and missed it in the theaters.

[Tony Plachy]

ceddy, Thank you so much, I will latch onto the DVD. :righton:

[mcow1]

How was the Dead's performance in the film?

Jerry wrote "Might As Well" about that tour.

I keep waiting for a Pittsburgh-area screening. Hopefully soon.

Chris
Didn't Robert Hunter write the lyrics to Might As Well?

[Jeffrey]

Didn't Robert Hunter write the lyrics to Might As Well?

Hi Mike,

Yesiree! :agree:

Take care,
Jeffrey

[d.r.cook]

Who are you, Andy Rooney? ;) :laugh:

You're right, though, it's an interesting point.

Andy Rooney, rock n roll audiophile! That's funny.

I finally saw this, amazingly, in Chattagoonga--a "private" viewing at a 9:45 Sat. nite showing. It is excellent. Some of the most riveting performance footage anywhere of Joplin, and I'm not even that big a fan. She comes across as much more of a human being, as opposed to some kind of freak show. the extemp. stuff on the train and also a neat little "gift to the promoters" segment during the last show serve to bring much deserved dimension to her maligned image.

She rocked, and she had a big heart.

the band, buddy guy (sylvia from ian & sylvia) all come off well.

doug