This was a concert that I saw on the old idiot box (TV) the other day and it was great! The Beastie Boys are the band and I know what you are thinking, but it really open my eyes to these guys. Up until recently, I was not really all into hip hop. Rick Jones did introduce me to different forms of hip hop that I thought was really interesting. Once I did see this video I had a new found love for this musical art form. So now let me try to clarify my position and in doing so I hope to change your attitude toward this band to some degree!
In this concert video Beastie Boys wanted to capture a show as seen through the eyes of the audience. It was also shot by 60 fans who had video cameras running during this show. The film was low quality, thus creating a unclean and grainy feel to it show which brings a true indie feel to it. I think that is what makes the film really unique since it was focused on main stream viewers that follow hip hop and pop music! The shots were taken from many nontraditional and professional angles that feature other audience members whipped into a frenzy and of coarse the band. This is the pure beauty of it all.
I caught the show on TV when a band was on this movable, rectangle shape stage. At this point I didn’t even know what band was playing let alone that I was watching a Beastie Boy concert. I think that if I did know who I was watching I would probably turned the channel right away do to my ignorance of the capabilities of the band.
It resembled a rectangular like gazebo structure that was being slowly spun around until you could see the band right in front facing the audience. There were white patio like lantern lights all above this thing, swinging lightly like they were playing in an outdoor venue. The band was dressed in cheesy white coloured tuxedos making my mind believe that I was watching a vintage concert way back in the 50’s. It also gave me the impression that the band was playing at Arnold’s Restaurant! You know the one in Happy Days with the Fonz going “ahhhhh”! Then the band started to play.
The music that came out out of these guys was a funky, pop 50’s sound that ya gotta love. They went back to this 50’s old school straight up Rock & Roll concept that has stood the test of time. You know I must give credit to the hip hop crowd that was there at the show because they all knew that, what they were hearing was good old R & R music. In my eyes this show had this carnival atmosphere going on and it just didn’t stop!
So check out this video and see what I mean. In my next post, I will try to break down what vintage instruments some of these guys were playing and you may be a little more then surprised. These classic hip hop guys pulled off this style in try R & R form!
Keep on Jammin’ (even the Beastie Boys!)
