Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - High Grass Dogs (Live from the Fillmore)

Rating:
Summary: BAD, BAD, EDITING!
Review: I JUST FINISHED VIEWING THIS DVD. SEVERAL THINGS COME TO MIND. FIRST, OVER HALF OF THE CAMERA SHOTS ,IN THIS DVD , START AS "OUT OF FOCUS" THEN FADE INTO FOCUS SLIGHTLY. THE CAMERAS JUMP AROUND AS IF THE EDITOR HAD JUST DRANK ABOUT 50 CUPS OF COFFEE BEFOR ENTERING THE EDIT ROOM.I DON'T THINK THERE IS 1 CAMERA SHOT THATS STAYS ON THE SUBJECT FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS. VERY HARD TO WATCH. SECONDLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF FILL SHOTS. EVERYTHING FROM THE BASS PLAYERS BOOTS TO THE BACKS OF PEOPLE OUT OF FOCUS AND TOTALLY OUT OF FOCUS SHOTS OF WHAT I DON'T KNOW. I'M SURPRISED TOM PETTY SIGNED OFF ON THIS PROJECT AS BAD AS IT IS.TOM AND THE BAND PLAYED THEIR COLLECTIVE BUTTS OFF ONLY TO BE RUINED BY BAD, BAD, EDITING!

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment!
Review: I'll make this quick... Remember the "Pack Up The Plantation" tape from the mid-80's? Great show. Amazing energy from the band, excellent setlist, and TP in his prime. Plus it was energetically directed, with great shots of all the band members, back up singers, etc...One of the best concert videos ever. Compared to that, and many other live concerts on the market, this one is a drag. Overall it's a lackluster performance, the camerawork, editing, and overall pace of the production is sluggish. The greatest insult is the cutaways of individual bandmembers that are not even in sync with the soundtrack. Tht tells me that this show was undershot, and consequently over edited. Essentially sucking the life out of what was probably a good show in person, but feels amd looks tepid on DVD. One highlight: The inclusion of "Listen to Her Heart". Verdict: This one's only for hardcore fans.

Rating:
Summary: Track Listing
Review: I'm interested to buy this DVD. But before I do, I'd like to know the Audio Encoding (is this DD 5.1 or DTS?)and the complete track/chapter listing.

Thank you,

aranleaf

Rating:
Summary: Tomfest '99
Review: If I had to pick the greatest band of all time - one that consistently put out great music and great performances for 25 years, it might just have to be Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I saw this tour at the Gorge and it was one of greatest shows I've ever seen. This band just rocks. But, having said that - the DVD could have been better. This was the 5th night at the Fillmore West and they looked a little stale. The band mixed it up with a few different songs that they probably didn't normally play - like "Mona" with Bo Diddley on stage. I thought the performances were great - but my dissapointment stems from the songs that aren't on here. One of the best moments in the concert was when Tom did a version of "Gloria" for one of his encores. He told a very funny story during the song. I was really looking forward to seeing that again. On the plus side, he included several new tunes from "Echo". I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because of the songs left off and because the filming/lighting could have been a little better. And oh yeah, how about adding some extra stuff in there - like lyrics. I guess it's good to be king...Buy this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed bag
Review: If you are a Tom Petty fan, you'll want this DVD as a part of your collection. The audio was clean and punchy, but the video wasn't always in sync and was distracting. Overall, the DVD had great atmostphere, partially due to backstage cutaways of the production crew. Overall, the image was very clean and, except for the audio/video sync problems, the concert was edited nicely.

Rating:
Summary: The music Won't Back Down, but the video is Free Fallin'
Review: It's too bad this wasn't released as an audio cd or double live album. It really has some terrific songs -- all of Petty's finest -- and a few overlooked or retooled gems. However, the direction of the concert film is slipshod. While the widescreen presentation is nice, there are too many artsy cuts and a tired overuse of extreme closeups of unnecessary scenes. Do I really want to get a gander of Tom's posterior filling the screen? I'd have much rathered some tight, uninterrupted shots of Mike Campbell's fab guitar manipulations or Benmont Tench's killer keyboard work. Instead, there is a distracting, frenetic pace that doesn't let you focus on any one thing too long before it cuts to another. Someone should have told the producers that this wasn't a pop video. A more lingering view of the stage and wider shots of the band going through their excellent setlist would have been far preferable and afforded the viewer a "you are there" sense of belonging. Instead, you get the feeling that you've stumbled on an Oliver Stone attempt at a 90-minute music video. There are good moments: Seeing Bo Diddley on stage with the guys for "Mona" was great fun and Petty did have some lighthearded moments before "Even the Losers." However, this DVD is hamstrung by the visual masturbation of the director. As a diehard Petty fan, I love the sound of this concert film but I can't give it a fifth star. Buy this for the music. That aspect is a five star for sure. The video brings the whole experience down a notch. And that is saying something when discussing the Heartbreakers' ability to mesmerize and enthrall. Keep the TV off and crank the speakers and go about your housework.

Rating:
Summary: great concert, bad dvd
Review: let me start by saying that the performance of this concert was great. the band played the songs almost flawlessly. but, like another reviewer said, the shots keep changing so quickly, it gives me a headache. also, the audio and the video are out of synch, so it feels more like you're watching a music video than a real concert, which is a major flaw, because other concert dvd's almost make you feel like you're really there.

Rating:
Summary: Like a fine wine-
Review: Petty and his band improves with age. Everytime I buy their newest CD or see Petty and his 'Heartbreakers' in concert I say- these guys are at the top of their game. And 'High Grass Dogs-Live from the Fillmore' is no exception. Captured on the final night of a five night gig at the Fillmore, Petty gets the proceedings off to a rousing start with 'Jammin Me' and 'Runnin' Down a Dream' great songs of course, but let's get the more tired tunes out of the way to make room for the exceptional material from the 'Echo' album. Doing just that Petty intros 'Swingin', which is simply, a rock masterpiece. After that, Petty keeps it easy, casually moving into 'Breakdown', and 'Listen to her Heart'. These guys are having fun- one gets the sense that they are still doing this because they love music, not to throw another million or two into the bank. Petty forges a connection with his audience that is real. Never one to get lost in elaborate sets, props or costumes, you still get the feeling that you are in the middle of a full blown rock concert- with real musicians. But Petty gets to have fun too, hamming it up as he introduces Bo Diddley. They perform 'Mona'- and the aging legend has no problem keeping up with the rest of the band- and the result is glorious. Peppered with footage from a camera filming backstage while the band plays on, the idea is to document the event- not to try and create a mood- it's already there. When a female roadie is asked how the show went- she says simply 'It was a great show- any other questions?' It's a real moment, not scripted. And that's what Petty is. Real.

Rating:
Summary: Sit Back and Turn Up the Volume!
Review: Pop this gem into the old VCR and get ready to rock with one of the greatest Rock & Roll bands anywhere. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers have been going at it for almost 25 years, and they can still put on a live show that keeps 'em dancing in the aisles and shouting for more. You'll start jumping at the first sound of Petty's Rickenbacker as the show starts with that great rocker, "Jammin' Me". Believe me, it's worth the price just to see Tom and Bo Diddley trading riffs on "Mona"...a classic!

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: Recorded at the Fillmore, this DVD rocks. Tom Petty and Mike Campbell fill your ears with music that is far superior than their studio recordings. I haven't tried the 5.1 sound. This DVD is a must for any Tom Petty fan.