Rating: 
Summary: Intense, cathartic, and compelling
Review: Jeff Buckley was a consumate improviser, reknowned for his inspired and wayward explorations onstage - a habit which might have swamped a band comprised of lesser musicians. Buckley was blessed by the presence of Michael Tighe, Matt Johnson, and Mick Grondahl, who not only possessed the considerable gifts needed to follow him around every twist and turn, but whose intuitive and symbiotic playing helped push the music and the moment to dizzying heights. Those already "converted" Buckley fans will find this live-in-its-entirety concert film a breath-taking and jaw-dropping ride from start to finish. It will leave the "uninitiated" transfixed, and give pause for reconsideration to those who may have already assessed and dismissed Buckley's music. Recorded in Chicago during the support tour for "Grace," the film captures Buckley and Band near the apex of their creativity, and the DVD format lends the sound an incredible richness and resonance. The music is potent, immediate, and compelling. The subtle and complex interplay between the band members is impressive to witness. Watching Jeff lose himself to the music is awe-inspiring and humbling; watching Jeff crack jokes and goof around with the audience dispells the notion that he was some sort of moody, wounded angel. I was lucky enough to catch Jeff and the Boys in concert twice; while this film can't quite capture the essence of being present and participant in the feedback groove between performers and audience, it's a close second. It raises memories of what was, leaves questions about what could have been, and above all pays testament to the tremendous technical prowess and artistry these men possessed. Jeff often spoke of music as a spiritual pursuit. This film is a document of a man, his peers, and his supplicants communing with and channeling God - and it is a powerful moment.
Rating: 
Summary: An entertaining - but unessential - concert film
Review: LIVE IN CHICAGO is a complete concert from Jeff Buckley's Mystery White Boy tour of 1995, which promoted his first album GRACE. While that is a record of great beauty and originality which I would recommend to anyone, LIVE IN CHICAGO is entertaining but unessential purchase even for fans. Besides the thirteen songs of the concert, this DVD also includes the electronic press kit for GRACE, and an in-studio performance of two songs in an acoustic fashion. The concert is nice, but one notices right away that it doesn't take one to any spiritual heights like when listening to GRACE or Buckley's two live CDs. The amateurish footage's bled colours subtract from the goodness of the music, and the concert took place in a cheap inner-city club that seems too low for someone of Buckley's talent. He played much larger venues abroad, it would have been better to get a concert film from one of those. Buckley opens up with "Dream Brother", proving that what was a closing track does make a good opening. "Mojo Pin", "So Real", and "Grace" were highlights of the album, but Buckley doesn't add anything new in their concert performances. Showing that he has been inspired by numerous musical influences, Buckley even throws a cover of MC5's "Kick Out the Jams", which is an abrasive and noisy track which leaves one with bad memories of the set. There are two great moments at the end of the set, an instrumental version of the song "Vancouver" (a vocal version of which was on Buckley's posthumously released SKETCHES FOR MY SWEETHEART THE DRUNK), and a delicate cover of Big Star's "Kanga Roo". Being a fan of the label 4AD's collaborative project This Mortal Coil, Buckley may have been inspired to cover "Kanga Roo" after hearing their remarkable cover, but his own rises above it. The bonus features of the DVD are a mixed bag. The acoustic songs shown live in studio during the recording of GRACE are rather lackluster. "So Real" and "Last Goodbye" had the energy they did on the album versions precisely because of their use of electric instrumentation. The electronic press kit for GRACE, however, is a diamond in the rough. A mix of footage from before and just after Buckley's signing to Columbia Records, it includes part of Mojo Pin filmed in Sin-E, the New York City cafe where Buckley first began to make it big, as well as an interview with Buckley showing a man of great talent a bit timid at having a major-label contract. All in all, LIVE IN CHICAGO is best left to die-hard Jeff Buckley fans, people who moved beyond his first album and bought SKETCHES and both live CD's released to date. Listeners who merely enjoy the magic of GRACE can safely pass this DVD by. It's pleasant, but nothing special.
Rating:
Summary: the best 99 minutes of my life!
Review: ok, the title of this review may sound like i don't get out much, but those lucky enough to have seen this video will surely understand. i'd already heard that jeff was an altogether different experience live - i'd already bought "mystery white boy", so i knew what his concerts sounded like, but i wanted to see him in action....the cabaret metro is a very small, intimate setting which works especially well on "lilac wine" and the mighty "hallelujah". he has an amazing rapport with the audience, who respond with true interest. his band are as faultless as his singing, and extremely tight. matt johnson, mick grondahl and michael tighe are phenomenally brilliant musicians. highlights of the video include a beautiful "lover...", a madcrazy "eternal life", "vancouver", "kanga roo", and my eternal favourite, "hallelujah". i know i keep using the present tense to describe a past event, but mary once said that to jeff, the moment was king, and his performance here really creates a moment that transcends time and leaves you stunned for days.
Rating:
Summary: buy this DVD!!!!
Review: One of the best artist of our time in one of his best performances. This is priceless....
Rating:
Summary: Worth it for the Bonus EPK
Review: The camera work here is disappointing and the overall visuals don't add much to the music. But hark, the Bonus EPK included here is brilliant and truly captures his essence. Worth it for this alone. Even if you do have to stomach the very un-Buckley MTV camera moves.
Rating:
Summary: Chronicle of a tragic artist
Review: The darkness and romantic elements of Mr. Buckley's stories seem to lead quite fittingly to him drowning at a young age in the mythic Mississippi river. This is a great show from an exceptional talent. Mr. Buckley performs like a man possessed. I had to take back a copy of this DVD because of digital noise aroung Lilac Wine. But aside from the technical flaw this is a fantastic DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: An introspective look on one of our greatest talents
Review: The long-haired Jeff Buckley is captured in a DVD worthy of the accolades it has recieved. We can finally see his amazing voice (spanning a whopping four-octaves), his astounding guitar-playing abilities (using only standard tuning), and his between-song antics that all combine into one solid night of music at the Metro. You see, most bands try to grab thirty seconds of magic and try to stretch it out into an entire performance. Masking it with glitzy lights and fog makers. But Buckley only weaves a pattern of song after song, pure and unadultrated, being completely different yet remarkably the same. The DVD includes his own improvisations with standards like Dream Brother, Mojo Pin, So Real, Kick Out the Jams, Vancouver and more. This DVD also has two acoustics of So Real and Last Goodbye (not to be missed by any Buckley fan) and the Electronic Press Kit for Grace that is very well done. This is where it all boils down, and only stirs my remorse further that we had to lose potentially the best musician ever so young.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable DVD!!!
Review: This DVD is incredible. If the only thing this DVD had was the 2 acoustic extras and the promo package from Columbia it's worth the price! The concert is awesome. Lover, you should.... Is the best song. His voice is perfect. He's beautiful, powerful, and brings tears to my eyes. The first time I ever heard a Jeff Buckley song was about a month ago on VH-1's 100's greatest albums. I can't stop listening!!
Rating:
Summary: Region 2
Review: This DVD luckily DOES play on my European DVD player with region 2 encoding!!
Rating:
Summary: Perfection...
Review: This is -hands down- the most emotional and touching concert I've ever seen in my life. I'm not gonna tell you how incredible Jeff Buckley's music because you probably know that already. If this performance doesn't bring tears to your eyes, then I don't know what will. Do not miss this only chance of seeing Jeff playing live, you'll definitely regret it.
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