Search - Let It Rock: The 60th Birthday Concert on DVD

Lives up to its billing as "the rock event of the decade"

George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 09/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Good
The DVD kicks off with "Let it Rock", a performance by the All-Star Band (Lewis, Hawkins, Perkins, The Band, Healey, and Gowan). These rock veterans show the young'uns how it's done. Jerry Lee Lewis plays the piano with such ease, as does Healy with his trademark seated guitar playing. Despite his sixty years, Hawkins is in great voice with his deep vocals tones. This is how you start a show my friends. The All-Star Band follows up with the blues number "Down in the Alley". It's loaded with twangy slide guitar, soulful piano playing, warm brass, and emotional vocals courtesy of Hawkins. For the group's third and final performance together they choose the high-energy "Bo Diddley".

The Band injects dual drums, crazy key smashing, and vocal melodies into "Remedy". They follow that with `The Weight" and "Rock and Roll Shoes". Lawrence Gowan contributes with three songs. He breaks out some sweet 12 string guitar tones on "Time for Love" that compliments his vocals well. He gets behind the keys for a rousing version of "Good Golly Miss Molly", and stays behind them for a soulful version of "Long Tall Sally". Ronnie Hawkins takes to stage five times throughout the DVD, and each performance is flawless. Carl Perkins uses plenty of 50s style double stops during his solo work on "Matchbox", and also get the crowd on their feet with "Blue Suede Shoes".

Jerry Lee Lewis isn't exactly the Wildman he was in his younger days (he's 70 at this time), but he can still hit all the notes and his signature yodels on "Whole Lotta Shakin'" and "Great Balls of Fire". Jeff Healey backs him up with some phenomenal guitar work. The DVD bonuses include a music video by Ronnie Hawkins featuring The Band for "Days Go By". The video itself features backstage clips from the big show. Also included is the documentary "At the Crossroads of Rock and Roll", which not only chronicles the concert, but also gives you a little history of how and when the rockabilly craze got started. It's quite in-depth as it goes into the artists lives and explores the controversy that they possibly stole the style of music from the black culture of that time.

The Bad
Not a damn thing!

The Verdict
This DVD lives up to it's billing as "the rock event of the decade". You can't deny the musicianship and talent of all the artists involved. This isn't necessarily music or artists that I've listened to in the past, but after watching this DVD I'm going back to explore more of their past work.

"

Turn it up!

G. Copeland | Aurora Ontario | 01/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was fortunate enough to be at this concert. There are two live concerts that stand out in my 65 years, this one and a Bob Seger Concert in the 80's. I did not think it was possible to put that incredible concert on Dvd, but they came darn close. The last performances of Rick Denko and Carl Perkins, the incredible guitar work from Jeff Healey and one of the tightest Bands around. The Romp has started to leave Ronnie (at 60) but he can still blow the walls out. For those of you that are not familiar with Massey Hall, it's Old, in Toronto and as Gordon Lighfoot once stated "the best acoustics around". The performances by Larry Gowan, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jeff Healey are fantastic. This is a good, no a great dvd. I was just at Ronnies final Concert at Massey (Dec/05) and he has always been the consumat entertainer and really, really knows how "Rock and Roll" should be played. I am grateful to have been at the concert and this dvd comes really close to letting you experience what was "One Helluva Concert".
Gary Copeland
Aurora Ontario"

A Rockin' Good Time with Hawkins, Perkins, and The Killer

Cory B. | Arizona | 01/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee "The Killer" Lewis together on the same stage, I knew I had to get my hands on this DVD. Despite my youthful age of only 31 years, I've always been a fan of the original legends of rock n' roll and this concert is a worthy purchase for anyone who loves this type of music. I bought this as a fan of Lewis and Perkins and wasn't very familiar with Ronnie Hawkins and the other performers, but everyone here is quite good and the backing band is also top-notch.

After a nice opening introduction by Jerry Lee, Ronnie Hawkins takes the stage and leads the all-star band into a performance of Chuck Berry's "Let it Rock". The red hot blues jam "Down in the Alley" is next and is probably the highlight of the show. Jeff Healey plays guitar better blind than most guys can with 20/20 vision. Jerry Lee's priceless, gleeful reaction to Healey's wicked solo during this song was worth the price of the DVD for me! Lawrence Gowan also rocks out with a spirited performance of Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly" and "Long Tall Sally", and even manages to outplay Jerry Lee in this performance with his keyboard playing.

Carl Perkins {dressed appropriately in a pair of blue suede shoes} and the Killer are both in good form here as they deliver their familiar hits, but both are past their primes and stronger performances of these two legends are available on other DVD's. Anybody who enjoys this concert needs to get a copy of Perkins' superb concert special from 1985, "Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session". It is a masterpiece very similiar to this show that features Carl burning down the house with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and others! Jerry Lee has also had several DVD releases in the last year. Check out his DVD "Greatest Live Performances of the 50's, 60's, and 70's" to see the Killer tearing it up in his prime!

The hour long rockabilly documentary included here as a bonus feature is just as good as the concert. It spotlights the early Memphis rockabilly scene and includes some nice interviews with Carl Perkins and his son Stan as well. If old-time rock n' roll is your thing, you won't be disappointed with this. Add this one to your collection along with Carl Perkins' "Rockabilly Session" DVD!

UPDATE: Jeff Healey passed away about a month after I wrote this review. Both Healey and Carl Perkins are sadly no longer with us which only adds to the value of this DVD. Buy this today and honor the memory of two guitar legends!"

LET IT ROCK

Ed Bird | VICTORIA CANADA | 11/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A REAL FUN GET TOGETHER OF OLD ROCKERS CELEBRATING THE 60
BIRTHDAY OF ONE OF THE MOST FUN OF THEM ALL ... ROMPIN' RONNIE HAWKINS ... A GREAT SHOW !"