Product Description

Movie DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12255 in DVD
• Brand: UNI DIST CORP (MUSIC)
• Released on: 2003-07-15
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, Live, Special Edition, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound, Surround Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 210 minutes

Amazon.com
If you love concert DVDs that offer first-rate music, excellent sound and picture, a beautiful setting, and substantial bonus features, then Alison Krauss and Union Station Live is destined to become your new favorite. It's not just for bluegrass fans either, as proven by Krauss's crossover success on the smash soundtrack of O Brother, Where Art Thou? as well as her pop-oriented hits such as "Now That I've Found You." That song plus "The Lucky One," "When You Say Nothing at All," and others are the perfect showcase for Krauss's meltingly gorgeous voice, and admirers of the concert's two-CD set will also find out how funny she is in her between-songs banter. AKUS has never been all about Krauss, however, so there are also instrumental jams plus featured spots for other members, including Dan Tyminski on O Brother's rousing "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow."

The second DVD offers 50 minutes of interviews in which all five members plus drummer Larry Atamanuik discuss their influences, their instruments, and their favorite songs. There's also backstage and road footage, baby pictures, and more. Perhaps the only disappointment is that two songs from the CDs are not included in the concert: "Down to the River to Pray," which is heard over the end credits but not shown on stage--presumably because the CD version was not taken from this 2002 Louisville show--and "There Is a Reason." --David Horiuchi

From the back cover
DISC ONE:
Filmed in high definition at the Louisville Palace in Louisville, Kentucky. Songs: Let Me Touch You for Awhile, Choctaw Hayride, The Lucky One, Baby Now That I've Found You, Bright Sunny South, Every Time You Say Goodbye, Tiny Broken Heart, Cluck Old Hen, Stay, Broadway, Ghost in This House, Forget About It, Faraway Land, A Tribute to Peador O'Donnell / Monkey Let the Hogs Out, The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn, Take Me for Longing, I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow, Maybe, We Hide & Seek, But You Know I Love You, When You Say Nothing At All, New Favorite, Oh, Atlanta.

DISC TWO:
Exclusive interviews with Alison Krauss + Union Station, exclusive behind-the-scenes and on-the-road footage, over 150 rare and unreleased photos and home videos, Alison Krauss + Union Station discography, video for "New Favorite," tribute to Frank Edmonson

Customer Reviews

An Incredible Experience
Along with my father, we went to see Alison Krauss & Union Station perform live in El Paso, TX in early December of last year, and we were just blown away by the amazing talent of these musicians. Alison Krauss' voice sounded more beautiful and was more astonishing than any studio song I've ever heard recorded by her. Members of Union Station, Barry Bales, Jerry Douglas, Ron Block, and Dan Tyminski blew up away with their instrument playing. It's hard to believe that both my first concert, and pretty much my Dad's first concert, would pretty much turn out to be overall perfect. Alison Krauss sang beautifully and Union Station performed exceptionally.

When I was thinking of a gift to buy my father for Christmas, I remembered how much he was blown away by the concert. So, I ordered the DVD version of their live concert from April 29 and 30, 2002 at The Louisville Palace in Louisville, KY. My father was so happy when he got the DVD, and he loved watching all of the artists performs. He said it was haunting to see them on screen, considering we had just seen them in concert, and he said it was just like being there all over again -- hearing them live, being blown away by their amazing talents.

Alison Krauss & Union Station have to be some of the best artists to have come along ever since music was first being recorded. They're talents are breath-taking and you won't have a single flaw to point out about them.

I think the more special 'treats' on this 2 DVD set are the intense, instrument-only performances "Choctaw Hayride" and "Cluck Old Hen". It's amazing watching how fast and accurate these musicians play their instruments. Not only does Alison Krauss sing, but she also plays the fiddle. If Alison Krauss & Union Station ever stop if your town for a concert, here's some smart advice. GO SEE THEM. You'll get a whole lot more than your money's worth.

The special features of this DVD aren't bad at all. The first disc of this 2 DVD set is of the concert, and the second is of the special features. The second disc contains a tribute to Peador O'Donnell (someone who worked closely with the group), a haunting music video for "New Favorite" from the album NEW FAVORITE, and other features including biographies of/interviews with Alison Krauss, Union Station, and drummer Larry Atamanuik.

The Alison Krauss & Union Station LIVE 2-disc CD set will make a great gift for anyone who loves pure, quality music.

Almost like being there....
This is an excellent DVD, and long awaited for AKUS fans. Both the video and audio components of this concert are worth the price alone. The DTS 5.1 surround sound makes it feel like you're front and center. The concert is the same one that they used to make their "AKUS - Live" 2-CD set, with some omissions, most notably the two encore songs after "Oh, Atlanta". One highlight, for me at least, was the inclusion of the band's banter with the audience between songs. There is a little of this on the CD version, but much more is included here, and it really showcases the band's personality and sense of humor. For those who have been to one of their concerts, this truly is the next best thing to being there.

Disc two is far less impressive. The interviews are pretty stiff, and the producer got a little carried away with photography tricks - switching from color to black-and-white endlessly, and video gymnastics that look like they came right off of an overdone powerpoint presentation. The behind-the-scenes footage is simply the result of someone holding a home video camera and taking various shots of everyone monkeying for the camera. It's not all bad, by any means, but it is a lost opportunity for those who were hoping to get a little more insight into the band.

Bottom line, however - this is an excellent concert and a very well done DVD at that. It rivals the Eagle's "Hell Freezes Over" DVD for sound and video, and is one I will be watching over and over for years to come.

A Solid Pleasure
Country music seemed to lose its way in the late sixties when country performers increasingly began to imitate rock musicians. Beginning about ten years ago, there was a new initiative to bring it back to its authentic roots, led by Emmy Lou Harris and given real momentum by the release of the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Even George Clooney was upstaged by the real star of the film -- the music.

We enjoyed the film so much that we bought the companion DVD, Down from the Mountain (The "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Concert) which recorded a Nashville concert by the musicians from "O Brother." If you don't already have that DVD, buy it.

Anyway, Alison Krauss and Union Station figured strongly in all of this (group member Dan Tyminski sang "Man of Constant Sorrow" and the group itself was the Soggy Bottom Boys). Because "Down From the Mountain" featured interviews with all of the musicians involved, we became aware of what serious musicians the members of Union Station are.

This concert, which takes place in a beautiful venue (the Louisville Palace -- what all auditoriums aspire to be when they grow up), simply takes up from where "Down From the Mountain" left off. Almost all of the music is fast and upbeat, with lots of pickin' and individual performances by members of the group. My personal favorite is Jerry Douglas who plays the dobro, a horizontal guitar that produces the sweetest sound I've heard. I now realize that it lay at the core of some of the best music in "O Brother."

Alison herself comes across as being shy and slightly embarrassed at being the center of attention, a true Natural.

Sit back and enjoy.