Jeff Bridges, Sheryl Crow, and Matthew McConaughey host this tribute to Austin City Limits, which for 40 years has been presenting live music performances aired on PBS stations across the country. According to Crow, it's “the longest-running music show on television.” Two house bands accompany the performers (the program stitches together separate performances from KLRU's Studio 6A and the Moody Theater), who include notable blues and roots musicians like Buddy Guy, Lyle Lovett, and Joe Ely. Things get off to a rousing start with Bonnie Raitt, Brittany Howard, Gary Clark Jr., and Jimmie Vaughan playing “Wrap It Up,” while other highlights include Alabama Shakes' “Gimme All Your Love” and Emmylou Harris's rendition of Patsy Cline's “Crazy.” Not everything works: Willie Nelson, who appeared on the 1974 pilot, sounds a little shaky on “Whiskey River” and “On the Road Again," although his guitar playing is fine. With her bright voice, Crow also proves an awkward fit for “Me and Bobby McGee,” which calls for a less refined approach. She duets with Kris Kristofferson, who wrote the song, but someone forgot to turn up the volume on his microphone (Crow does better with her own “Can't Cry Anymore”). Even with all the veteran artists in the house, the audience cheers loudest for Austin blues man Clark Jr., who plays his hit single “Bright Lights,” and is met with a standing ovation. The program also includes an all-star jam on Buddy Holly's “Not Fade Away,” and a prerecorded segment in which the Foo Fighters add metal shadings to Roky Erickson's “Two-Headed Dog.” Presented in 5.1 surround sound, extras include bonus performances. Recommended. (K. Fennessy)
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
(2014) 110 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-137-0. Volume 30, Issue 2
Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years
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