Fairport Convention: 35th Anniversary Concert

Lots of long-running groups go through multiple personnel changes, but Fairport Convention has had so many that even the one original member—guitarist-singer Simon Nicol—appearing in this 2002 concert filmed at the Anvil Theatre in Basingstoke, England took a few years off in the 1970s ("for good behavior"). As it is, this lengthy 19-song set features a mixture of hoary veterans (such as Nicol and bassist Dave Pegg, who signed on for Full House back in the early ‘70s) and relative newcomers (including violinist Ric Sanders and multi-instrumentalist Chris Leslie). No doubting the band's importance: formed in 1967, Fairport Convention was the first and best English folk-rock outfit, combining the electric influence of West Coast American bands like the Byrds with traditional Brit folk songs to forge an original sound. But that was eons ago, when the lineup included great musicians like guitarist Richard Thompson and singer Sandy Denny, so while they are to be commended for soldiering on for what's now close to four decades, the truth is that this concert is, well, a little quaint. Perhaps it's the venue; the band would probably be looser and more fun in a pub, or outdoors at their annual Cropredy Festival, than in this theater setting. Although the vocals fall a little short, their chops are still pretty impressive: Pegg (who logged 15 years with Jethro Tull) is brilliant, a virtuoso player who also provides rock-solid backing, and Sanders is no slouch, but the concert lacks excitement, at least when they perform the pleasant but uninspired songs written since their '60s-'70s heyday ("Portmeirion," a terrific instrumental, is an exception), catching fire only during "Everything But the Skirl," a furious Sanders-Leslie violin duel, and especially the old chestnut "Matty Groves," which is the rocking high point of the show. DVD extras include a text history of the band and selected musician interviews. Optional. Aud: P. (S. Graham)