Incredible String Band: Live at the Lowry

Formed in Scotland in 1965 and taking its name from the Incredible Folk Club in Glasgow (which was operated by founding member Clive Palmer), the Incredible String Band enjoyed nearly a decade of influential success in their original lineup, becoming one of the most successful and innovative acoustic folk-rock bands to emerge from the British countercultural music scene of the mid-to-late 1960s. The band officially broke up in 1974, but have reunited several times with personnel changes over the decades. This September 2003 concert recorded at the Lowry Theater in Salford Quay, England, features the band's final incarnation—following the departure of co-founder Robin Williamson and his wife Bina—with original members Palmer and Mike Heron, as well as Lawson Dando and Claire "Fluff" Smith. Each are multi-instrumentalists, with Palmer and Heron sharing guitar and vocal duties, while Dando plays keyboards and guitars, among other instruments, and Smith plays mostly violin, cello, and percussion. Given the rarity of ISB performances on video, this is a must-have for fans, although newcomers will also be impressed by the casual precision of this performance, which encompasses most of ISB's history and best-known songs, including "Everything's Fine Right Now," "Log Cabin Home in the Sky," and a grand medley that features the Heron-penned epic "A Very Cellular Song," widely considered to be the centerpiece of the band's seminal 1968 album The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. And while this performance focuses more on folk music artistry than the psychedelic influence that brought them peak popularity in the late '60s, it's still very clear here why ISB was such an important band during the vibrant British music scene of the era. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.l, DVD extras include a lengthy interview with Palmer and Heron. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Shannon)