I love Dave’s eight-ball hat. Yep, that’s how we’re gonna start this.
Anyways, Nirvana: Live at the Paramount.
Nirvana: Live at the Paramount is a concert film originally recorded on Halloween night of 1991, and it’s my favorite concert film of all time. While Stop Making Sense is generally considered the best, including me. This one is my personal favorite.
And to this day, I still don’t really know how you’re supposed to review a concert film.
I don’t think we even need to talk about the performances from Nirvana in this thing. I mean, Kurt Cobain is one of my favorite musicians of all time. His raw, aggressive, sometimes crackling, broken voice always itches my brain in the best way. Dave Grohl, my drummer idol and the reason I got into drumming. And of course Krist Novoselic, absolutely going feral on bass. I think he was using what looks like a Gibson RD bass. I’m not entirely sure. But damn, he wears that thing low as hell. It’s basically swinging. Also, just dogs out, fully exposed, grippers for free. Like, Krist. What if you get blisters? Please watch yourself.
The music is revolutionary. It’s some of the best music I’ve ever heard. This is, in my opinion, one of if not the best live recordings ever conceived. It’s gritty, grimy, perfect while being imperfect at the same time. The drums punch, the guitars hit, Kurt’s vocals clash beautifully with Dave’s backing vocals, everything just locks. It genuinely sounds like it was recorded in the modern day. That’s how good it sounds.
The explosive, crispy chorus of “Lithium.” The throat-destroying screams and crunchy guitar tone of “Negative Creep.” The absolute chaos and beauty of “Territorial Pissings.”
And the dreadful, depressing, self-hatred perfection of “Rape Me” starting slow and restrained, then the drums kick in and it’s just… OH!!! I’m feeling things tonight.
I also can’t be the only one obsessed with that huge blank background that keeps changing color. I’m absolutely in love with it, especially when it turns red. Seeing their silhouettes thrashing around, going feral behind a red, blue, or green backdrop is pure visual candy.
I’m obsessed with the camera work in this concert film. Most of the shots are handheld, chaotic, and unhinged, in the best way possible. Every time I watch this, I feel like I’m one of the go-go dancers on stage, just vibing and losing my mind. It’s such a fun, exciting way to shoot a concert.
But to be fair… those poor guitars, man. What did they ever do to you? I know it’s the style, and I love it, but still. Such beauty being abused. Kurt swinging a guitar using an amp will never not look badass. And then he just casually plugs the amp back in when the cable pops out, like nothing happened. Meanwhile, Krist keeps trying to smash Kurt’s guitar with his own, failing repeatedly, trying again and again. It’s never not funny and also genuinely dangerous. Krist, please don’t get murdered by a guitar.
And as a former drummer, I still can’t help but sit in complete awe watching Dave Grohl. The power, the stamina, the energy. If I were in his position, I’d pass out immediately around school or something. School is also my favorite Nirvana song, by the way. Along with Negative Creep and Rape Me. And yeah, I literally gave myself a headache from headbanging too hard while watching this. Worth it.
Truly one of the greats.
Absolutely one of the greatest of all time.
Life-changing experience.
Life-changing experience.
I love Dave’s eight-ball hat. Yep, that’s how we’re gonna start this.
Anyways, Nirvana: Live at the Paramount.
Nirvana: Live at the Paramount is a concert film originally recorded on Halloween night of 1991, and it’s my favorite concert film of all time. While Stop Making Sense is generally considered the best, including me. This one is my personal favorite.
And to this day, I still don’t really know how you’re supposed to review a concert film.
I don’t think we even need to talk about the performances from Nirvana in this thing. I mean, Kurt Cobain is one of my favorite musicians of all time. His raw, aggressive, sometimes crackling, broken voice always itches my brain in the best way. Dave Grohl, my drummer idol and the reason I got into drumming. And of course Krist Novoselic, absolutely going feral on bass. I think he was using what looks like a Gibson RD bass. I’m not entirely sure. But damn, he wears that thing low as hell. It’s basically swinging. Also, just dogs out, fully exposed, grippers for free. Like, Krist. What if you get blisters? Please watch yourself.
The music is revolutionary. It’s some of the best music I’ve ever heard. This is, in my opinion, one of if not the best live recordings ever conceived. It’s gritty, grimy, perfect while being imperfect at the same time. The drums punch, the guitars hit, Kurt’s vocals clash beautifully with Dave’s backing vocals, everything just locks. It genuinely sounds like it was recorded in the modern day. That’s how good it sounds.
The explosive, crispy chorus of “Lithium.” The throat-destroying screams and crunchy guitar tone of “Negative Creep.” The absolute chaos and beauty of “Territorial Pissings.”
And the dreadful, depressing, self-hatred perfection of “Rape Me” starting slow and restrained, then the drums kick in and it’s just… OH!!! I’m feeling things tonight.
I also can’t be the only one obsessed with that huge blank background that keeps changing color. I’m absolutely in love with it, especially when it turns red. Seeing their silhouettes thrashing around, going feral behind a red, blue, or green backdrop is pure visual candy.
I’m obsessed with the camera work in this concert film. Most of the shots are handheld, chaotic, and unhinged, in the best way possible. Every time I watch this, I feel like I’m one of the go-go dancers on stage, just vibing and losing my mind. It’s such a fun, exciting way to shoot a concert.
But to be fair… those poor guitars, man. What did they ever do to you? I know it’s the style, and I love it, but still. Such beauty being abused. Kurt swinging a guitar using an amp will never not look badass. And then he just casually plugs the amp back in when the cable pops out, like nothing happened. Meanwhile, Krist keeps trying to smash Kurt’s guitar with his own, failing repeatedly, trying again and again. It’s never not funny and also genuinely dangerous. Krist, please don’t get murdered by a guitar.
And as a former drummer, I still can’t help but sit in complete awe watching Dave Grohl. The power, the stamina, the energy. If I were in his position, I’d pass out immediately around school or something. School is also my favorite Nirvana song, by the way. Along with Negative Creep and Rape Me. And yeah, I literally gave myself a headache from headbanging too hard while watching this. Worth it.
Truly one of the greats.
Absolutely one of the greatest of all time.
Life-changing experience.
Life-changing experience.
