Perhaps it's a good thing that there hasn't been anything up until now, that the fates decreed the world wait until technology had advanced sufficiently to do the job properly. Anything short of the handheld minicam and impeccable sound equipment wouldn't have been able to capture the subtleties of either the man or the music, which would have made the experience a disappointment.
There is something so highly personal about DeVille and his music that not being able to pick up the sweat on his brow and the look in his eye would have made it a waste of resources. Being able to have the cameras on stage with Willy and the band, following the interplay of music and players, makes Live In The Lowlands almost as rewarding as seeing Willy in person.
The director of the film, Perry Joseph, has done a remarkable job of editing the footage from the multiple cameras. He managed to capture not only the power of the music but also the underlying currents and character of DeVille that are so much a part of each song. Part New Orleans honky-tonk, Mississippi Blues, Spain, and just old-fashioned Rock and Roll, DeVille and his band would be lost in a static camera shoot. Sometimes you have to be in motion to capture all the activity of a band that stays relatively still.
These aren't players that are jumping around on stage. It looks like, at the time of the concert, Willy was recovering from an accident or something because he was walking with a cane. He also seemed to have moments when he was in obvious pain. It didn't show up in his performance. But by the encores, his face is starting to show the strain of dealing with pain. In fact, his lead guitar player Freddy Koella stayed seated for the whole show. Much more like a jazz band than a rock band in their performance style, they are more than willing to let the music speak for itself, without any physical histrionics.
Article comments
1 - Paul J. Marasa
Thanks for the heads-up on the DeVille DVD. I haven't bought any of his music since vinyl ruled the world, but a month doesn't go by that I don't think of that voice, that deep sound. I think of him in the same world as Southside Johnny and Springsteen, mournful/joyful NJ/NY stalwarts who showed up as I was leaving high school and trying to figure out the kind of adult I wanted to be. Their music gave me a little piece of what I needed back then--and still do, and always. Thanks again; you made me want to do the Spanish stroll back into this under-appreciated soul-filled singer's work. Keep the faith.
2 - tink
I totally agree with Paul. This is now at the top of my 'must have' list.