I always find it fascinating when people tell me, “I’m not religious.” As this documentary/concert dvd of Jim Hendrix’s famed July 4th Atlanta Pop Festival concert points out, everyone worships something. Hendrix states on the Dick Cavett TV show that his concerts were an “electric church,” and the crowd seems to be looking for deliverance from the guitarist/prophet.
This fascinating film includes interviews with Hendrix bandmates Mitch Mitchell and Billy Cox as well as insights delivered by Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney and present artists like Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks. Even more interesting are the people who were involved with the actual concert, ranging from roadies to local security guards and citizens of Byron, Georgia. The homespun reflections are a true joy to take in, leading up to the actual concert which contains more footage than was featured on the original TV broadcast.The sound and footage is excellent, and as for the performances, there are treasures galore. Hendrix changing keys on “All Along the Watchtower,” as well as searing reads of “Stone Free” and “Purple Haze” are highlights indeed. Impressive is the lesser heard “Room Full of Mirrors” and a swinging “Spanish Castle Magic” with his obligatory “Star Spangled Banner” fitting in somehow with the July 4th celebration. If nothing else, the mix of music and look for transcendent meaning in this guitarist and his concerts gives proof of Augustine’s famous statement, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest with Thee.”
A must for Hendrix devotees and philosophy majors.