Product: Night With Lou Reed [VHS] (1991)
Rating: 5.0
Lou Reed showcases new material and classic hits.
In this video Lou Reed is back at the Bottom Line Club in N.Y., backed by the band from 'The Blue Mask' and 'Legendary Hearts,' the early 80's albums that signalled a major comeback for Reed. Robert Quine on guitar, Fernando Saunders on bass and Fred Maher on drums would continue to work with Reed throughout the decade, and Saunders is still working with Lou now. But it's the music that makes this a night to remember. Classic rockers such as "Sweet Jane" and "Waiting for the Man" are interspersed with terrific versions of "Martial Law" and "Waves of Fear." This is Lou Reed at a vibrant and creative time in his career, able to present older material such as "Kill Your Sons" and "Satellite of Love" with the same energy and originality with which he invests his newer songs. One bonus - you can catch Andy Warhol in the audience and if you read his diaries you will find a refernce to this performance. Lou appears a little apprehensive at times during the show, less confident than at other times during his career, but that does not impair his performance one bit. Wait for the backstage comments at the end of the show when he describes hitting a "perfect note" which lifts him up away from the stage and into the audience. This is a tight, controlled rock 'n' roll show which all Lou Reed fans will enjoy, both new and old.