Product: Night With Lou Reed [VHS] (1991)
Rating: 5.0
Best live Lou ever, post-VU anyway
I'm glad they've put this out on DVD; I bought it back in '84 on videocassette. It was a classic then and now. Lou Reed has never sounded better in his solo career, and he's backed by a dream band (half of Richard Hell & the Voidoids with Fernando Saunders on bass). As Lou says after the concert, the set is "short and delicious"--a mix of VU and solo faves with tracks from his excellent early '80s albums "The Blue Mask" and "Legendary Hearts."Back in '83, Lou had been off the road for at least a couple of years, and he seems, for once, to be enjoying himself onstage. Also, he's in great voice (given his limited range), still able to actually sing VU tracks like "Rock and Roll" and "New Age," not just talk or shout them. Those tracks in particular appear here in arguably their best-ever versions, the VU never having quite nailed them on "Loaded" or on the various live versions floating around.Almost all the songs from his solo career are considerably improved over their studio versions, especially "Kill Your Sons," a powerful song that got lost on a bad album ("Sally Can't Dance"). Lou's insane feedback solo on this one says more about the electoshock therapy that is the song's subject than the lyrics do. Also, special kudos to "Turn Out the Light," which is kind of flat on "Legendary Hearts," but is playful and edgy live, capped by a funky (!), almost countryish guitar solo by Lou. It's funny to watch him pull faces during the solo, almost as if he can't believe he's playing it.And the band is just superb: Robert Quine is one of the great rock guitarists, capable of slash-and-burn solos ("Waves of Fear") or beautifully lyrical ones ("Satellite of Love"). Fernando Saunders plays melodic, distinctive bass--check out the solo on "New Age," and Fred Maher is a solid, powerful drummer. Lou's had some good bands since, but this remains his greatest--other than the original VU, of course. And on this night, they were in top form.This is simply an essential Lou Reed purchase. Admittedly, it's nothing special visually--Lou and the band playing in a small club with rather harsh lighting, that's it--but it's all about the music. And what music! A true classic.