Jars of Clay

Item: 11 Live (Video)
Author: Andree Farias

11 Live (Video)

(2002)

Reviewed by Andree Farias

Discogs YouTube

Label Essential RecordsThe Rebel Base2002

alternative rock folk rock pop rock

If you're an artist with a certain level of musical credibility and are reasonably "good" at what you do, releasing a live DVD is almost a natural step, especially if you have an established fan base and a repertoire comprehensive enough to make such a product a viable business decision. U2 did it with their acclaimed Elevation Tour; Pearl Jam gave us a taste of the road and the stage with Touring Band 2000; and Madonna's Drowned World Tour 2001 immortalized the gyrations and sensuality that are inherent to the beloved material girl. In a much smaller scale, 11ive: Jars of Clay in Concert serves as an effective-- yet not all-inclusive-- reminder of how much the boys responsible for "that water song" have progressed over the years.

Starting with "Disappear" and making their way through most of The Eleventh Hour's more energetic tracks ("Fly," "I Need You," "Revolution") and some fan favorites ("Like a Child," "Crazy Times," "Unforgetful You"), the setlist and concert flow are almost identical to what was presented during The Eleventh Hour tour. Everything is here, from the boring story behind "Fly" (how dare you, Andree!) and Dan Haseltine's poor man's rock star, I-take-myself-a-little-too-seriously stage antics, to the requisite rousing rendition of "Worlds Apart," complete with hallelujahs and a The Edge-inspired guitar finale, courtesy of Steve Mason. Even though most of the songs in the main set are played in pretty standard fashion and there are no major deviations from the recorded originals, the guys sound extremely assured at it and seem to have a good deal of fun on the stage.

There are a couple of unexpected surprises that are worth noting. Bounciness and soul are the order of the day during "I'm Alright," which is given the same oh-so-fun, gospel-tinged treatment as the original thanks to a spot-on appearance by the Darwin Hobbs Choir; this song then segues into "Revolution," and it's here where the choir really lets loose and adds the spunk that only a S.O.P. chorale can give to a track that is already lots of fun. Equally noteworthy is the inclusion of a string trio during "Like a Child" and the bridge of "Flood," an element that adds a touch of nostalgia to tracks that are classics in their own right. However, there's a pointless drum duel tacked on at the end of the former, which superficially seems cute, but that, in the end, evokes unnecessary images of the Newsboys. Jars... you're not a youth group band. Don't do that anymore.

Another area where the concert falls somewhat short is the mixing of the sound. When you're making a project of this nature, not only do you need to make sure that the instrument levels sound uniform, but also certify that the equalization is correct. In that light, the overall sound is pretty flat, and the lows don't distinguish themselves enough, which is a shame considering that most of the songs that are considered rockers need to sound punchy and tight in a live setting.

More attractive and fan-pleasing than the concert itself is the added bonus material. It includes a 4-song acoustic set, a making-of featurette taken straight from The Eleventh Hour sessions, and artflick, a feature that at first feels like filler, but is actually a nifty extra element that makes the project more "Jars," or artsy, if you will, by interweaving music, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and candid moments of the band on the road. The one hidden component that steals the show and almost justifies the purchase of the entire DVD is a live, fully orchestrated interpretation of "Frail" circa the Much Afraid days, taped at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The sound is simply huge, and the experience is almost cinematic.

Although 11ive: Jars of Clay in Concert is basically a recapitulation of Jars' The Eleventh Hour Tour plus a couple of extra goodies, it's still a must-have for any Jars fan, and overall a worthy addition for anybody who fancies himself a sucker for well-performed live music. The boys have always taken making quality music seriously, and this time around the quality once again takes center stage. Literally.