If you ask anyone to name a famous concert from the 1960’s, it is likely the answer an overwhelming majority of people would give would be Woodstock. Yet, there was another concert in California held two years earlier, and counterculture documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker captured everything. The film opens in shaky out of focus and grungy imagery, hand-held shots and hand-drawn credits begin to flood the screen. Any lover of the 1960’s music world will be hooked from the credits alone. Names begin to appear. Simon and Garfunkel, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Who, the Mamas and the Papas, and Otis Redding just to name a few. We are promptly introduced to excited teenagers and the growing crowd. An officer in charge of security notes that the Hell’s Angels and Black Panthers are both slated to show up, he is obviously afraid of incident. The camera captures the multitudes as they sway and strut into the fields, a hodgepodge of ages, styles and personalities. The way the film is shot, each pedestrian is filled with depth. Instead of being camera filler these masses are sort of examined, it is truly engaging just to watch them walk by. It takes no time at all for the music to begin and we are presented with a live performance of “California Dreaming” that is filmed with such clarity of sound and vision that it almost feels like you are there. Monterey Pop is an amazing musical documentary that loves the fans as much as the bands and is a wonderful introduction to the wonderful soundtrack of the 1960’s.
Documentaries have to have something special to stand out. It is always impressive to find a musical doc that focuses on so many aspects of the culture of the time. Music is an important aspect of any culture and but Monterey Pop is not just a collection of performances, it is a historical portrait that is both respectful and beautiful. Every shot of every performance seems to want to inspire a great painting. The stage lights and perfect capture of each member of every band along with a mix of psychedelic imagery and flashing image overlays brings the music beyond a sound to a full sensory experience. Monterey Pop is a perfect and wonderful work of art.
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