Live! Tonight! Sold Out!!

Live! Tonight! Sold Out!! isn’t your typical cash-in posthumous video. Originally conceived by Kurt Cobain, it was completed after his death and features performance, interviews and candid footage recorded from 1991 through 1993 edited into a pastiche that captures the essence of the band. Since much of the footage comes from videotaped sources, the video quality isn’t what you’d expect from DVD; it’s not widescreen, and the visuals are downright murky at times. However, segments where they presumably had access to the original footage are noticeably improved with more accurate colors. The soundtrack is available in the original stereo or an unimpressive 5.1 mix. Without a doubt, the highlight of the DVD is the footage from the band’s legendary homecoming concert, filmed in Seattle on Halloween in 1991. Other highlights include an incendiary take on “Territorial Pissings” and, perhaps most poignantly, a crowd sing-a-long version of “Lithium” recorded at the 1992 Reading festival. It’s hard to believe it’s been 15 years since Nirvana erupted onto the music scene; in many ways, it feels like they were never here—but at least we’ll always have the DVD to remind us.