MOVIE: 20 Years of Metro

Title: 20 Years of Metro
Format: DVD
Production Company: ???
Year: 2002

Review: Attention retailers, resalers and anyone else looking to make a quick buck from me: One nearly foolproof way to get me to buy something from you is to put a notice on your product that say "This is not for sale." I'm a collector at heart and old habits die hard.

It also helps, of course, if I am interested in the product itself. I'm not going to buy your one-of-a-kind rhinestone Mama Cass thong tassles. Sorry. That's why they made Ebay.

The Metro, however, is something that has piqued my interest ever since I was a 15-year old high school student in Wisconsin and got my hands on a bootleg concert recording of the Smashing Pumpkins performing there. Before I even knew where the Metro was, I was amazed by its accessable stage and architectural beauty. I've seen several concerts there since then, including The Eels, Sonic Youth, Bright Eyes and most recently, Dirty Three.

So, when I saw this documentary sitting on the new arrival shelf at Reckless Records with the warning "This DVD is the property of Joe Shanahan. This DVD is not for sale." I had to have it.

Joe Shanahan, for those of you who don't know, is the founder and owner of Chicago's most famous concert venue. I'm really not sure how his personal DVD got into a used music store. I am even more unsure of why a DVD from a private collection would need a summarizing blurb on the back of it as if it were for sale. What I am sure of is how lucky I am to have come across said DVD.

Framed between two ultra-diculous Miller Genuine Draft commercials (MGD sponsors almost every event at the Metro and is one of the crap beers they sell at the bar), the documentary includes extensive interviews with Joe himeslf as well as a handful of long-time employees of the Metro. A lot of time is spent discussing the history of the club and the building it was opened in as well as the influence Metro and Shanahan had on the popularity of midwest musical groups such as the Smashing Pumpkins.

The viewer gets a feeling that the staff of the Metro really care about musicians from all genres of music and will go the extra mile to make even the smallest band feel like rock stars. Then, right after you get this feeling, Joe Shanahan announces this. I'm not sure if it enhances the sentiment or negates it. Despite the smallish size of the club, several high-profile music groups continuously return to the Metro when passing through Chicago though, and one thing that is abundantly apparent is Shanahan's extreme love affair with music.

In addition to the staff interviews, are the interviews with musicians. Each of them, gushing with true admiration for Joe and his club. Billy Corgan is seen many times speaking of the man as if he were a beloved brother.

The highlight of this documentary is the rare and varied archival footage of several performances that have taken place at the Metro. Among them are a laughable early Goo Goo Dolls performance, Nirvana, Smoking Popes and Ben Folds. Especially noteworthy is the footage of such great musicians as Jeff Buckley, Blind Melon and (of course) Chicago's own Smashing Pumpkins. Shanahan's description of Buckley's performance is especially sincere. He almost begs the viewer to believe him when he says that he could hear a pin drop during Buckley's set. For those who don't believe him, the footage of the late singer/songwriter will convert you.

20 Years of Metro is a rare find that any fan of live music should seek out. A portrait of how a lot of passion and a little hard work can give way to the creation of a landmark.

Rating: 4.25 / 5