DVD Review-Live at Reading Nirvana

By Colt Langley/reporter

Unlike their first live release in 1996, From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, a compilation of live songs from various concerts, Nirvana’s Live at Reading is the band’s first full-length concert DVD/CD.

Released on Nov. 3, Nirvana Live at Reading captures the band headlining the annual Reading Festival concert in 1992.

The concert begins with lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain propelled onto the stage in a wheelchair. Wearing a hospital gown and a long blond wig, Cobain staggeringly stands up from his wheelchair and says in a whispering tone, “Some say love … is a river” and immediately falls to the stage floor.

After half a minute or so, Cobain stands up and plays the opening chords to the first song of the night, “Breed.”

This concert bears a couple of live songs that even bootleg collectors have a hard time finding. Songs from its Nevermind album like “Come As You Are,” “Lounge Act” and “Stay Away” are not that easy to find as live recordings. The band also includes a few cover songs to the set.

Throughout the concert, Cobain makes only a couple of guitar changes, switching between a vintage sunburst Fender Jaguar and a sunburst Fender Stratocaster.

As for the rest of the band, Krist Novoselic helps out with some vocals, but drummer Dave Grohl is the one who does most of the background vocals.

Some highlights of the performance include a short parody of Boston’s hit “More Than a Feeling” before the band plays its hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

During the song “Lithium,” the crowd’s singing is just as loud as Cobain’s vocals, and right before the band plays “All Apologies,” Cobain dedicates the song to his wife Courtney and his daughter Frances who was 12 days old at the time.

The concert ends with Grohl and Novoselic smashing their set and instruments while Cobain plays a messy version of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”