Review of It Might Get Loud (2008) by Frank P — 07 Apr 2010

When I first heard that this film had been made, I was excited to put it mildly. After seeing it, I was more than pleased, and eager to see how much more footage there is that wasn't included in this. Three very talented guitar players (1 a god, the other very influential, the third well on his way to becoming one of those things) get together to discuss the electric guitar. A discussion about sound, feel, and what brought each of them to the guitar.

The thing that comes through most strongly in this film is just how great a love for music all 3 men have. Watching Page go through a room of LPs and pick one out, play it and the smile on his face; watching the Edge play tapes of sessions for early U2 songs and see him travel back in time to recall playing the licks; seeing Jack White play Son House on the record player and tell how from the first time he heard it it was his favourite song and how it still is to this day.

The other really enjoyable part is seeing each one play one of their songs and have the other 2 play along and add their own touches to each. Seeing the kid on Christmas morning look of White and Edge as Page plays Whole Lotta Love is captivating, and can't help but make you smile. Even more fun is seeing White play and having Page, the eternal guitar god still willing to listen to others and try new things on the guitar, all with a wide smile; or the concentration on Edge's face as he watches the movements of White's hands along the fretboard and follows along with his own accompaniments.

If you don't love Rock & Roll or the Electric Guitar, then don't waste your time...but if you do, and consider yourself a fan at all, then this is well worth watching again and again.