Austin City Limits and More DVDs?

I am beginning to think that I’m getting to be “old school” in how I choose to live my life. Just recently, I had a discussion with my family about how people buy and listen to their music. Some really still like to buy CDs while others stick strictly to streaming services. I feel like I’m somewhere in between. Believe it or not but I still have a CD player in my car. (Yes, my car is over ten years old. No, I am not planning on getting a new one soon.) That is probably the place that I listen to a lot of CDs, especially when just running errands in town. At home, though, or on long trips, I listen to the digital catalog. Interestingly enough, I still like to have the physical copy of a CD or vinyl (or in Duran’s case-both) for albums that I really love or for artists that are favorites. I’m not totally sure why. Those physical copies, somehow, feel more permanent.

Interestingly enough, I feel the same way about DVDs. I am well-aware that the world generally is such that I could find most things to watch via some sort of streaming service. Even old clips can be found on YouTube. That being said, I always worry. Will those clips be taken down? Will the shows run end on the service? Will they be lost to me? This is why, I think, I still like my DVDs and like to buy ones of shows and movies that I adore. Likewise, this is why I cheer over my Duran Duran DVD collection. While some of them might not be great quality, at least, I have them (even if I don’t watch them as much as I would like to.)

This leads me to wonder if there are other Duran appearances that should be on DVD but are not. For example, I have heard on more than one occasion that people wish for a Paper Gods Tour DVD. I know that they recorded a high quality concert from Japan, I believe, during that tour. It was not released on DVD, at least not here in the States. In my case, I think I saw in on YouTube. I think the last official DVD I remember buying was Unstaged. Do I have that right? Around the same time was A Diamond in the Mind.

Yesterday, DDHQ announced on the band’s social media that they would be taking part in their first Austin City Limits. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the show, it is a concert series that features bands and artists from all sorts of genres to play live. Initially, the focus was on Texas bands/artists but they obviously expanded. From what I know, it is usually shown on PBS (public broadcasting channel) here in the States. That fact shows that there is a certain level of respect given to the artists who perform as their music has hit a serious channel. Duran will hit the Austin City Limits stage on October 5.

Will I watch it when it airs? Of course! I’m certain that they will do a marvelous job. On the same note, I am willing to bet that I will also be hoping the entire time that this would be made available on DVD. If I had my way, not only would we get it on DVD but there would be some fun extras as well. For example, we could have brief interviews. What about outtakes? What else would make for fun extras? Crowd reaction? Information about the songs that they perform? I’m just throwing ideas out there.

My whole point is that this is a pretty exciting opportunity for Duran. I’m already looking forward to seeing it. I just wish that I could ensure a permanent copy so that I watch it, not just in October but whenever I would like to. It could end up being a significant performance of this now Future Past era. Am I the only one wishing for this?

-A