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Check this out:

Last night I watched “It Might Get Loud,” and as a longtime guitar nut I was enthralled.  Likewise, fans of Led Zeppelin, U2, and the White Stripes will also really enjoy this.

The part of the movie where the three guitarists sat in a faux living room and compared notes and played some music together was the highlight of the movie for me.  You’ve got guitarists from three different generations and styles, but really that’s no problem for them.  They all knew each others’ music, for example, and they compared song-writing tips.  In essence, it felt like a million old jam sessions, just some guys having fun.

The personalities picked were great, of course.  You’ve got Jimmy Page, who comes across as a sweet-natured, quick-to-smile, grandfatherly type.  Then, there’s the Edge, who is eminently amicable, and more talkative than I’ve ever heard him.  Then, there’s Jack White, the edgiest of the three, a brilliant musician with a volatile edge.  This was all fun for me, because I’ve bought my share of Led Zeppelin, U2, and White Stripes albums.

Part of me expected Jimmy Page to be more like his 70’s persona, dark (and into the dark arts), sinister, and brilliant.  Well, he’s still brilliant, but here he was relaxed, affable, and engaged in the process.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile this much.

The Edge was just what I expected: Super serious about music, yet calm, peaceful, and relaxed enough to have some fun.  We usually don’t get to hear him talk this much, but then most of his interviews have been with Bono around.  (This is not a criticism of Bono—he’s got a big personality, so he takes up more room in most conversations.) I was also pleasantly surprised at how skilled the Edge was when playing slide.

There is a scene of Jack White playing with the Raconteurs, and he’s playing his guitar so hard that he’s cut his hand or fingers.  Before long, there is blood smeared over much of the guitar’s face, but that doesn’t stop White from playing.  This says something about passion and art that should ring true for all of us.  This reminds me of Stevie Ray Vaughn, who played so hard with such big strings that he sometimes shredded his fingers—he often sealed up the injuries with superglue or bandages so he could keep playing.

The three musicians gathered without a chance to meet and compare notes.  Additionally, there was no backing band, and they are three guitarists from different schools of playing.  First, you’ve got the incredible blues and blues-rock stylings of Jimmy Page, with a hint of Celtic music thrown in for good form.  Then, you’ve got a rock minimalist, the Edge, who gives a great deal of attention to his sound.  With Jack White, it’s a ragged blues/rock/punk mixture.  In short, they had no problem playing together—they all spoke guitar.

Part of the charm of this documentary is that it is really about the guitar itself, not a technical exploration, but a visceral celebration of the instruments feel, smell, and look.  If you play guitar long enough, you know there are a very definite different smells to nickel-wound strings, of varnish, or exposed wood, of each instrument’s quirks.

As a bit of a guitar player myself, I give “It Might Get Loud” and A.