---

---

 

IF IT AIN'T CHEAP IT AIN'T PUNK
(Microcosm)
I could pretty much watch any documentary about any music group, era, scene or genre. (Seriously, it could be a Wham! biopic and I'd be into it.) If it Ain't Cheap is certainly no exception. This DVD is an interesting and well put together film that documents Plan-It-X Records and that label's Plan-It-X Fest that went down in Bloomington, Indiana back in 2006. The fest was a week-long orgy of music and DYI workshops that attracted like-minded punks from all over the country and the world. Lots of talking head interviews and live footage of bands I've never heard of (Ghost Mice, Operation: Cliff Clavin) and a few I have (Japanther, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb). All in all, a good flick for music fans regardless of their familiarity with the bands featured. Lot's of good bonus footage too—Tyler Sperry

---

 

ADOLESCENTS
Live at the House of Blues (Kung Fu Films)
I wish I could say the Adolescents have aged gracefully but Jesus H. Christ—they haven't! Except for maybe Frank Agnew. They sound tight on this live DVD though. They just ain't pretty, but punk ain't pretty. It never was. Not in 82 or 92 or 02 or even now. Just look at The Ramones or the Sex Pistols or Offspring... all right, you can argue if they're really punk but those are some ugly, ugly sonsabitches. Fugly. But I digress. This DVD and the accompanying CD feature classic Adolescent tunes and a few new ones slated for release in the near future. New, old, it all sounds the same, it's all good punk rock—Joey Germ

 

---

 

ALKALINE TRIO
Alkaline Trio: Halloween at the Metro (Kung Fu Films)
Never heard a lick of an Alkaline Trio song before this DVD, so this live show at the Metro in Chicago on Halloween 2002 was my first introduction. Dressed as priests and playing in front of an inverted cross, the Trio churn out eighteen of their pop punk rockers to adoring sing-along fans. Some songs are pretty average fare, others rise above, but on the whole, the band was pretty unexciting to watch and the music was nothing that really got me interested in listening to more. Pretty much a zero on the special features too but I can see how a fan might appreciate this—Jimmy James Snodgrass

 

---

 

GG ALLIN
Live & Pissed 1988 (MVD)
1988 was a busy year for self-mutilating feces-throwing punk rock performance artist GG Allin. During that year he made his debut San Francisco performance with a five-song set at The Covered Wagon. Pre-show footage shows GG backstage with fans. The entire clamorous, confrontational (but by GG standards, not highly confrontational) set follows. Bonus section include a trailer for Hated, nine songs from GG Allin & The Murder Junkies at The Metro in Richmond, VA in 1993 as well as a 1999 clip of The Murder Junkies performing "Freakshow"—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS
Commissioner of Sewers (Screen Edge/MVD)
To a backdrop of music by Jorge Reyes, Fish for Fish, F.M. Einheit, and Burroughs this DVD treats the viewer to Burroughs readings, interviews, and film excerpts. Films excerpted include Thanksgiving Prayer (Gus van Sant), Decoder (Maeck/Muscha) and the Antony Balch films Towers Open Fire, The Cut Ups and Ghosts at No. 9. Through able editing, eye-catching images and good pacing, filmmaker Klaus Maeck makes this film an entertaining and enlightening documentary on the ideas, persona and style of the fully developed Burroughs mind. One common theme throughout is excerpts of a TV interview with German writer Jurgen Ploog. Ploog awkwardly hits Burroughs with such topics as the possibility of an afterlife and the old standby "advice for young authors". Particularly entertaining is how Burroughs handles this series of unrelated questions by using each answer to go into an attacking response or tangent much more interesting than the question promised—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

CIRCLE JERKS
Circle Jerks: Live at the House of Blues (Kung Fu Films)
Multiple cameras and excellent sound contribute to this excellent punk rock concert from the long--lived and potent Circle Jerks. The thirty song set is a worthy document of how punk rock used to be, and still should be. It is very tight for a punk rock live show, as Zander Schloss points out in the commentary. These guys may not look punk rock any more, but they sure are at the top of their game musically. Once you have this DVD, be certain to enjoy the self-deprecating commentary from Keith Morris and Zander Schloss—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

 

---

 

CULTURE CLUB
Live at the Royal Albert Hall: 20th Anniversary Concert (Angel Air)
The show opens with Scottish actor Euan Morton as Boy George, the role he played in the Boy George stage biopic musical Taboo. Morton delivers an excellent "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" although he seems to falter at the end. We are then treated to the real Boy George looking monstrous in a black and white dress and tie—on liberty spikes that all accentuate his weight gain. Indeed, "this is parody." After delivering lackluster vocal performances for several songs, Boy George goes for a costume change handing the stage over to the eminently capable Lyn Paul (Taboo, The Seekers). Freed from that ridiculous getup, Boy George seems much more comfortable and is much better during this portion on such songs as "That's the Way" with Zee Asha (yet another Taboo reference), "Black Money," "Move Away" and more. Despite the highpoints, which include a version of "Starman," this is not an exceptional concert film and the word from many hardcore fans is there is no comparison to the Culture Club concert film from two decades previous, Kiss Across the Ocean. I also wonder about how the older attendees felt who brought their children to hear their hero of the past berate the audience in four-letter language for not being quite during the ballad "Miss Me Blind." Boy George himself wrote a history of Culture Club and comments on this concert in bonus material that makes for entertaining and enlightening reading—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

DEAD BOYS
Live at CBGB's 1977 (Music Video Distributors)
Video producer Rod Swenson (Ramones, Blondie, Patti Smith) used three cameras to capture (contain?) the explosive, crass, and wild energy of Stiv Bators leading his band through an important incarnation of the rebellious punk spirit at the legendary CBGB's. The dangerous nine song set includes 'Sonic Reducer," "All This and More," and "Search & Destroy." Special features include an interview with the band from that year as well as present day reflections by guitarist Cheetah Chrome and manager Hilly Kristal. Also not to be missed is a bonus video clip of Steel Tips; a bizarre no wave circus fronted by a dancing schoolgirl and a beefy biker type—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

DEMENTED ARE GO
Sick! Sick! Sick!/Call of the Wired (Cherry Red Films)
At the very forefront of the psychobilly movement, Demented Are Go began releasing records in the mid-'80s. Thanks to the (hopefully) typified dementia by Mark "Sparky" Phillips, the lead vocalist of this slap bass-based quartet, this may be the most demented of the genre. (Phillips is notoriously difficult to work with and thus the only constant member to the group.) Apparently the group members' wild off-stage behavior matches their crazy on-stage personae and after watching these two concerts you may want to scour the Internet where it is easy to find the morbid tales. The two concerts here, each previously released, were recorded in 1987 and 1994. This DVD brings them together on to one recording. As such, this is a vivid document of this unique blend of Gothic rockabilly punk—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

GUTTERMOUTH
Goldfinger: Live at the House of Blues(Kung Fu Films)
Guttermouth singer, Mark Adkins, makes a very interesting comment on this DVD of one of their live shows filmed at the House Blue in California. At one point in the set, he introduces himself to the audience as Mark, "the alcoholic singer of a mediocre punk band" Well, I can't vouch for his alleged drinking problem but mediocre punk band sure nails it on the head. This is a pretty undynamic, unoriginal, and uninteresting band and I refuse to believe that Guttermouth is one of the most infamous O.C. bands of all time, as is been suggested in the accompanying press sheet. The kids seem to be into it though, so what the fuck do I know about it? Nuthin'—Muggsy McMurphy

 

---

 

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Breakthrough (Oh Boy)
This documentary is more concert footage than documentary, which works very well. The documentary is largely just enough Kristofferson interview to get his personal background and validation for defending American honor by criticizing militarist foreign policy of the U.S. government. Performance by Kris Kristofferson & The Borderlords include "Don't let the Bastards Get Your Down," "Me and Bobby McGee," "The Pilgrim" and "To Beat the Devil"—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

MEST
The Show Must Go Off (Kung Fu Films)
Mest are a Chicago pop punk quartet who I've never heard of. This was filmed at the gritty punk mecca, House of Blues, somewhere in California. Mest, who I think are on the punk stalwart label, Madonna's Maverick Records play a fast pop punk, like Green Day (the singer/ guitarist even has the patented Billy Joe neck tick). The after show party footage proves these guys got really, really lucky somebody wanted to pay for the release of such garbage. Mest seem to be completely retarded both musically and socially. They do, however, have tattoos—Joey Germ

 

 

---

 

THE MATCHES
Show Must Go Off!, Vol. 14 (Kung Fu Films)
Never mind the apparent fashion identity crisis going on with these guys, but The Matches sure front like they're laying down some hard-ass shit. They may run around and jump up and down like complete idiots but the end result is just some pretty bad pop punk—PC Jones

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

MURDER CITY DEVILS
Rock & Roll Won't Wait (Music Video Distributors)
Just about an hour in length, this documentary profiles the touring band Murder City Devils of Seattle. The organ—fueled, dark, and clamorous rock of the band is a backdrop through live footage to antics and anecdotes. Interviews and candid, off-stage footage slices into the music segments giving this documentary balance. Included is some footage of the band's 1998 gig with Pearl Jam which includes the band on stage with Pearl Jam for "Sonic Reducer." Bonus features include two videos: "18 Wheels" and "Bunkhouse"—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

---

 

GREG PALAST
Weapon of Mass Instruction: Live (Alternative Tentacles)
With wit and humor Greg Palast delivers a scathing review of the Dubya presidency on this enhanced CD. The CD contains copies of government documents that Palast uses as a basis for numerous topics, any one of which should be scandalous. Topics include mechanization by King George I to deliver Chevron oil money to George W.'s campaign fund, Dubya's draft dodging tenure in the Texas Air Guard, connections from questionable Saudi arms dealer Adnan Kashoggi to the Bush family and murderous gold grabbing in Tanzania. Learn the name of World Resource Institute member Tundu Lissu, the source of the video documentation of those murdered in the mine takeover by Barrick Corporation, a Canadian-American gold mining operation that employed George Bush, Sr. Perhaps the most explosive is the revelations about pre-9/11 forced suppression of Bin Laden investigations by the U.S. government. Palast makes the shocking entertaining with his delivery, so this is enlightening and fun. Containing its own comedic content is Greg Palast's discovery of Katherine Harris' purge of thousands of Black citizens from Florida's voter rolls especially the manic reaction of Harris' assistant. The spreadsheet of the dropped voters-some for committing future crimes ala Minority Report is included on the CD's files—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

PISTOL GRIP
The Show Must Go Off! Live at the Glass House (Kung Fu Films)
Seventh in Kung-Fu's live series, this is one of the few that wasn't filmed at the venerated punk venue, House of Blues (sarcasm intended). To be fair, despite it's obvious corporate connotations, I've been told the H.O.B. treats bands very well and offers state-of-the-art sound, but that is neither here nor there, is it? Pistol Grip is an oi band from Pomona, California and this show went down in front of the home crowd at the Glasshouse. Having never heard a lick of The Grip prior, I found them to be sincere enough in their delivery of vintage working class oi although the guitarist with the mohawk is in serious danger of letting that classic punk hairstyle cross the line into mullet territory. That would be tragic. No winners there I'm afraid. As with a few of the other Show Must Go Off shows I've seen, the bonus features are a little lacking. If I was a Pistol Grip fan who paid for this, that might be a beef of mine. But I'm not and I didn't so who got hurt? Not me—Muggsy McMurphy

 

---

 

REAL WILD CHILD: VIDEO ANTHOLOGY
Blackheart Records/Music Video Distributors
Joan Jett and manager/partner Kenny Laguna provide the commentary and introductory notes to this video anthology spanning Jett's career. In the candid remarks Joan looks great but comes across forgetful and not eloquent. However, this is all part of her persona as the real deal, the queen of punk; the Ÿber-grrl that picked up a guitar and became the original riot girl in spite of the music industry. The early videos of "Bad Reputation," "Do You Wanna Touch Me?" and "I Love Rock N' Roll" show how the foundation of her career was based on basic and catchy hard rock. However, Jett's MTV supported fame resulted in a spate of pop videos and trendy fashion. In this warts-and-all collection Joan shows and comments on all the videos, even the ones she openly dislikes herself. The completeness of the anthology makes this a must for the serious Jett fan, but there is a healthy slice of yawn potential for the punk and hard rock fan that sees Jett as just one luminary in that constellation—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

REEL BIG FISH
The Show Must Go Off! Episode Eight: Live at the House of Blues (Kung Fu Films)
California ska band Reel Big Fish are the feature on The Show Must Go Off, Episode Eight. I'm not a big fan of this brand of ska, although the band itself seems likable and competent enough at it, but since I greedily grabbed this DVD off the pile, I must accept the burden of the review: good footage; nice shots, excellent camera work. The music though, not so much. Was not a fan, still ain't—P.C. Jones

 

---

 

THE RESIDENTS
Demons Dance Alone (Euro Ralph/MVD)
The Residents were early in the game on music videos (One Minute Movies), synthesizer experimentation (use of the emulator) and user interactive CD-ROMs (Freak Show). Now they dive into high vision as a weapon of concert documentation, now war. While The Residents look ready for war in costumes based on cammo fatigues, this convert footage is of the most introspective, personal, and emotional music yet to date from the mysterious group. ("Life Would be Wonderful," "Betty's Body"). Attempting to capture the darkened stage flooded with infrared light presented a range of difficulties for these musical technophiles. After digital processing The Residents came up with this DVD inviting us up onto the stage to see the concert from the point of view of an all-access band member's pass. A bonus extras section is a slide show of images from Icky Flix, Kettles of Fish, Eskimo, and Disfigured Night—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

THE RESIDENTS
Eskimo (Euro Ralph/Music Video Distributors)
The album Eskimo came out in 1979 and still resonates as a high point in impressionistic minimalism. The sparse, alien soundtrack can make a hot room feel chilly. This special DVD edition combines Inuit photographs and text to overlay images with a horrific, tragic, mysterious tale. The words and images are carried over onto a glossy, color sixteen page booklet. The booklet includes pre-publicity articles about the supposedly stolen masters. Chris Cutler (Henry Cow), responsible for much percussion on the album, wrote one of these articles. This DVD fully completes the suggestion of Eskimo musical documentary suggested with the Icy album. Also, go to the "Residents" Main Menu option, which is a paragraph about the band. Let the DVD sit there for a few seconds and you get treated with a video and instrumental music from The Residents—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

SEEMOREBUDS
Experience Growing Marijuana Cannabis Cultivation
(Eazy Green Productions) www.seemorebuds.com
This is an instructional video on how to hook yourself up with the ultimate indoor pot growing empire. The disclaimer of course suggests that you check with the laws in your country before undertaking such an endeavor just to make sure it's legal. Lemme save you the trouble my fellow Americans, it ain't. But if the mere thought of a lengthy prison sentence doesn't deter you from dreams of harvesting over $180,000 dollars worth of ganja a year, then this is the how-to video you've been waiting for. Just don't tell 'em I told ya about it, got it?—John P. Walters

 

---

 

SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS
Cranked up Really High (Cherry Red Films)
Slaughter & The Dogs began releasing punk rock records in the late '70s. This puts the group in the very first wave of the genre and indeed they started by supporting The Sex Pistols. However, the name Slaughter & The Dogs does not often come up when thinking of the architects of the genre, like The Sex Pistols, The Damned, etc. Beside the fact the group had only one internationally released LP (Bite Back, 1980), Slaughter & The Dogs espoused a heavier angrier sound that had more to do with the birth of oi than the more accessible, even pop-influenced, punk strain that achieved predominance. This DVD is the group in performance at the 1996 "Holidays in the Sun" festival in Blackpool, England and includes interviews—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

SUBHUMANS
All Gone Live (Cleopatra Records)
The fury, excitement, and slight sense of danger found at really good punk shows just does not translate to the small screen when extruded through the lens of a video camera. That is the weakness of this uninterrupted, unblinking portrayal of three gigs on a '03 tour mashed into a single concert experience. For the die-hard Subhumans fan, this has something to offer, I am sure, but for the general punk rock aficionado, what is there to get excited about? Well, like with most DVD titles, the action is in the special features. While it could have benefited from post production editing, the road video footage here is fascinating. It is a behind-the-scenes look of what the fan never sees. From collecting receipts, to combating boredom, to traveling, the mechanics of reviving punk rock has better eye appeal than looking at the show through a microscope—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

BOB SWITZER
Second Chance www.bertswitzer.com
Bob Switzer is a Boston drummer. . . and he's wicked awesome. Switzer played in Monster Island, with noise guitarist Henry Kaiser, as well as the 70s Boston punk band, The Destroyed. This DVD features Bob rocking his kits (he's got a couple) in some free form skin bashing in between interview snippets about drums, drumming and past projects. Switzer also visits former band members and does some split screen remote jams. Also included is some old Destroyed footage which is lacking in audio and visual—what's the word?—quality, but you can imagine yourself drunk at the bar thirty years ago and you'll be all right—PC Jones

 

---

 

---

 

THE VANDALS
Oi to the World; Live in Concert (Kung Fu Films)
They must be familiar with our production schedule 'cause I got this in July, just in time for Christmas! (The cover depicts a snowman swinging from a noose. Violence against snowmen must stop!) I also just got a DVD player which makes me the first and only RW reviewer to stumble into the 21st Century thereby making me the new DVD reviewer, so I would like to use this space to write a few sentences about what you're going to find on this DVD should you chose to purchase it. First of all, you're gonna want to be a Vandals fan as this is a taping of a live Vandals Christmas show. If you are a fan of the Vandal's music and their humorous brand of punk rock then this is as good a document of why you are a fan as any. Eighteen songs in addition to the requisite commentary in the form of the band critiquing their own performance. So buy it if you want it 'cause from my experience, Santa usually drops the ball when it comes to music—Baby Jesus

 

---

 

THE VANDALS
Sweatin to the Oldies (Kung Fu Films)
The Vandals are usually good for a few chuckles and some tight 4/4 punk rock and fans of the Vandals will surely by satisfied by the quality footage and topnotch sound. Having said that, I must admit that I find them to be kinda redundant after awhile. Despite the bands obvious energy level, my interest level peaked early and did not return. The bonus footage is mostly ads for other Kung Fu films and a commercial for drum sticks, making the DVD not unlike other Vandals DVDs I've witnessed. Of course these live show are usually are not meant to seek converts but are for the fans of the band. With that in mind, here you go fans, enjoy!—The Priss

 

---

 

DON VAN VLIET (CAPTAIN BEEFHEART)
Some YoYo Stuff (MVD)
This is Anton Corbijn's short (13 minutes) black an white film from 1993. It is a personal and revealing look at the former master of Dadaist rock. Through the cryptic answers and strange metaphors, the man sounds so broken and old beyond his years that it can be difficult to take in, as if this were too personal and revealing to be enjoyed from a DVD. Still, it is one of the few windows (if even only a keyhole) allowed into the life of Don Van Vliet since his 1982 retirement from music. Don's mother introduces the film and filmmaker David Lynch makes a running appearance as the questioner—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

VARIOUS
Secret Weapons of Kung Fu (Kung Fu Films)
If you're down with the Kung-Fu roster then you might want to check out this cheap (inexpensive) and cheap (inexpensively produced) DVD of their band's videos. I won't get involved in critiquing the videos except to make a few minor points. The best video is Ozma's "Korobeiniki" which ironically enough was submitted by a fan of the band. The Vandals are entertaining as usual, both in their videos and subsequent commentary (also included is a fan-submitted video of the Vandal's "My Girlfriends Dead"). Audio Karate's "Nintendo 89" is about as subtle as an 80s hair band video in its focus on women's body parts. And lastly, Antifreeze and The Ataris are punk rock boy bands (aren't they? Don't lie.). Of course, the DVD also features some commentary by bands as they're videos are playing, a few commercials and a movie trailer for the Kung-Fu film, That Darn Punk. Seven bucks from Kung-Fu—Irresistible Frank

 

---

 

VARIOUS
The 1962 Newport Jazz Festival (Quantum Leap)
The visual quality is blurry, but just put this DVD on and enjoy the hot jazz high points of this festival and glance at the screen from time to time, if you would like. Captured here in small, representative episodes spliced together are Count Basie, Joe Williams (50s graduate of the Count Basie Orchestra), Roland Kirk, Duke Ellington as well as piano greats Thelonious Monk and Oscar Peterson and more. There are some biographies and discographies rounding out the hour of audio and video—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

VARIOUS
Punk The Early Years (Cleopatra/Music Video Distributors)
This documentary, shot in 1977-8, explores the early days of punk rock. At this time, there was a plethora of style and direction with a comparative lack of control by any level of the corporate music industry. Much has changed since, but this film provides fascinating in-sight by interviews with key players like Siouxsie Sioux, Poly Styrene (X-Ray Spex), The Slits, The Adverts and more. These talks are contrasted with outsider views from record company executives that sought to understand and profit from this new genre, as well as the final interview with Marc Bolan, who had just toured with The Damned—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

WESLEY WILLIS
The Daddy of Rock 'n' Roll (MVD)
This video documentary could be titled A Day in the Life of Wesley Willis. We follow Willis around on his varies duties as he consigns CDs, records songs (at an optimum 2:50 length), tests the patience of Kinko's staff and patrons, hangs out with his friends/support network and rocks the crowd from the stage. Willis' eccentricity and scatological/cartoon/commercial-influenced, hard rock, shouted shorts are legendary. Plenty of this music is in the DVD along with the entertaining look at what Willis does with his time and thus how he functions. Very energetic, Willis seems to talk continuously through the flick and often waxes autobiographical, as explaining the genesis of his own mental condition seems to be a favorite topic. His frequent use of profanity on mass transit and in public places gets him into a lot less trouble than one might think but it becomes part of the show in the fiasco that is non-stop on this entertaining glimpse into someone that needs to rock, for his own well-being. Special features include an interview with Steve Albini (one of Willis' many song subjects) along with deleted scenes, an animated short, and more—Tom "Tearaway" Schulte

 

---

 

R.I.P. WESLEY
As most of you undoubtedly know, since the above review was written, Wesley Willis lost his battle with Leukemia. He died on August 21, 2003. The first time I saw Wesley was in the summer of 1990. I was waiting for the North Ave bus. I was on my way to the newly opened Northside Tavern in the still very sketchy Wicker Park neighborhood where I had been hired as a cook. As I waited to board the bus at Clybourn and North, I noticed the man I would later know as Wesley Willis standing at the very end of the line. He had one arm full of poster board (the canvass for his colorful marker drawings of CTA buses and trains) and with his other hand he was relieving his bladder right there on the sidewalk. A few things ran through my mind at that moment and "that man is a genius" wasn't one of them. That was Wesley. After that I would see him around the subway stations drawing the el train and three or four years later Wesley was an underground star. I found that very hard to swallow. I was in the "he's being exploited camp" and witnessing Wesley perform with his backing band (the ultra cheesy, testosterone-fueled Wesley Willis Fiasco) did little to change my mind about that. Many years and head butts later, however, I did change my mind about the role Wesley played in his own rock and roll fantasy and the role of those people who made it possible. Wesley was a giant personality and those magic marker posters were and still are very cool. I should have bought one—Chris Auman

 

---

 

ZEBRAHEAD
The Show Must Go Off! Zebrahead Live at the House of Blues (Kung Fu Films)
Kung Fu must kick out three or four of these DVDs a night. All shot pretty much the same and delivered in the same format and sold to kids, I would imagine. That's capitalism baby. Gotta love it. I think this was shot at the same show as the Matches (see my review above). Zebrahead is a pop punk band that for some reason, in addition to a singer, has a dude who inserts a shouted rap into each song. This serves as a way to really fuck up the rhythm of the song and to be really grating on my nerves—PC Jones