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If you've ever had the chance to experience the Supersuckers
live, you know the energy and the sweat that the band produces…
you may or may not also know the amount of beer and/or illicit
substances that are normally consumed in and around such events.
It has taken Eddie Spaghetti and his band a long time to
feel comfortable putting together a live video, even though they
are well known for their live performances and almost constant
touring. The fact that the band has finally been able to put together
a DVD of a live performance is a minor miracle, and a very welcome
one to fans of the group.
The last year or so of Supersucker's touring has been split into
two shows, a country show and a rock'n'roll show. This DVD focuses
quite a bit more on the rock show, which was a bit of a disappointment
for me, as I normally prefer the Supersuckers country music…
But fear not, those who share my opinion, this video is interspersed
with a few songs from a different country performance, complete
with pedal steel guitar (ably played by the very talented Jordan
Shapiro).
There is no questioning that the Supersuckers make great rock
music, and they prove it on every song on this DVD. Kicking off
with "Rock-N-Roll Records", the energy coming from the
stage is immediately apparent, as is the insanity of the audience.
"Rock Your Ass" is a full-on Van Halen-esque
assault complete with hand clapping audience members and back-up
screaming. The camera goes fuzzy during "The Evil Powers
Of Rock-N-Roll", simulating the effect that some members
of the audience were more than likely feeling by this stage of
the show. The guitar solos on "Creepy Jackelope Eye"
are amazingly well played… the perfect soundtrack for the
crowd surfing that is happening right in front of one of the cameras.
The show slows down for a brief moment for the beginning of "Supersucker
Drive-By Blues", but by the end of the song, the band is
in full rock mode again, slinging guitars and stomping out fast,
hard rhythms.
What this DVD documents very well is the semi-love/hate relationships
that audiences have with the Supersuckers… Missing are the
shots of Eddie getting hit with beer bottles and other drunkenly
thrown items, but very well represented is the love affair that
the band has with throwing around their middle fingers… And
of course, getting the entire audience to partake in the signaling.
100 percent pure Supersuckers.
The video portions of the main show are very well recorded, sometimes
seeming like they are from a consumer grade video camera, and
occasionally filtered through effects that don't make much sense
in this arena. The camera work is good, oftentimes relying on
solid rock'n'roll camera angles and tried and true close ups.
I am reminded a lot of concert videos from the 1970's, both in
effects and attitude…The country show portions were recorded
in a much smaller room, with much lower quality cameras, but that
really only lends more charm to those portions of the DVD. But
all-in-all, this is an excellent record of an excellent performance
by the Supersuckers. The audio is of very excellent quality, the
edits between songs are very smooth, and the instruments are clear
and well-pronounced.
Bonus DVD features include a very funny interview portion with
Eddie Spaghetti talking to each member of the band and asking
the question, "If you could have one superpower, which would
it be, invisibility or flight?" And also included is a video
of an acoustic in-store performance by Eddie, recorded at Amoeba
Records in San Francisco. Good stuff.
And don't forget, if you miss the country show while watching
the DVD, you can always plug in the bonus CD, which is a recording
of an entire country show. The bonus CD is worth getting the DVD
alone, but as a bonus, it's a perfect icing for a damned tasty
cake.
-Embo Blake
DVD track list:
1.Rock-N-Roll Records (ain't selling this year)
2. Rock Your Ass
3. Bad Bad Bad
4. Barricade
5. The Evil Powers Of Rock-N-Roll
6. Creepy Jackelope Eye
7. Bruises To Prove It
8. Supersucker Drive-By Blues
9. Mudhead
10. Pretty Fucked Up
11. I Want The Drugs
12. Luck
13. Dirt Roads, Dead Ends And Dust
14. Fisticuffs
15. One Cigarette Away
16. Goodbye
17. Born With A Tail / Non-Addictive Marijuana
Bonus CD track list:
1. Dead In The Water
2. The Captain
3. Creepy Jackelope Eye
4. Double Wide
5. Sail On
6. Barricade
7. Marie
8. Pretty Fucked Up
9. Killer Weed
10. Drivin' Nails In My Coffin
11. The Image Of Me
12. Born With A Tail
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