Fat Wreck Peepshow DVD, Various Artists
DVD's may have been around for quite a while now, but I've got to say that I'm slightly behind the times because this is the very first one that I have got. Still, better late than never, especially when they are as good as this.
This is Fat Wreck Chords first ever DVD, featuring 35 videos encapsulating 114 minutes of the finest in modern day punk rock. Made up of the two Peepshow videos (creatively named 'Peepshow 1' and 'Peepshow 2') you can see rare videos from the likes of Avail, Bracket and Strung Out. And let's face it, when was the last time you saw Lagwagon on MTV...
The two videos have sold a combined total of 26,000 copies, and if there is any justice in the world then the DVD will sell at least ten times that. The only video here that has been commercially available is Less Than Jake's 'Gainesville Rock City'. The rest, well it's likely that you won't have seen them before. And there are plenty of beauties here. Take Diesel Boy for example and the brilliant 'She's My Queen'. Taken from the good, but not great, 'Sofa King Cool' record, the video shows the bands Blink 182 side with a lower budget. Bracket give us ultra-low budget chic with the classic '2RAK005' and Chixdiggit provide some colour and humour with 'Spanish Fever'.
Consumed throw in the superb 'Wake Up With A Smile', with a video mixing a live performance with the band generally pissing about; Frenzal Rhomb go a little bit mental Oz style in 'Nothing's Wrong' and to complete the continental feel Hi-Standard reckon 'Teenagers Are All Assholes' in a way that only they can. Crazy Japanese fools that they are, they even think they can pull off the Baywatch look...
There is little to smile about with the classic 'Island Of Shame' by Lagwagon, which maintains a sombre mood throughout despite being sandwiched between some amusing vids. Then there's Good Riddance who offer us three videos. Russ and the troops look comfortable in front of the camera and 'One For The Braves' and 'Steps' are great. And obviously there's the token nude scenes with the Nude Olympics... Strung Out certainly don't offer us any nudity, and this So-Cal crew do what they do best during 'Mind Of Your Own' and 'Bring Out Your Dead'. And that for those living under a rock, is produce high quality melodic punk rock.
The Mad Caddies bring humour right back to the fore with the skatastic 'Road Rash'. Can the Caddies do any wrong? Nah, didn't think so. Brilliant band, brilliant song, brilliant video. How can you mix trumpets, goats and some of the finest So-Cal ska around and not have a classic? Me First And The Gimme Gimme's provide 'Danny's Song' and 'Summertime' and whilst they maybe aren't the greatest songs that the guys have done, the vids rock. They even come complete with token Hawaiian shirts. NOFX provide the bonus track for 'I Wanna Be An Alcholic', where the fantastic four simulate a pit in an elevator. 'Tis true...
No Use For A Name provide the best two comedy moments with two hilarious skits before 'Soulmate' and 'Why Doesn't Anybody Like Me?' whilst Sick Of It All's 'District' is probably the best video here, coming across in an animated-style like The Gorillaz but far, far better. Snuff lighten things up with two fun-packed low budget efforts and Teen Idols run their way through the live-action packed 'Midnight Picture Show'.
I could go on and on through most of the videos because in their own ways they are all very enjoyable. OK, there are some duffers, but even the bands that I'm not that keen on have produced some half-decent mini-movies and I'd much rather watch Avail or Goober Patrol rock out than witness the Backstreet Boys ponce around. In truth this is an absolute must purchase. If you own a DVD player then you have to get your hands on a copy, it's as simple as that.
Paul Savage
