A bit of praise must also be payed to the last song of the first set, a Wammo-Guy song called "Whatever." It's a fine, earnest little pop song declaring pure commitment to any goofy pinko crap about recycling or peace that comes out of the girl's mouth, whatever it takes to get her into bed. What's really memorable though is the psychedelic ending they concocted for this hippy foolishness, doing a Spanker version of the famous false fade and coda at the end of "Strawberry Fields Forever." This minute of stage time was a pretty impressive and expressive display of creativity for an all-acoustic band. Plus, it gives Wammo the opportunity to sing "Turn me on, dead man" over and over.
Now, the Asylum Street Spankers make some fine audio CDs, but a DVD (this one in particular) is the preferred medium. I feel a bit like Lance in Pulp Fiction selling Vincent on the monster smack. Asylum Street Spankers CDs are real, real, real good stuff.
But the DVD catches the impact of their live vaudeville act in a way that the audio alone can't. [See the Re-assembly photo gallery] You really need to SEE what kind of quivering wreck Christina has reduced Guy to by the end of "If You Want Me To Love You." You really need to see Guy and Wammo serving up the "Harp Rumble" in each others faces to quite get the male bonding thing they're doing.
And an audio CD would not properly catch the bonding with the audience in the closing number. Guy and Wammo make it into audience participation, generating new verses for "I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You" based on suggested rhymes from the audience.
All I'm saying is that you need this DVD if you're into music. Just don't be dropping this hardcore stuff on some unsuspecting pantywaist Garth Brooks fan, and show up with them overdosing on my lawn. Thanks.
Article comments
1 - Joanie
Sick isn't the only mohawked non-punk musician. Ben Hernandez, an incredibly talented bluesman, is mohawked to the nth degree. Or at least, he was, until he went to the IBC finals in Memphis. I wish he hadn't toned down the look for the trip. I think it made the perfect point about the blues belonging to everyone.