Sonic Revolution: A Celebration of the MC5
MC5/DKT live at London's 100 Club
The Packaging:
The cover has SONIC REVOLUTION in big letters, which is a good attention grabber if you're trying to hunt down this DVD in stores. Most chain stores I went to did not have it or had no more than 1 copy. Lame, actually no, DISGUSTING, like huge Godzilla size DISGUSTING!
Anyway, the DVD has a booklet with the cover of the DVD on it as a backstage pass type picture. The inside includes has writings from each of the 3 surviving members, guest singers and others. Nicely done.
The Music:
This was supposed to be a one-off gig in the summer of '03 in London and it included MC5/DKT and various guest singers and even the original horn of Charles Moore. Below is a list of the songs and their singers:
Skunk (Sonically Speaking) - Wayne Kramer
Gotta Keep Movin' - Nicke Royale (the Hellacopters)
Shakin' Street - Michael Davis
Tonight - Dave Vanian (the Damned)
Looking at You - Dave Vanian (the Damned)
High School - Dave Vanian (the Damned)
Poison - Wayne Kramer
American Ruse - Nicke Royale (the Hellacopters)
Rocket Reducer No. 62 - Wayne Kramer
Sister Anne - Lemmy (Motorhead)
Ramblin' Rose - Wayne Kramer
Kick Out the Jams - Ian Astbury (the Cult)
The music rocks. This is one of the first hard rock / punk bands of all time. Their influences can be felt everywhere. It is all MC5 songs with other singers because the original singer Rob Tyner passed away in 1991. The vocals in the mix seem a bit louder than the rest of the band, however it is a minor detail compared to the overall DVD. The music is played well and the different singers bring their own thing while paying tribute to an amazing influential band.
The DVD also includes many, many extras. This is what a DVD should include. It has the concert, a 25-minute documentary with interviews and behind the scenes footage, other behind the scenes footage which includes rehearsal sessions, a couple live appearances from old television shows, footage of the MC5 playing the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the "Kick Out the Jams" promotional film with commentary and a few other clips.
This is a long review because the DVD has so much. It is definitely worth it for a moderate-to-huge MC5 fan. Even a new fan can grow to appreciate them further with all of the knowledge and history packed into this DVD. I have watched this DVD at least 3 or 4 times within the first week of owning it.
www.dkt-mc5.com
www.waynekramer.com
Review by Joe