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Rocket from the Crypt

R.I.P. [CD/DVD]
2008
Vagrant

Rocket from the Crypt - R.I.P. [CD/DVD] (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Brian
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Long-ignored Rocket from the Crypt website (link)

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Published on March 18th 2008

I must confess that prior to the release of this CD/DVD live set by San Diego's rock 'n' roll maestros Rocket from the Crypt, I'd never actually heard a song by the band. However, rest assured that you can now receive an unfiltered and unbiased perspective for a rather mammoth farewell release.

R.I.P. features the band's final show on Halloween 2005 at San Diego's Westin Hall Ballroom. However, the CD contains just 20 songs with heavily edited banter, and the entire, marathon-length set on the DVD -- about 27 songs plus all the song's various extensions and frontman John "Speedo" Reis' in-between talk.

The CD itself is recorded rather well, with a mildly raw coating over everything and the crowd noise at an ideal level. The over-the-top introduction from Mexican Elvis impersonator El Vez literally sets the stage for the band, who come on for a bustling intro of their own and lead-in to "French Guy." "Used" lets the listener witness the crowd participation for its first few lines, while you can really feel the tension during mid-set number "Shy Boy." The brass is punchy and perfectly audible. The editing lets the set flow at a perfect stream here, and you still get punctual one-liners from Reis along the way ("Boychucker" -- "Anyone from Florida? Oh, you know I hate Florida!"). The songs are pulled from drastically separate points of the band's 15-year career, yet things are incredibly linear.

On the DVD, you may want to pop yourself a bowl of popcorn and settle in for a long but entertaining show. By the numbers, you've got about 27 songs, 95 minutes, two encores and one costume change. Being it's Halloween, the band is decked out in their various outfits, with roughly half the crowd joining in on similar dress-up festivities. There's a nice mixture of pleasant participation and overzealousness from the audience, as they seem to draw the band's ire a bit by botching stage-dives, either diving into the barricade or causing general annoyance -- in fact, the band stops and starts "Carne Voodoo" due to one particular would-be diver. However, the crowd tends to joyously dance together in the expansive yet warm ballroom, and, due to Reis' wishes, greets each other and exchanges names at one point to turn strangers into friends. It's a colorful performance overall, full of a certain grandeur that never once feels contrived or forced.

The camera is fairly shaky throughout, though, with the handler not entirely giving us balanced shots. We're not talking purposely loose sloppiness á la "Cloverfield," but things could be a little more focused.

R.I.P. is a serious package deal that comes just in time for the debut release of John Reis' newest band, the Night Marchers, and caps Rocket from the Crypt's career off nicely with a click of the coffin lock that couldn't be grander.

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Posted by Michael_Berryman on 2008-03-29 20:34:15

there were 2 costume changes.

also, they kicked ass.

Posted by i-type-poorly on 2008-03-21 12:24:18

This should have just been a double cd to fit the whole set. We don't need the shakycam dvd.

Posted by JustinUCR on 2008-03-21 05:17:32

I was at the show too...flew out from Chicago for it and was one of the best times I've ever had at a show...soooo ridiculous. Over the Top doesn't even come close to explaining the insanity of that night!

the Bronx opened and were awesome, Deadbolt played too were very much weirder than I expected...sound was super shitty for them though...

Posted by cantsitstill on 2008-03-19 16:27:42

I must confess that prior to the release of this CD/DVD live set by San Diego's rock 'n' roll maestros Rocket from the Crypt, I'd never actually heard a song by the band.

shouldn't this disqualify you from punk?
or at least negative punk points against you.

Posted by maverick on 2008-03-19 16:13:26
My Score:

What I don't get about the CD is it's only 51:40 -- yeah, the live DVD is almost twice as long, but there's still 20 minutes of space on that CD that you could've put at least a handful of the songs you omitted. Kind of a bummer to not have "On A Rope" on the CD, for sure.

The liner notes to this thing are totally awesome, however. Reading about each song as you watch the DVD makes the experience so much better.

-Scott

Posted by Cos on 2008-03-19 01:22:08

Anyone else go to this show? I wasn't a huge fan-I just went for the sheer spectacle of it all--but it was a great, sweaty time. And the dedicated fan base made everything better.

Posted by jacknife737 on 2008-03-18 19:02:02

Great live cd, however i was a tad bit disappointment with the set list on cd (ie no On a Rope, Break It Up, or Lipstick).

Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2008-03-18 18:16:20

i find them enjoyable but haven't been able to dedicate myself to them like so many others... no life-changing RFTC experiences to speak of

i do visit reis' drinking establishment quite often however

Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2008-03-18 17:40:11
My Score:

wow, Brian, i'm suprised you hadn't heard them, but i understand. RFTC is one of the best kept secrets of rocknroll in the last 15 years. further exploring their catalog is a real treat. i have like 8 of their CDs but there is still a ton of RFTC stuff I haven't heard. score is for Rocket From the Crypt, one of the best bands EVER!

Posted by Branden on 2008-03-18 17:10:24
My Score:

kinda bummed about the editation on the cd, specifically come see, come saw and the the opening screwup of used(haha). but the dvd is amazing, i just wish the cd wasnt so chopped up.

Posted by William_Jess on 2008-03-18 15:08:08
My Score:

Great band

Posted by osloboditelj on 2008-03-18 14:57:53

It was about fucking time for a RFTC live disc. To say they blow away their studio equivalent would be an understatement. The DVD is a little mediocre in recording, though, and the CD would be better if they had included "On a Rope", despite their contrarianism.