The Jesus Lizard – Club (MVD)

Few bands in the nineties “alternative” era could touch the live power of The Jesus Lizard. Club is The Jesus Lizard’s first ever home video release and it is long overdue. It also fits the pattern of all of their music releases being titled with single four-letter words. Their sound is as taut as on record. Their historically underrated rhythm section of bass player David Wm. Sims and drummer Mac McNeilly are top notch and make the engine go. Sims always appears to be in attack mode and McNeilly is precise, powerful, and tireless. Guitarist Duane Denison is the mad riff genius. His playing isn’t overly busy but is innovative. He makes it look so easy. Most of that you can get from the records. In concert, however, they had the ultimate ace up their sleeve, or maybe more of a joker, in frontman David Yow.

Yow’s voice can be compared to that of a tortured animal. It works with the rest of the band’s assault. His true value is live because of his antics and banter. During “Then Comes Dudley”, he doesn’t just mime breast twisting, he goes ahead and cops a feel of a woman in the front row. His inebriation is legend and one has to wonder if he is stage-diving or just falling into the crowd. This going along with an excellent cross-section of the band’s catalog. The first five flawless tracks from the 1991’s classic Goat (“Mouthbreather,” is the disc’s, and any disc’s, highlight) are present along with two songs from 1996’s underappreciated (because they jumped to a major label) Shot, of which McNeilly did not perform on. Four gems from the magnificent Liar are included as well four more from their debut LP, Head. Sprinkle in a couple tracks each from the Pure EP, Down (“Destroy Before Reading”, in particular, is fantastic), and some singles (including fan favorite Dicks cover of “Wheelchair Epidemic,”) and this is an essential for any Jesus Lizard fan as well as a primer for those who were always curious about the band but too afraid to ask.

The video quality is decent but very grainy. This works to the advantage of the DVD as a shirtless, middle-aged Yow is anything but an argument for high def. The best complement I can pay this release is that it perfectly captures the feeling and experience of this great band live. I saw the band play their third-to-last show and it was thrilling. And, yes, this is filmed during their brief reunion tour but I guarantee that the band has not lost a bit. All you’re missing is the energy from the crowd. So, crank up the surround and invite your friends.

Also, as an added bonus, there are MP3s of every song from the show (except “Chrome,” and “Wheelchair Epidemic”, likely to due to licensing issues).