It was a sad, sad day when I learned that Rocket from the Crypt had called it a day. Seriously, here was a band that attempted to put the swagger and brashness back into rock and roll with a panache and flair still unrivalled to this point. They have been gone now for several years with only their massive back catalog of seven or so full-length albums, tons of vinyl singles and their subsequent All Systems Go compilation volumes, EPs, and now this, R.I.P.. R.I.P. is a live recording of their final show on Halloween in 2005 that is a CD/DVD release with the DVD containing the entire final show while the CD contains a majority but not all of the show (it does not even have all of the songs played much less all the stage banter and such). In any case (the DVD or the CD), this is a nice parting gift from the band that almost did not see the light of day due to the wildfires in California in the summer of 2007 (you know, the ones started by that little kid). Luckily John Reis - guitarist and vocalist of the band as well as Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, and The Night Marchers - dove through the flames and rescued these tapes in a feat of Superman-like heroics so that we might all have this last document with which to mourn Rocket from the Crypt.
Admittedly, I am not usually a fan of live records at all, mainly because they either sound awful because the recording quality is not very good or they sound pretty much like studio records (complete with miraculous overdubs that are completed post said live recording) with the crowd noise kicked up in between songs or maybe every once in a while during songs known for their crowd participation (to lend the live record some sense of "authenticity"). Well, the non-video version of this release is neither, but R.I.P. is far from a great live document although there is plenty of sounds and noise that suggest that this show was a great event. The vocals cut in and out or are just too low at times (like in "Ditch Digger" and "Used") but otherwise the music is pretty well recorded proving that Speedo was probably just rocking out too much. The breadth of Rocket from the Crypt's career is represented in this audio document starting with the beginning with "French Guy" off of their first album, Paint as Fragrance, and other records being represented throughout the set list; some of my personal favorites are included on the audio portion of R.I.P. like "Don't Darlene," "Ditch Digger," "Middle," "Born in 69," and "A+ in Arson Class" while some classics, particularly "On a Rope" is notoriously absent from the record's track listing. And, honestly, their absence is mind-boggling. Speedo's stage banter is in top form with some absolutely outlandish and amazing claims on behalf of the band, like when he introduces "Boychucker" with "
We invented this type of music; it's called rock n roll ladies and gentlemen," classic Rocket from the Crypt. In any event, the record portion of R.I.P. is definitely a roaring set that is guaranteed to be a toe-tapper and head-bobber.
The DVD portion of R.I.P. is a fantastic document of Rocket from the Crypt's final live appearance. The picture quality is excellent with multiple cameras and angles and not some staid stage shot for the duration, and the sound quality is equally on par with the video. The DVD contains a great deal more than the CD portion of the release including a great deal more stage banter as well as songs that were left off of the CD like "On a Rope," Pushed," "My Arrow's Aim," "You Gotta Move," and lastly the epic "Glazed". Watching this gives me the sense of some of the fun that Rocket from the Crypt shows could be, but like Speedo says at the end R.I.P.: "
if you ever feel nostalgic just put on the record and we will be there in that room with you ladies and gentleman
" This is a comforting thought as I listen to the band while I write this here.
Rocket from the Crypt fans will want to pick up this document of the band's last show not just for nostalgic reasons
well okay for nostalgic reasons. Whenever you find a tear coming on over the memory of one hell of an underrated rock and roll group, listeners and or viewers will be able to pop this puppy on and revel in the last gasp of Speedo and company. The music CD contains some excellent renditions of some of the band's best songs (the few instances of stage banter are great particularly before and during "Boychucker") while the DVD is decent enough to at least serve as a reminder of just how great Rocket from the Crypt could be live. R.I.P. is a fun release - straight down to the liner notes which were equally entertaining - and lord knows there are not enough records that are flat out fun.
