Miscellaneous - Beyond Warped Live Music Series
by Daniel Cressey
published: 8 / 1 / 2006
intro
Dan Cressey finds hardcore punk Lennon sadly demolishing any credibility they may have ever once had on their new DVD, which has been released as part of the Beyond Warped Live Music Series
With this DVD release of live performances and interviews from the Vans Warped Tour of 2004. Lennon clearly aspires to be, in her /their words, "a heavier, hardcore, rock band" rather than the Vans staple punk. Yes – like Bon Jovi – the band and the singer have the same name. Warning bells should be sounding. Lennon pouts her way around the stage, smokes seductively, pulls at her clothes, jumps around in and spouts Avril Lavigne level drivel. “I don’t care what you say – fuck the world” on ‘Rain. “Don’t care what you say - I’d rather and do it my way” on ‘Property of Goatfucker’. That song / title by the way is far from the stupidest thing about this band. Yes this is your standard teenage angst from adults who should know better. This in itself would be fine. It would be ridiculous to complain about this sort of thing being aired in this venue ...if it wasn’t for the interviews slotted in between the live tracks. In trying desperately to avoid comparisons with Spinal Tap we’ll just have to say that never have a band so solidly demolished any credibility they may have had. Their manager explains why they are enjoying this tour: "It’s physically the easiest tour we’ve been on. ... You load in early, you play early, by the time the sun goes down you can be asleep." Rock and Roll! The interview sections barely touch on the music, dealing mainly with the tour itself, showers at venues, how no-one gives poor little bands a break anymore. “Radio’s cut of the chances for the new guys” apparently. The most excited they get in the interviews is discussing the catering: "This is the best catering we’ve ever had." "Any assemblance of salads or fruits or vegetables of sorts is wonderful." "Three times a day ... and they’ve got all hot catering girls." That could be ok – maybe they want the music to do the talking. It’s certainly been authored nicely. If we’re being picky the drums are slightly tinny. The video is pretty uninspired as well. Musically all these songs are pretty similar – chugging bass, standard heavy rock riffs, and Lennon’s unchanging vocals. In fact this has very little to recommend it apart from its brevity – at six songs it is over quickly. Also, it features a presumably unintentionally deep comment about the mainstreaming of US alternative scenes and certainly the best line so far this year that’s been delivered with a straight face. Again from the manager who dominates the waffle sections comes: "They don’t wanna be sold – they wanna come out here and buy something that’s new." Laugh or cry – your choice in a consumer driven market I guess.
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeySimon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Secret Shine - Interview
Liam Gallagher and John Squire - Olympia Theatre, Dublin, 16/3/2024
Sami Sumner - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPMichael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Pere Ubu - Interview
Sound - Interview with Bi Marshall Part 1
Soho Dolls - Interview
Big Black - Profile
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Echo And The Bunnymen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Barrie Barlow - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadKula Shaker - Natural Magick
Ian Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart