Search - James Chance - Chance of A Lifetime: Live in Chicago 2003 on DVD

The Godfather of Punk Funk Returns

DJ Mr. Rid | 06/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. Contortion and his little brother David Siegfried tear it up with Chicago's The Watchers at The Double Door 0n 11/14/03.The band combines the taught rawness of Chance's original Contortions lineup with a phat horn section that conjures JC's later, slicker period perfectly. Chance still has 'it' as he skronks his patented scree on sax and organ like it's 19-79. His stage moves are a far cry from his more confrontational bait and swats from his heyday, though. Throughout the set the crowd was a bit lukewarm and the camera picked up a constant stream of bar chatter. They could've used a few choice slaps and some verbal abuse from Chance who was a pro and seemed unfazed.
Nevertheless, it's just so heartening to see this Sax Maniac still kicking ass after so much junkie business and downright
thrilling to hear him segue 'Jaded' from 'No New York' into James Brown's 'Prisoner of Love'!
Video production rates 3 stars at best. The sound is adequate but somewhat lacking in low end. The camera work is OK but could've been better - pretty much one static shot with a few auto zooms. You see a second camera guy on one side of the stage
but never his POV. The bass player is never shown playing and the still image inserts are rather clumsy. BUT - what a set! The band crackles on 'King Heroin', 'Contort Yourself' and a duet with brother Dave on 'Amost Black' covering all the bases.
Like JB, Iggy and Suicide ( where's their DVD treatment?) before him, James Chance is the Real Deal. Since there's virtually no video documentation of New York's first No Wavers back in the day, you should pick this up pronto. Especially if you want to see where Jon Spencer, early Red Hot Chili Peppers and countless others copped a big dollop of licks and style from."