Search - Los Straitjackets in Concert on DVD

It's About Time!

Howard J. Johnson | Bealeton, VA USA | 05/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, I have to agree with reviewer D. Beyer. Whichever company actually manufactured this DVD (Yep Roc Records or whomever) needs to get a grip on quality control. When I put my copy of this DVD on my player, it kept loading for 30-60 seconds and then, the dreaded "bad disc" logo appeared! After my blood pressure spiked and I calmed down a bit, I placed the disc on my DVD RECORDER and it played! Because of the way my system is set up, I was unable to enjoy the 5.1 Surround Sound, but that's another story. After I played the disc all the way through, I placed it on my DVD player and, this time, it worked perfectly!

Anyway, enough of the problems the manufacturer has and the customer must work around (Amazon take note).

I have been a fan of Los Straitjackets for almost 10 years and have seen them live in concert twice. I would have seen them more, but they don't come to the East Coast that often. The DVD depicts a "typical" live concert wherein the audience is not seated, but is standing around the bandstand. Why? It's very curious. One would think that the audience would be dancing, but what they're doing is actually WATCHING a performance! They're completely entranced with what's going on in front of them and don't want to miss a single second. I've seen this in person, so I'm assuming this happens all the time with these guys.

To try to explain what Los Straitjackets does is difficult, if not impossible. If you hear them, then see them, you'll get it. They are four musicians who are so good at what they do, they have fun with their music and let the listeners/audience in on "the joke". By good, I should say great. Danny Amis and Eddie Angel trade off on taking lead guitar, Pete Curry plays a steady bass, similar to the late John Entwistle of The Who (but can hold up on lead with Amis and Angel), and Jimmy Lester "maybe" plays drums. I say "maybe" because he has a mask on and I'm not so sure that this isn't the ghost of Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa playing, especially on "Swing, Swing, Swing".

Twenty bucks is a bit steep for non-Blu-Ray DVDs now-a-days, so you'd better be getting your hard earned money's worth. In my opinion, you do with this DVD (aside for the "bad disc" logo thing). Once it started playing right and I could hear the 5.1 mix, it was just like being at one of their live concerts without the waitress coming over and checking on the amount of beer you had left in the bottle.

Los Straitjackets are not everyones cup of tea. However, if you remember what powerhouse surf music or the guitar shreading of Link Wray or the tightness of The Ventures AND the humor of Spike Jones sounded and looked like, check out Los Straitjackets and find a machine that will allow you to play the DVD. I repeat, IT'S ABOUT TIME Los Straitjackets put out an authorized DVD. Thank you, Misters Angel, Curry, Amis, and Lester."

I'm over my initial disappointment....

D. Beyer | Pgh, PA | 05/16/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I decided to re-write my review after reading the 4-star review.

After my initial frustration of trying to get the DVD to play, I worked a little harder at it and figured out what to do. At 20 seconds, the DVD stops on its own. I hit MENU to get it to restart (hitting fast forward, play, next track, etc. did not work). Top menu popped up on the screen and I was in business. I gave the DVD 4 stars only because of the hiccup playing it. Other than that it was great!

I am a fan of the band and have seen them many times over the years. As the other reviewer said, it's about time LS put out a DVD! Message to Eddie Angel: You need to get the Hi-Risers to put out a DVD next!!"