Suicidal Tendencies - Live at the Olympic Auditorium (DVD)

February 24, 2010

Reviewer: Ilmarinen

It's back to the basics for Sucidal Tendencies and fittingly it begins with a simple candid interview with Cyco Mike about the band's origin. The days of playing in apartments are long gone for this pioneering and domineering jack of all trades punk metal hardcore you name it we played it band, but the memory lives on. It radiates through the band's demeanor, in their interaction with their fans, and in their fans' feedback. There is a blunt sense of raw pride and honesty in what they do, in how they are perceived, and in their own perception of how this whole thing called a “band” came about. Describing an interview any further would be redundant of the interview itself. Watch it, enjoy it.

This live set is all about the origins, the underbelly of this suicidal beast, and the heart of the band. All the classics get playtime. If you are one of the old school fans, if you hated or disapproved of the "metal years", you will love this gig. This is all about the roots, suicidal style. If you were introduced to the band during their metal phase but find yourself susceptible to punk rock, this show is a great introduction to the genre, quite possibly the best.

This is punk rock as it was meant to be, intelligent, irreverent, and infectious. This is not some modern imitation brought to you by Adidas and Coca-Cola, wrapped in a neat marketing package, completely devoid of any real edge, except for the sterile MTV fashion edge that can be purchased at your local Hot Topic. No, this is not an imitation; it is what began the imitations, and the edge you’ll discover here can’t be bought in a store, but it is brought to you exclusively, live, and for a limited time, by the Church of Suicidal.

The stage is surrounded by beautifully unrefined devotion. There are punkers around the PA system. There are punkers on the back of the stage and all around it. It feels more like a congregation than a concert. What other bands like to carefully design into a music video to give them cred, Suicidal does intuitively, live.

The music is old school punk, fuck it, real punk, the energy of the show is visible, palpable, electric. The whole thing is shot in warm brown tones that dress it up in an intimate documentary feel, appropriately so. Muir looks older, more weathered, something you may notice if you have followed the band through the years. However as the show unfolds you forget that. He is the old Cyco Mike, the ranting and raving and making your mind work despite itself Cyco Mike. A suicidal gig would not be complete without Muir's inspirational rants, his kick you in the head with a brain rants, and this gig is no different. The crowd is loving it, and the band is giving it back. There is a family atmosphere, a sense of musical communion if you will. Because at the end of the day, you can't fake that. You can't edit that or photoshop it. At the end of the show you know where you are. You are in the suicidal family, baby. Now pledge your fucking allegiance or get the fuck out.

Release Date: January 26th, 2010
Label: Suicidal Records

TRACK LISTING

1.    Intro
2.    I Shot Reagan
3.    War Inside My Head
4.    Subliminal
5.    Ain't Gonna Take It
6.    Suicidal Failure
7.    We Are Family
8.    Possessed To Skate
9.    I Saw Your Mommy
10.    Waking The Dead
11.    Show Some Love...
          Tear It Down!
12.    Cyco Vision
13.    Two-Sided Politics
14.    Won't Fall In Love Today
15.    Institutionalized
16.    Pledge Your Allegiance

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