Live
DVDs come in two forms. It's either a glossy, overdubbed, greatest hits
collection used to string the fans along until the next album; or it's
a real document of what it's like to be standing in the front row at you
favorite band's concert. "Raising A Rockus" from Roadside Attraction
is definitely the latter. Blunders, jokes, and goofy plastic hats aside,
this is the picture of a band and its audience communing under the slogan
"Life just ain't that serious."
Roadside Attraction comes from leader Phil Johnson's twin careers
in music and comedy. "The idea here is songs that are musically interesting
and challenging, but also funny, and understandable by a casual music
listener," says Johnson. It's more eclectic than Stephen Lynch, funnier
than Prince, and more palatable than Frank Zappa, though influences of
all three abound.
Sure, the band's best known songs are here… "Rumpalicious Booty Shaker",
"Whale Blubber", "Two Of Me" and "LCW" all make appearances. But they
also take the opportunity to give the audience new, unreleased songs as
well. "Afrodizzyac" is their take on Blaxploitation film themes.
This one about an international super spy (Afrodizzyac) saving the women
of the world from his arch enemy, Left Nut. "Brown Ring Around The
Collar" is a happy tirade about the stupid people we meet every day.
And "Hella Good Day" is Phil Johnson's own musing on what would
make his perfect day. "I wrote it during a really bad day and it helped
cheer me up. I don't expect people to personally relate to each lyric.
But I hope it will make them think about what would make them happier."
Two of the greatest forms of release are live music and a hearty laugh.
And Roadside Attraction delivers in spades as evidenced by the
audience of young and old, and every ethnicity that was present for this
concert. "Raising A Rockus" is the story of a band on the rise,
playing by their own rules, and doing everything they can to help you
loosen up.