Five Iron Frenzy
Live: Proof That the Youth are Revolting
Reviewed by David M. Pogge
For all of you that have had the pleasure of seeing one of Five Iron's wacky performances over the past few years, you will be pleasantly surprised to know that the energy and pure insanity of their live show was somehow captured on something as one-dimensional as a CD. For those of you who have never seen them live, because: a) you still think that the Supertones are the only Christian ska band, b) you're way too punk rock for ska-core, or c) you've been spending your life as a nomad, herding sheep in the Himalayas, this CD could serve as one more reason to add to the list of about two hundred and seventy eight, why you need to catch them in your area. For all of you in group "c," unfortunately there are no plans to tour Central Asia at this time, but if there are, rest assured that HM will keep you posted. From start to finish, this record is packed with the band's signature hysteria, complete with everything from their performance of "Kingdom of the Dinosaurs" to their moving cover of Vegas star, Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual." The surprises never end, as whenever you think you know what's going to happen next, the band will turn around and do something completely unexpected. I would love to mention all of the humorous moments on the CD, but I'm not going to ruin the surprise. Playing songs from all three releases and a few new songs to boot, these guys deliver the goods with unmatchable energy. Sonically, the band is as tight as they've ever been; Reese's intonation is at its finest, and the sound is studio quality. Trust me, if you even consider yourself a casual fan of those crazy clowns known as Five Iron Frenzy, this CD is a must have. As a matter of fact, I think it should be mandatory.