The Knack - Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House

The Knack - Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House


Starring:The Knack
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Funhouse is the visual companion to the Knack CD of the same name. The track listing is similar, with the exception of "It's Not Me," which replaces the Doors cover. A character named Jimmy Lemonjello (Doug Fieger in disguise)--a cross between Ed Sullivan and disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer--introduces the band. They perform in front of a live studio audience and rip through highlights from their extensive repertoire, drawing mostly from their multiplatinum 1979 debut, Get the Knack, with little interruption (just a few set and costume changes). The effect is somewhat akin to that of a 1960s music show like Shindig or Hullabaloo, and they really don't look or sound much different from how they did in the 1970s (despite a few lineup changes). Wisely, they save the best--"My Sharona"--for next-to-last and wrap things up with an upbeat rocker, "(Havin' a) Rave Up." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Description
Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Funhouse is a one of a kind retro fantasy. Hosted be the "legendary Jimmy Lemenjello," this unique concert transports you to a live television show somewhere from the past that never existed--but does now. The Knack performs all of their hits as well as songs from their new album, "Normal As the Next Guy." Taped in front of a live audience in Long Beach, California, on August 18th, 2001, this program will set the new standard for live concerts to follow. Thrill to the incredible energy of The Knack's live performances, laughs at the wild hi jinks from Jimmy Lemenjello, and most of all have fun. Songs: Pop Is Dead, Baby Talks Dirty, Oh Tara, Can I Borrow a Kiss, Another Lousy Day in Paradise, Good Girls Don't, One Day at a Time, It's Not Me, Siamese Twins (The Monkey and Me), Harder on You, Sweet Dreams, Seven Days of Heaven, That's What the Little Girls Do, My Sharona, (Havin' a) Rave Up.
The Knack - Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • High-energy but not Necessarily Live!
  • Oh My God
  • This is good stuff
  • OUTSTANDING!
  • Love the Knack, but Not This
 The Knack - Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Fun House
Starring: The Knack
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:
  1. Getting the Knack
  2. Re-Zoom
  3. The Knack: On Stage at World Cafe Live
  4. But the Little Girls Understand
  5. Round Trip

ASIN: B0000639GI
Release Date: 2002-04-23

Amazon.com

Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Funhouse is the visual companion to the Knack CD of the same name. The track listing is similar, with the exception of "It's Not Me," which replaces the Doors cover. A character named Jimmy Lemonjello (Doug Fieger in disguise)--a cross between Ed Sullivan and disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer--introduces the band. They perform in front of a live studio audience and rip through highlights from their extensive repertoire, drawing mostly from their multiplatinum 1979 debut, Get the Knack, with little interruption (just a few set and costume changes). The effect is somewhat akin to that of a 1960s music show like Shindig or Hullabaloo, and they really don't look or sound much different from how they did in the 1970s (despite a few lineup changes). Wisely, they save the best--"My Sharona"--for next-to-last and wrap things up with an upbeat rocker, "(Havin' a) Rave Up." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Description

Live from the Rock 'n' Roll Funhouse is a one of a kind retro fantasy. Hosted be the "legendary Jimmy Lemenjello," this unique concert transports you to a live television show somewhere from the past that never existed--but does now. The Knack performs all of their hits as well as songs from their new album, "Normal As the Next Guy." Taped in front of a live audience in Long Beach, California, on August 18th, 2001, this program will set the new standard for live concerts to follow. Thrill to the incredible energy of The Knack's live performances, laughs at the wild hi jinks from Jimmy Lemenjello, and most of all have fun. Songs: Pop Is Dead, Baby Talks Dirty, Oh Tara, Can I Borrow a Kiss, Another Lousy Day in Paradise, Good Girls Don't, One Day at a Time, It's Not Me, Siamese Twins (The Monkey and Me), Harder on You, Sweet Dreams, Seven Days of Heaven, That's What the Little Girls Do, My Sharona, (Havin' a) Rave Up.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars High-energy but not Necessarily Live!.......2005-09-27

I quite enjoyed watching the Knack mime to a new recorded track, as the performance captures the fun and excitement of a live Knack show. The newly recorded songs sound great, the band looks good, and the set is full of energy. I may have to get the audio CD as well, since it sounds so good! I like watching Berton Averre's fingers fly over the fretboard, and the man is such an underrated guitar player.

5 out of 5 stars Oh My God.......2003-08-15

Terrific live performance by one of the genuine power-pop finest landmarks. Never be afraid of watching them in 2001, they really look and sound true, surprisingly young and fresh. The playing and singing reach the studio perfection looking effortless. Additional bonus are the astounding Moonesque drummer and the real gem guitar showcase... and almost no pauses between the songs. Essential.

5 out of 5 stars This is good stuff.......2002-08-21

I really enjoyed this DVD. I "get" the cheesey production values and the emcee character Jimmy Lemonjello, and I didn't much care for it but thankfully it's kept to a minimum. As far as the music, the band really nails a nice selection of songs and they are indeed in fine form. They're a tight unit. The somewhat bad vocal editing, in my opinion, probobly couldn't be helped, I see it all the time in live concert productions for video. Unlike a few reviewers, I didn't think the whole show was a pantomine, they are indeed playing. Even though it's unbelievably tight, that's just the Knack trademark, clean, tight playing and songwriting. In my DVD the bass booms a bit, and is hard to clean up on my EQ, but the guitar sounds are amazing. Doug's fender strat just is so clean yet heavily distorted, and Berton's guitar work is amazing. It's so cool to watch him in the background just getting OFF! Holmes Jones is a sledgehammering machine on the drums playing with a heavy beat a la Chic. This release is long overdue for a band underappreciated for their brand of power pop. I'll give 5-stars any day. WEll done guys!

5 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING!.......2002-06-17

This group displayed genius in its day, and it's still great now! I cannot get "(She's So) Selfish" out of my head, and of course "My Sharona" and "Let Me Out" are also wonderful. This group was always at the top of the musicianship ladder, and all if its best material is on display here.

3 out of 5 stars Love the Knack, but Not This.......2002-06-11

I was disappointed with this DVD. I could not get past the cheesy production, poor lip-sync and the overall ho hum feeling of this performance. Let me say that I am a big Knack fan from the late 70's and was looking forward to another performance video to add to my collection. I think what the band was trying to do was a send off of the British 60's variety shows such as Ready, Steady Go..and that would explain the bad lip sync. In short, groups used to re-record their songs and then lip to these recordings because of union rules about playing records on television in the 60's in the UK. The problem, is that the modern production takes away from that feeling. Each member playing on a separate ministage limits interaction among the group members. Also, the moderator could have been done away with. Why didn't the band just do a live compliation video of performances? The main problem with the "Fun House" is that there is no fun. The audience looks as if they are on xanax. Comparing this to the Carnegie Hall video...well you really can't so I won't go there.

On the bright side, the song selection is quite good and Doug F's guitars are AMAZING. What is that...a new Epiphone Casino with the Bigsby tailpiece? Yummy. And the Harrison '64 Rick 12 string will jingle jangle you out of your seat, not to mention the (new?) Gretch Tennessean, Yee Haw. How about the Gibson J 160 E, Lennon/Harrison would be proud!

Overall I'd rather have this than not, but I wish that the concept was played out more cleanly and that there were more extras. By the way the discography on the DVD is incomplete, for some reason it omits "Zoom"(!?!).

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  1. MTV20 Collection
  2. Dizzy Gillespie - Live at the Royal Festival Hall, London
  3. Rock and Roll Outlaws
  4. Tooth & Nail Videography - 1993-99
  5. Rimsky-Korsakov - Le Coq d'Or / Schagidullin, Levinsky, Breus, Bannik, Manistina, Banks, Nagano, Chatelet Opera
  6. Close-Up on Bongos & Timbales, Vol. 2
  7. Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1983
  8. Bach - St. John Passion / Suzuki, Bach Collegium Japan
  9. WOW Hits 2004
  10. Vocal Technique: Developing Your Voice for Perform

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