If there’s one thing this DVD
proves, it’s that given enough
time pretty much anything gains
a cachet. Flipside fanzine’s
foresight in conducting video
interviews with early 80s punks
has led to a recent rash of
releases of live performances,
interviews and, as here,
recordings of 1983 rehearsals.
DI are in good form and,
despite an inevitable difference
of energy levels between the
practice room and live
appearance proper, it also
means the band are relaxed
rather than hyped. Perhaps as a
result there’s a real sense of
easy skill that permeates the
likes of Richard Hung Himself
(which DI played on the seminal
punk-scene ’84 film Suburbia)
and their own take on Ballroom
Blitz. The camerawork and colour are that of a washed-out
VHS, which lends a historical
filter to proceedings. The
sound’s not bad considering it’s
a) loud as hell in there, and b)
coming through cruddy camera
mics, though at one point some
horrible feedback sends one
cameramen scurrying for cover.
The mood’s jovial, youthful and
the songs’ political edges are
undimmed by the smiles on the
band’s faces, who after their
set, are interviewed rather
chaotically and with tongue
firmly in cheek.
