Customer Reviews

Live at the Key Club

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Hello, we're Pennywise from Hermosa Beach, California!"

Hey, where the hell are you going? Come back here, or I'm gonna catch ya, tie ya up and force ya to listen to this! This is one case where you can't judge a review by its cover.

So Pennywise are from California, and they are popular with skate and surf kiddies, but if you're expecting watered down Offspring/Green Day type pop-punk, then you're out of luck. This is faster, more intelligent, and dare I say it, heavier ... If you want Good Charlotte or Blink 182, then go and listen to er... Good Charlotte or Blink 182. And Pennywise deliver live, something the pretend punks only wish they could.

Unlike the modern day pretenders, Pennywise have one foot firmly in the early 80s, and are damned proud of the fact. Check the cover of "Minor Threat", where Jim lists the bands he grew up listening to. Some of their songs here, particularly older tracks like "Final Chapters" and "Unknown Road" sound like Bad Religion or The Descendents with a rocket ... The song "Pennywise" could almost have come from Suicidal Tendencies. There is an old school Hardcore edge to much of the band's material. Something else the casual observer might also miss is a hint of Thrash, particularly in the guitar playing. Don't believe me? Check out "Fight Til You Die" and "Perfect People" for yourself. It beats most of what Megadeth or Helloween produced in the 1980s.

Even several years after his suicide, original bass player Jason is still an important figure for the band. If he wrote a song, they let everyone know. The set closer "Bro Hymn" is dedicated to his memory, and what a belter of a song to be remembered by. The distinctive bass riff and classic "whoa, whoa" shoutalong refrains get everyone going, for a raucous all-in finale.

This is by no means a perfect live album. The odd track sounds a little flat, like there was not much atmosphere at the gig. The overly commercial "Alien" in particular sounds out of place. The crowd do not seem terribly enthusiastic at times, as if they are unfamiliar with the band's back catalogue. The playing is near on note perfect though, and is still definitely live, rather than doctored in the studio. For a summer time beer drinking party hard live album, you could do a lot worse than this.

I saw Pennywise live before I bought this Cd, and it is definately awesome. Pennywise puts on a great show, and the live album definately shows what they can do onstage. They're definately very energetic. Sure, they don't have hilarious on-stage antics (like The Bloodhound Gang or The Offspring), or one-liners (a la Blink 182) but all that matters is that they play awesome music. They play some great songs (my favs are Perfect People and Alien), as well as a collection of PW past and present. I also like the way the Wise interacts with the audience, and the way they introduce each song before they play it. The sound quality on this live CD is awesome. Anyone that likes live acts, especially punk, should definately pick this one up.

Pennywise have always been one of my favorite 90s Punk Bands. And this live cd f*ckin kills. Most of their best tracks on 1 cd

1. Intro
2. Wouldn't It Be Nice 10/10
3. Living For Today 9/10
4. Final Chapters 10/10
5. Can't Believe It 8/10
6. Unknown Road 10/10
7. Homesick 9/10
8. No Reason Why 20/10
9. Fight Till You Die 9/10
10. Peaceful Day 10/10
11. Society 10/10
12. Straight Ahead 10/10
13. Pennywise 9/10
14. Perfect People 10/10
15. Minor Threat 10/10 Great Cover
16. Same Old Story 10/10
17. Alien 10/10
18. Bro Hymn 15/10

Get this for an intro to Pennywise or if u want the best live cd/recording ever

Wow!..What a live album by an awesome punk band. The energy displayed here by Pennywise is incredible and should not be overlooked by any Pennywise fan. Most of the material played is older songs, but that says nothing. All of them are great in their own way. Their fast and aggressive style is clearly seen on every song.

-A Pennywise Fan


Highlight Tracks:

Fight Till You Die
Perfect People
Wouldn't It Be Nice
Same Old Story
Living For Today
Bro Hymn

a band that sounds good live.good cd if ur not a big fan of pennywise but want something with some of there best work then this cd is a must have

This is the latest Pennywise c.d. that I have gotten and it was shocking to hear how amazing a live show put on by Pennywise can be.My only regrets are the lack of good songs from about time and the fact that the song alien which sounds like it was written by a totally different band was on here.
Also wouldn't it be nice wasn't nearly as godd as how it is on the self titled album.Pennywise manages to pack a-lot of awesome energy into this album with tracks like fight till you die and cant believe it and the touching Bro Hyhm.
I would reccomend listening to Pennywise before getting this c.d. Get About time or the self titled but I wouldn't reccomend Unkown for new listeners to Pennywise, I thought that almost all of the songs on Unknown road sounded terrible with the exceptions of Homesick and Unkown Road the song and the vocals get really whiny and annoying.
So if you really become a Pennywise fan I would reccomend that you buy this c.d. it rocks my socks.

Pennywise, the LA-based quartet that used a series of complex scientific equations to discover the absolute speed limit at which a band can play without its tunes disappearing into a blur of indecipherable noise, has finally released recorded evidence of punk's most explosive live show, and it managed to bottle much of its lightning. From its manic trademark opening salvo "Wouldn't it Be Nice" to its standard old-school cover (this time it's Minor Threat's "Minor Threat") to Byron McMackin's inhuman drumbeats to Fletcher Dragge's profanity-laced prodding of the crowd, every element of the Pennywise experience is well represented by this hometown performance.

If there exists a band who can bind your life into an empire and motivate you, Pennywise is it! For some years I've longed and impatiently anticipated for a live disk from the spirit-boosting Punk Band. And now after the tremendous wait Pennywise administers the fans with a bouncing extract of "Live At The Key Club." In the Live CD, the band crams colossal, raw energy. It's effortlessly easy to tell that the fans behind the music are caught in an ocean of Pennywise's melodious tunes. A Live disk which surpasses all my expectations. The songs derived from all albums are inserted and truly done in the excellence concerts always grant. It's true, Pennywise are praiseworthy live. Their energy is palpable with songs like Straight Ahead and the magic from Bro Hymn. In regard to Pennywise's long success, this CD does more than just release a live album, it contributes to the damn good reputation Pennywise has maintained. In conclusion, after listening to Unknown Road and my personal mind healer, Fight Till You Die, I have concluded Pennywise is what American Punk is all about. Go get this, then join the L.A. fans stuck in a majestic enrapture!

this cd is really good. finally a live cd that actually sounds good. if you like pennywise buy this c.d.