Zeke

Zeke You! DVD (2003)

Jim

You know, every other day it seems like another band has their own DVD. Pretty soon, bands are going to start releasing these before they even release an album. Not to be out done by some of the newer bands out there, long time Seattle speed punks Zeke have decided to release a DVD covering their own exploits.

DVD reviews always struck me as odd, people who were going to buy this probably don't give a shit about what I think, if they're a fan of Zeke they've probably already picked this up and made their own decision. With that in mind, I'll try to keep the bullshit at a minimal and make this as cut and dry as possible. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for this band, their Epitaph releases were very strong, but sadly unappreciated and their recent Relapse debut was excellent. For those who may be unfamiliar, Zeke plays a speedy mix of punk, rock, and a little bit of metal. After a brief break up, the band reformed and decided to start their own label, Dead Teenager (Angry Amputees, Camarosmith, Flamethrower). "Zeke You" contains about an hour of live footage, along with backstage antics and all of the normal things you'd expect from a DVD. The only thing that really irks me about this is the the sound quality. The live footage could really sound a lot better, I'm not asking for crystal clear sudio magic or anything, but it could have been improved. That being, this is still worth owning for anyone who is a fan of Zeke.

This DVD covers a broad range of material, although it was recorded in 2001, and even though an hour might not sound extremely long, remember the length of Zeke's songs is usually fairly short. The off stage footage is interesting, and often amusing, as is the stage banter, which covers the band's departure from Epitaph, among other things. Aside from my previous complain about sound quality, this DVD is well put together and is something that any Zeke fan should own.