DVD: The Stranglers: Live '78, SF (Target/MVD)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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A brief, rough and sketchy video capture of The Stranglers that perfectly captures what they were all about. Target Video would tape any punk band coming through town for airing on local cable access, but unlike most shabby ventures of the Garth and Wayne quality, the bands that flew through San Francisco during punk's glory days were astounding. In grainy black and white, save for a few silly red video effects, this document is a plain audience sight line of the men in black barrelling through such classics as "Bring on the Nubiles" and "Dead Ringer," climaxing in a pogo explosion for the killer "Hanging Around." Even without radio play, and relegated to cheap cable tv, it was still obvious from the crowd thrill that a revolution was indeed going on.

© 2005 - John Sekerka