GMontag's Journal: DVD Review: R.A.T.M. Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium

Rage Against The Machine - Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium

I paid $14.99+tax at the Barnes & Noble across from the "DC" 2600 meeting in Arlington, VA. You can get it a little cheaper at the link.

Great music, but a little too "old school MTV" with constant shot changes. I would like to see a lot more of Tom Morello & Tim Commford's work close up.

Also, all you protestors out there, if you want to trash the cops would you add some footage of them doing something wrong? Especially you, Zack, if you are going to make a big speech about how bad they are.

They portion from the outside concert at the 2000 Democrat National Convention seems to be intended to be a indictment of the police. If anything, it is the opposite. Lots of footage of police walking in formation. Lots of footage of police standing arouind watching the crowd (the crowd was doing it's best imitation of kindergardeners at recess with no monitors). Lots of footage of concert-goers crowd-surfing, middle-finger flashing, cursing, burning signs, climbing protective fences as the cops watched and stood by, some footage of the crowd hurling crap at the cops. All of the above portion was in bright daylight. More pictures of Che than in the "biographies" section of the Reston, VA Barnes & Noble. Occasional burning US flags, lots of "For Sale [America/Democracy/etc.] signs.

Plenty of footage of the RATM private police force (Event Staff) dragging people away.

Later in the DNC concert portion there was lots of night footage of the cops trying to disburse the crowd and lots of debris that did not match anything that the cops were photographed having. Rocks, glass, etc.

In short, it showed a very professional police force vs. a wild mob of idiots. I swear that if there was ANYTHING in the vidio to pick on the cops about I would, like the behaviour of the cops in the news video from Columbine Highschool.

Great music. Highly recommended.

First realize

[blinder]

that Zach is nothing but a punk ass bitch. Look into his first band called Inside Out. He was a krsna chanting bullshit. Yeah, I still have their first 7" (released on Revelation Records).

Second... remember... they are in a band for a reason. They are *incapable* of doing anything else more meaningful and important. I've always wanted to tell activist entertainers to just shut the fuck up and entertain us... bitch... that's all you are good for.

But alas, there are too many stupid young minds wanting to be

Audioslave is a better band

[leviramsey]

No text...

Audioslave sucks. nothing like RATMs great music

[insanecarbonbasedlif]

[no text]

they do what they told;ja

[ellem]

I hear Zach is a member of Skull & Bones

Re:they do what they told;ja

[GMontag]

You have to go to Yale to be in Skull & Bones. I think even they are too far Right for Zack :)

Rage

[asv108]

Rage's first album was excellent but after that I lost interest. The albums to follow never topped or evolved from the debut.

Plus, I don't understand how an anti-corporate message can be distrbuted through the RIAA. If the band really wanted to practice what they preach, they would have remained unsigned and never made music videos.