In the Mix - Movie

I never listened much to LA rock band Meat Puppets until Rev. Gus flung this DVD in my direction. And I was surprised. Videotaped during the early mid-’90s, in venues both foreign (Italy) and domestic, the most engaging footage here is of the band somewhat “unplugged” at a small record store. Fronted by brothers Cris and Curt Kirkwood, on bass and guitar, respectively, and backed by drummer Derrick Bostrom, the band proves at this intimate setting that it can deliver tight vocal harmonies and intricate playing at low volumes, even on songs like “Lake of Fire,” its lyrics filled with hard-rock heaven-and-hell metaphors: “You don’t go to heaven/ with angel eyes.” Interviews with Mike Watt, Flea and Thurston Moore make this a nice little package.