Red Paintings, The - DVD: Seizure & Synesthesia (DVD)

As a follower of The Red Paintings since being blown away by their performance at the Great Escape Festival in 2006, I was surprised and delighted to hear about this DVD. Surprised because while they are certainly making a name for themselves and their popularity is surging, this was a band that I saw at Bar Broadway in summer for $10, not a band signed to Sony BMG and selling out theatres around the country. Nobody expected them to do it, but anyone who has been to a show knows that The Red Paintings cannot really be appreciated simply by sitting through a spin of their CD. They are one of the few bands on the scene today who think about the entire experience of being at one of their shows, not just the songs. Forget four guys in jeans with guitars – think Geisha draped in stunning red kimonos, with elaborate wigs, china white faces and the brightest red lipstick, belting out chords on their violins and cellos. The front man Trash McSweeny leads the group in his regular get-up: a fuzzy green dressing gown and stripey pants. Perhaps I should explain…

The Red Paintings attempt to satisfy more senses than sound alone and entertain on as many levels as possible in the in the time frame of a band’s set. Painters on stage, projected videos and costumes are not something new to the world of rock n roll, but Trash and the gang do it so artfully, so convincingly and with so much participation from their audience (including human canvases and parades through the streets of major cities) that for a second it seems like it is. What is wonderfully new is their series of themed shows. Past shows have included a tribute to Tim Burton's animated classic The Nightmare Before Christmas and an eerie, dreamlike Alice in Wonderland show, both featured on their DVD. They are a rebellious bunch, raging against everything from genetic engineering to evil record companies not just in their music and shows, but in loosely organised marches in cities across the country. The most recent marches were called “The Animal Rebellion” to promote their brand new EP, Feed the Wolf. I don’t think they’re actually angry at anyone, but their passion seems to inspire and enchant their loyal, arty, following. And hey, its great fun!

I really want to show this DVD to fledgling bands; you know, the ones you see in dodgy pubs on weeknights who cite Radiohead and Muse as their influences but end up just sounding as boring as each other as they stand there in their black T-shirts, staring at the floor… I know that sounds harsh, but I want to show them that you can be passionate! You can indulge in eccentricity, art and beauty! You can have a giant jabberwocky flying above your audience and encourage them to smash it to pieces! Basically, it shows you that you can do whatever the fuck you want, and that art is cool. And it sounds so convincing coming from bands like The Red Paintings – they don’t have much money, they’re not exactly cruising along (despite scoring absolute dream gigs with the Dresden Dolls, Mogwai, and the Great Escape festival). They’re trying to make it, too, but they’re certainly breaking the mold and turning heads.

Anyway I’m supposed to be reviewing this DVD… it’s absolutely packed with stuff. Over 3 hours of it. Heaps of footage onstage and backstage with the Dresden Dolls, footage from their Mogwai support slot, theme shows, parties, and intimate interviews. However, the quantity of material is not really matched by quality. Most of it is very lo-fi, home movie style footage. Which is great for capturing an intimate snapshot of the band, but not so good when you want crisp sound recordings of their live shows. Aside from the film component (essentially a documentary of their Dresden Dolls tour), it’s also a bit all over the place – like they’ve just chucked a whole lot of video material they had and roughly organized it into an attractive DVD menu. It’s pretty obvious that they weren’t really filming with the intention of making a DVD. Personally, though, I don’t mind, even if this is just another fundraiser for the full-length album on the horizon.

Overall, Seizure & Synaesthesia, distributed by Vitamin, is a wonderful, comprehensive showcase of The Red Paintings to date, as well as a very interesting and very personal documentary of one of the most exciting Australian bands out there. However, I think that strangers to the band would have trouble connecting with it due to its length, the quality of the footage and its messy structure. This is one for the fans.

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