Reviews

It always seemed that Kid Dynamite was going to be around forever.  Then one morning you wake up to the news that they’ve called it a day and you have officially missed the boat.  Luckily, they left two flawless full lengths, a rarities compilation, three ex-members of bands (PIB, NMB, and The Loved Ones - all who pretty much own), and finally, a movie of their life and times.  While falling slightly short of the incredibly high bar set by the Bouncing Souls DVD and the now-proven-to-be-a-lie Against Me! DVD, Kid Dynamite’s Four Years In One Gulp is a satisfying, hilarious, and informative hour and a half that will have you breaking out their records for the next few months. Totally inspiring.
 
It’s great getting to know a band again, and Four Years In One Gulp assembles all the ingredients (minus the original bassist) and has them stir themselves into a frothy mixture of history, non sequiturs, and anecdotes.  Oh, not to mention eighteen (18!) live songs captured at different points from their very first show to their 2003 reunion show.
 
The star of the DVD is an unlikely one: Dave Hause- former Kid Dynamite roadie, now singer for Philly’s The Loved Ones.  He can spin an ordinary run-of-the-mill tale about Spider puking in the van, himself flicking boogers or stealing the Misfits’ jacket, and make it something truly special.
 
The art by Jeremy Dean is nothing short of fantastic and one of the best special features is a collection of all the art he did for the band.  I heartily recommend this special feature to all future DVD retrospectives, but also: we want a merch gallery section.  I want to see every t-shirt ever printed: from the first home spray painted white T to the classic designs being sold at classy internet punk webstores everywhere.  Just a thought.
 
If Kid Dynamite was ever your cup of tea, then get into this.  Be prepared to listen to nothing but KD for the following few days though.  Four Years In One Gulp lights a fire that is not easy to extinguish; an admirable feat when the band hasn’t been together in six years.