https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Wino Wednesday: Saint Vitus’ “Ice Monkey” Video

For the most part, the Saint Vitus video for “Ice Monkey” is standard operating procedure. The clip comes culled from a variety of sources — studio footage, live footage and a performance section that seems to have been put together just for the shoot. There’s also some material that looks like it was filmed on tour. As that was about 23 years ago, that would’ve been something of a novelty at the time for a band of Vitus‘ stature and probably required a sizable piece of equipment. At the start of the clip, there’s a shot where they’re playing to one person — entirely possible that’s a soundcheck and even if not, I’m sure it’s a joke at their own expense because if you’re not looking to laugh about it you don’t put that in your video, but my understanding is they had more than a few shows where that kind of thing happened.

The real kicker about “Ice Monkey” is that Wino‘s playing guitar the whole time. Of course, he always contributed some to Vitus over his years in the band, it’s just strange to see it in the context of the video looking like business as usual. I don’t know how much he would’ve shared duties with Dave Chandler — who, if you catch it, has some pretty righteous costuming going on in the video — but it definitely doesn’t happen these days and must have created an interesting dynamic on stage. With Chandler being such a presence on guitar, and 1990’s V, from which “Ice Monkey” comes, being the last Vitus album with Wino on it until last year’s Lillie: F-65, it’s easy to read some measure of veering interest there before Wino went off to revive The Obsessed full-time, but who the hell knows what the situation actually was at that moment. Other than the band, I guess.

It’s a pretty rough quality video — there are a couple different versions out there, one with worse sound, one with decent video and audio, but that cuts off the last 20 seconds or so — but should be enough for you to get the idea. Please enjoy and have a great Wino Wednesday:

Saint Vitus, “Ice Monkey” official video

Tags: , , , ,

Leave a Reply