2003 started off with a bang when one of the hottest line-ups in recent Christian music history hit the road on what was dubbed the See Spot Rock tour. The O.C. Supertones, Relient K, Pillar, John Reuben, and Sanctus Real sold out many of the venues they hit, and it didn't take long for anyone to realize this was one of the most successful tours in CCM to come along in awhile.

When I went to the show in my town, there were two See Spot Rock DVD trailers playing before the first band, Sanctus Real, took the stage. It looked as though it would be more backstage material rather than an actual concert experience. Nevertheless, the trailers were hilarious, and I could not wait to get my hands on it. Well, many relentless months of waiting have paid off. But does the DVD do the tour justice?

The DVD begins with circus music playing in the background and a picture of Spock, of Star Trek fame, rotting to pieces. Before Spock completely deteriorates, the See Spot Rock logo appears at the top of the screen, but the words have been replaced with "See Spock Rot." The rest of the segment consists of Steve Taylor, with a small group of 4-7 year olds, deciding on what would be a proper title for the tour. That really sets the stage for the rest of the just-under-fifty-minutes to come. An appropriate opening for a DVD that doesn't take itself seriously for more than two seconds at a time.

Each band gets a good amount of air time, with the Supertones possibly getting the most. The bands discuss hard-hitting questions such as: "Who will be the best band on the tour?," "Who will be the worst band on the tour?," and the ever-controversial "Which band could you take in a street fight?" As you might imagine, the ensuing answers are hysterical. The guys of Pillar and Relient K duke it out more than once, while Sanctus Real takes it upon themselves to take out Steve Taylor.

But who really steals the show on the DVD is John Reuben, who plays up to the whole "rapper image" with style. An insult here, an ego trip there, and a break out into a freestyle rap everywhere. It's all played for laughs, of course, but Reuben is the reason the See Spot Rock DVD goes above and beyond the call of duty.

There are short clips of live concert footage shown throughout, but they are played behind the album version of whatever song the band is playing. Which brings us to about the only complaint: the serious lack of concert footage. I know that the entire concert would be much too long to include on one DVD, but perhaps some select songs from each band?

But, alas, that is not the case. What you do get is very impressive, however. Not only is the main See Spot Rock footage included, but also four music videos ("Doin" from John Reuben, "Chapstick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry" from Relient K, "Say It Loud" from Sanctus Real, and "Superfly" from O.C. Supertones), as well as photos, two short trailers, and a hilarious ten minute spoof feature on the life and career of Steve Taylor.

One of the biggest tours of 2003 is also one of the best tour DVDs to ever be released to the Christian market. Don't pass this one up, whether you caught the See Spot Rock tour or not.

- Review date: 12/26/03, written by Josh Taylor