Rockin' the Corps

Any concert/performance with comedian Louie Anderson, right-wing rocker Ted Nugent, the Hooters Calendar Girls and the San Diego Chargers' cheerleaders on the same bill has got to be, well, strange. An outdoor performance for U.S. marines and their families stationed at Camp Pendleton, Rockin' the Corps kicks off with Nugent's sanitized cover of Jimi Hendrix's electric "Star-Spangled Banner," followed by headbanging metal music from Godsmack, who also accompany Nugent for a frenzied "Cat Scratch Fever" (originally recorded long before anyone in the audience was born). Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora adds to the noise but sings a passionate "Livin' On a Prayer," Hootie and the Blowfish's lite soul on “Time” sounds exactly the way it always does, Destiny's Child heats things up with "Soldier" and "Crazy in Love," and the perennially silly Kiss brings things to a close with “Rock and Roll All Nite.” Although one has to appreciate the “support the troops” inspiration behind this Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo-backed 18-song concert—which turns Camp Pendleton into one big mosh pit—this is truly a mixed bag, musically speaking. DVD extras include a handful of featurettes, including one on marines in training. Not a necessary purchase. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)