A welcomed and superb full-length documentary on the DC punk scene by longtime scene journalist Scott Crawford, “Salad Days” is as comprehensive as they come. Just about every major scene player is interviewed here, including Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, Dave Grohl, J. Robbins, Craig Wedren, Kevin Seconds, and tons more.
As well, there’s an abundance of great live footage of all the bands, Dischord-based and otherwise (Positive Force and the straight-edge movements are discussed here, of course, too), including Minor Threat, Fugazi, Marginal Man, Embrace, Egghunt, Government Issue, Dag Nasty, Gray Matter, Beefeater, Holy Rollers, Soulside, and more. Detailing the beginnings and endings of the whole scene, from the earliest teenage days to the alternative explosion of the early 90s, “Salad Days” highlights the reverence and relevance that the punk scene had and continues to have today. It’s a loving portrait of the misfits and freaks behind the scenes making a difference and changing attitudes in a city where bureaucracy and corporate interests undermine basic humanity. For anyone with even a passing interest in classic punk rock and the idealism it embodies, this is a must-see. Superb!
Enlightening and inspiring punk doc The punk music scene has evolved into a fully-established family tree, with branches drifting away from the original sprout in often surprising and diverse fashions. The nihilism of progenitors like the Sex Pistols or Stooges eventually became a lame stereotype, so punks (particularly ones in Washington DC), partially inspired by the anarchist ideology of English band Crass, became “positive”. This film is a lovingly rendered documentary of the Positive Force movement, spearheaded by the Discord Records roster of artists, and most often associated with Ian MacKaye and Minor Threat/Fugazi, who paved a lot of ground for angry, politically, and socially aware punks.
Director Bell brings together loads of pertinent artists, activists, and musicians here, often with slightly different ideologies, but united to make change. It sounds corny and idealistic, but these are people who are fighting for our own rights, confronting issues like racism, homophobia, homelessness, poverty, war, corporate and government corruption, animal rights, and environmental conservation. Positive Force has been and still is driving change like few others.
This feature-length DVD (which includes a wealth of bonus short films and live performances) boasts of rare music clips, as well as footage both old and new to illustrate the grass-roots movement that Positive Force has driven for 30 years now. Of course, names like Fugazi, Bikini Kill, Nation Of Ulysses, Rites Of Spring, Jello Biafra, Dave Grohl, Ted Leo, Kathleen Hanna, and many more appear here, so you know there are good things going on.
In short, this is a superb document of a movement that may not garner a lot of media attention (naturally), yet is an essential component of our homegrown American music scene. Support work like this, and give this cause a boost, as it can make a serious difference in all of our lives. Word.
Having not grown up with iTunes or Amazon (or even eBay) at my fingertips, it's easy for me, at my age, to understand the ideals and importance of the independent record shop. I credit certain amazing, thoughtful, and creative record shops for helping me find my niche(s) in music, both as a (debatable) musician and as a collector and fan. Having a central location to find (and discuss) obscure, unknown, and amazing recorded music has been a blessing to those of us who live and breathe music. This full-length documentary examines the reality and relevance of having an indie record shop in your hometown, and the alarming reasons so many have dropped off and closed over the past decade. To make his case, director/editor/writer Brendan Toller assembles a worthwhile and knowledgeable base of interviewees, from indie musicians like Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi, Dischord), Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith), Mike Watt (Minutemen, Stooges), Glenn Branca, Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) to writers like Legs McNeil and actual record store owners themselves. Did the corporate record industry kill the indie shop scene? Do chain music stores that cater only to the lowest common denominator ultimately hurt indie shops? Is the increasing homogenization of radio also to blame? Or is it technology's ever-changing grasp at fault? These topics are debated and discussed intelligently and with a hopeful nostalgia, and they make a compelling case to go local and indie. As if you'd consider otherwise, right? Right? (See Of Sound via MVD Visual)
A novelty item, for sure, but kinda fun in a throwaway sorta way. The CD is a solid covers disc, featuring various all-star guest vocalists (like Dicky from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, Jim Lindberg of Pennywise, Dave King of Flogging Molly, and Jordan Pundik of New Found Glory(??)) covering classics by Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Dickies, Buzzcocks, Black Flag, Stiff Little Fingers (the awesome 'Suspect Device'), etc. Unnecessary, but amusing. The DVD features these songs as videos, as well as a section of instrumental cuts with the lyrics so you can, theoretically, 'perform' these yourself in the comfort of your own TV room. Likely fun in a bar setting, with the all-star band (members of NOFX, Circle Jerks, Adolescents, Agent Orange, etc.) backing you up. On disc it's rendered reasonably feeble. Some additional footage of live audience members singing these songs is entertaining, with some solid performances (among the embarrassing), but overall this is a pretty lightweight and forgettable set. (MVD Visual)
Now, this one is world-class. Never before have I seen a historical documentary and history of punk rock that is as comprehensive, factual, and fascinating as this one. This years-in-the-making film is, quite possibly, the definitive document of punk's often-misinterpreted and sketchy past (and present).
Featuring interviews with personalities from nearly every notable and essential punk band, there's no skimping on the details and history. Take a look at just some of the participants here: Bad Religion, Black Flag, Ramones, Rancid, Social Distortion, Stiff Little Fingers, Sham 69, Damned, Green Day, MC5, Minor Threat, Subhumans, UK Subs, Sex Pistols, Exploited, Billy Idol, Dead Kennedys...and the list goes on. And beyond their personal insights, there are countless flyers, album covers, images, old movies, etc. to illustrate the 'hows', 'wheres', 'whos', and 'whys' of the 70's most influential and relevant musical and cultural phenomenon, and it's influence on today's music and pop culture.
In Dynner's movie, the history is essential, but her insights go further that that. Punk rock's socio-political relevance is examined, as is it's undeniable influence on fashion (Hot Topic? piercings? tattoos?). The film examines the evolution of the genre - from its' explosive 70's beginnings, to the mostly-forgotten 80's era, when punk quietly inspired some of today's biggest rock stars. And it even looks deeper into today's 'punk', with bands who purists may scoff at (Good Charlotte and Sum 41 are given time here to explain their roots and feelings), yet are included in the style nonetheless. In short, virtually nothing is left out - from arrests and social unrest to selling out.
There are so many great stories told here (from the legends themselves, both known and unknown), with trivia and anecdotes galore, lest you expect a dry and purely scholarly examination of the virtues and downfalls of the genre. It's exhaustive, it's authoritative, and it's a helluva lot of fun.
This is essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in the subversive music and lifestyle that has been co-opted by the mainstream, but once flipped its' collective middle finger to authority and the corporate mainstream. Sure, punk swims dangerously close to the sharks these days, but the ideals are still there, submerged in the underground, where it's spawned offshoots not confined by the name or genre 'Punk's Not Dead' is a work of art, and a necessary history lesson with (s)punk. And the nearly 2 hours of bonus features are just about as worthy and watchable as the feature film itself... Get this one pronto! (MVD Visual)
