"San Francisco Grindhouse Triple Feature" 2xDVD

This selection of marginal 70's-era sexploitation (aka early hardcore porn) doesn't offer much aside from a curious look at the depths and budgetary constraints of the era. Centered around San Francisco (in itself a hotbed of creativity and free-thinking since the sixties), these three films failed to impress me.

First was "Wendy's Naughty Night", directed by Nick Philips (who, oddly, went on to direct horror later in his career). This 1973 skin-flick was hippie hardcore at it's not-so-finest, complete with weirdly whimsical musical soundtrack. This one was a weird tale of damaged, but free-spirited Wendy, who supported an deadbeat artist boyfriend, but loved to frolic in the sack (when not with her therapist reminiscing about her lesbian inclinations). As it is, "Wendy's Naughty Night" is a mess, with flimsy plot, very little dialogue, and awful acting. And the action was nothing to remark about, either. 

"Siv, A Swedish Girl" was also the work of director Philips, and despite a mismatched audio track (bad overdubbing), this 1971 hardcore features a trippy psychedelic jazz soundtrack. Definitely a period piece, "Siv" is forgettable at best, with most of the "action" being mostly nude writhing. Poetic voiceovers are hackneyed, with amateur imagery and silly effects. Other adjectives I'd use to describe "Siv" are haphazard and disjointed. The murder-suicide "climax" is absolutely unexpected (and, I"m sure, off-putting to period moviegoers who simply wanted a good time), and certainly points to director Philips' future in horror, but it doesn't change that this is simply a bad movie.

Attached to the disc with "Siv, A Swedish Girl" are a series of Joe Sarno trailers, which fare much, much better. Seventies gems like "Butterflies", featuring the amazing Marie Forsa, are previewed here. The great sets and cinematography in these trailers make the feature-length films on this set look just heinous!

The third disc in this set, lest we forget, is an afterthought from 1976, directed by Tom Hofmann.This one features the always-entertaining Joey Silvera as a regular joe who, in need of some cash, takes a job as a porno star, much to his girlfriend's chagrin. Well, the girlfriend, played by Linda Wong, decides to "get even" by hanging out with some swinger friends, so you can imagine the obvious here. It's not a noteworthy or particularly memorable film, but the action does get wilder and steamier than the two supposed "marquee" names in this "grindhouse" collection.

All-in-all, some pretty forgettable work, and worthy only as a time capsule of the early-to-mid-seventies scene. 

(After Hours Cinema)

"Dawn Of The Dead - The Grateful Dead &The Rise Of The San Francisco Underground" DVD

This unauthorized bio covers the Dead's earlier days, as well as presenting a well-researched look at the whole mid-to-late sixties psychedelic scene coming out of San Francisco. As with other Sexy Intellectual releases, a number of critics, musicians, and historians are interviewed, and a plethora of classic footage is highlighted.

 Not being a fan of the Grateful Dead, I remained engrossed in this well-done documentary, so anyone interested in the whole counterculture scene and music of the 60s shouldn't be disappointed. Deadheads will certainly revel in this look at the formative days of the world's foremost peacenik "jam" band. Well-done and enjoyable! (Sexy Intellectual/Chrome Dreams)

Factrix / Cazazza - "California Babylon" LP + Factrix "Empire Of Passion" 7"

Factrix was an often forgotten, but sorely overlooked American proponent of the early, classic 'industrial' scene. Formed in San Francisco in 1980 from the ashes of post-punk group Minimal Man, this group, headed by Bond Bergland, Cole Palme, and Joseph T. Jacobs, gigged around at the time and released a few precious recordings that are quite difficult to find, but all more than worthwhile.

'California Babylon', an LP released in 1982 by the great Subterranean Records, presents a noisy, dank, and freeform side of Factrix. Legendary madman and provocateur (and really good guy, honestly) Monte Cazazza guests on this, and any fan of stuff like Throbbing Gristle or early Psychic TV would appreciate this collection of guitar deconstructions, serial-killer tape noise, and evil rumblings.

Conversely, the Factrix 7" single 'Empire Of Passion / Splice Of Life' (1980 Adolescent Records) is a marvelously sinister bit of apocalyptic sound poetry and industrial soundscaping.

Flipper – Live Targetvideo77 1980-81" DVD

Flipper were an essential anomaly in the early American punk scene. Nihilistic and dirgey, their noise-damaged music anticipated the hardcore scene, predated grunge, and even could be seen as a starting point for (some) industrial rock. This classic video, finally reissued in digital format, presents Flipper in all their sloppy, drunken, and chaotic glory. Taken from a pair of shows, this rough (but more than watchable) document shows both a more spunky side (a headlining gig from Berkeley) as well as a more cathartic and intense side (their 1981 Frisco show opening for Throbbing Gristle). Vocalist/bassist Will Shatter mumbles and grunts his way through fan favorites like 'Sex Bomb' or (my favorite) 'Life', while his band tumbles headfirst into characteristically messy, nearly-tuneless abandon. Flipper took punk and turned it upside down, and in the process inspired too many bands to list. This is the real deal. (MVD Visual)