(2006, 91 min) Even the majority of folks who grew up in the '80s had never heard of the blistering yet unclassifiable band The Minutemen who, despite constant touring, never achieved the breakout status of contemporaries Sonic Youth and Black Flag. Defying all convention, their music blended punk with elements of ska, surf, jazz and everything in-between, all the while keeping their songs around the 2-minute mark. Staying true to their San Pedro roots, they dressed working-class, and didn't live particularly fast, though their lead singer D. Boon died young — in a tragically ordinary car accident in 1985.
That left filmmaker Tim Irwin with a small collection of lo-fi concert footage and interviews with which to assemble the story of this hardworking band, but luckily, their lasting influence has also allowed Irwin access to interviews with a great many people you may have heard of: Flea, Henry Rollins, Jello Biafra and many others from the scene. Bassist Mike Watt has not aged particularly well, sounding like a classic California burnout in his spacey ramblings, but the essence of the band is there. It's not your typical Behind the Music story, just three friends who cared for each other and their music in equal portions.
Despite the inclusion of many complete songs, the feature film itself should leave viewers hungry for more... and this amazing 2-DVD set delivers with three complete concerts featuring over 60 songs in their entirety. Far from polished, these are still quite a step up from the bootlegs that have circulated for decades, capturing the band with all of their personality and raw intensity intact. It's the second disc that makes this an essential addition to the collection of any fan of punk and '80s indie music.
© TLA Entertainment Group
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