We Jam Econo
I may be the last one to hear about this, as I live in a freakin’ box. I found this over at Master of Chooch. Forgive me if this is old news
The San Pedro Film Society in association with Rocket Fuel Films is proud to announcethe premiere of WE JAM ECONO - THE STORY OFTHE MINUTEMEN at 8PM on Friday, February 25,2005 at San Pedro’s historic Warner GrandTheatre. Minutemen Mike Watt and GeorgeHurley along with Director Tim Irwin andProducer Keith Schieron will sit for aquestion and answer session with the audienceafter the screening.
WE JAM ECONO - THE STORY OF THE MINUTEMEN isa feature length documentary chronicling thisground breaking, early 80’s punk rock bandfrom their humble beginnings in the harbortown of San Pedro, CA to their untimelydemise when lead singer and guitarist D. Boonwas killed in a van accident in December of 1985.
Told by those who were there, WE JAM ECONO -THE STORY OF THE MINUTEMEN weaves together footage from over fifty newly shot interviewswith archival interviews and live performancesto capture the dynamic energy anddo-it-yourself spirit of these punk rockpioneers. Newly shot interviews include Minutemen Mike Watt and George Hurley as well as Bill Morgan, Brendan Mullen, Brother Dale, Brother Matt, Byron Coley, Carla Bozulich,Carlos Guitarlos, Chris Morris, Colin Newman,Dave Markey, David Rees, Dez Cadena, Ed Crawford, Flea, Greg Ginn, Henry Rollins, IanMackaye, J Mascis, Jack Brewer, Jean Watt,Jello Biafra, Joe Baiza, Joe Carducci, John Doe, John Talley-jones, Keith Morris, Kevin Barrett, Kira Roessler, Kjehl Johansen, Kurt Schellenbach, Lisa Roeland, Martin Lyon,Michel C. Ford, Mike Martt, Milo Auckerman, Nannette Roeland, Nels Cline, Pat Hoed, RandyJahnson, Ray Farrell, Raymond Pettibon, Richard Bonney, Richard Derrick, RichardHell, Richard Meltzer, Bobby Holtzman, ScottBecker, Thurston Moore, Tom Watson, TonyPlaton and Vince Meghrouni.
All of the details are here. Suffice it to say that I’m eagerly looking forward to this DVD release (don’t think I’m going to make it in person). I could try and write about the band but I doubt I could convey their importance both globally and personally. Anyhow, I’m in the mood for some ‘propaganda songs’. Here are a couple of ‘off the cuff’ favorites:
Minutemen - Little Man with a Gun in His Hand.mp3
I wore out my tape of My First Bells primarily from rewinding to listen to this track. From 1983’s What Makes a Man Start Fires 12″
Minutemen - Tour-spiel.mp3
the live version from 1986’s Ballot Result LP. I had to include a song with ‘We Jam Econo’, and this version has some nice thud to it.
Minutemen - Bermuda.mp3
another live one from Ballot Result. Watt takes on Roky Erickson (and wins)
Minutemen - History Lesson Part II.mp3
The song that says it all. ‘Our Band Could Be Your Life’ - Boon and Watt always had the right turn of phrase, penning lyrics that still stick in my skull 15-20 years after first listen.
Stuff:
8 Comments so far
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Make it second to last… can’t wait!!!
Hmm. I would offer an alternate view. The Minutemen were not that important globally, and offered a more reflective moment of the SST era in the Southern California punk scene *for their time*. It’s important to remember that post-punk strains were parented out of England with PIL, Gang Of Four and the Rough Trade scene a full 6 years before the highpoint of this band. No doubt they had some talent that put them into a separate group from the rest of LA during this time (later Circle Jerks, TSOL, Suicidal Tendancies, Dream Syndicate, blah blah blah), but I think it safer to consider them apocraphal.
It is perhgaps inevitable that, as the second wave punks age, they seek to codify their elder statesman status with documentaries of their difficult times. Better for Mike Watt that his post-MM history is more interesting.
I disagree with the poster who makes the big deal out of the UK groups beating the Minutemen to the post-punk stuff. Firstly, the bands mentioned do not predate Minutemen by 6 years, but only by a couple of years. But more importantly, the Minutemen brought something different to table that is an American approach (as did the Meat Puppets) that mean their records couldn’t have been made by the British bands.
I’m only a recent convert to the band (although SVC did me a cassette of them many years ago it snapped after a few plays) so I don’t have any nostalgic drum to beat for them. But you have to say echoes of their music is in the sound of many of the better 1990’s US guitar bands.
BTW Eric have you read the “Our Band Could Be Your Life” book?
Declan… I have read “Our Band”, it’s fascinating and highly recommended to all. With the exception of the Beat Happening I’m a big fan of all the bands covered in the book.
I agree with you, and disagree with Anon on the Minutemen. When I mentioned global I was talking the state of US underground music in the mid -80’s, nothing in a geographic sense. The Minutemen had a unique sound and spirit which is what makes them special (to me at least). Who knows where they would have gone had D Boon not been lost. The musical progression of their albums hints at something different and unique (ala the Meat Puppets)
Thanks for the discussion!
I also disagree that they had no impact globally - maybe bands didn’t copy them directly soundwise but people in Europe really love them still (along with the other early SST greats Husker Du, Meat Puppets, Black Flag, etc). And this is writing from the UK.
Just one example Dutch hardcore heroes: Seein Red had a song about and dedicated to D. Boon.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Two pickles on a pine.
Nothing really came out of San Pedro that was nationally renowned. Yeah, Charles Bukowsky moved here to die. A few decades back, Sinclair Lewis gave a speech in an I.W.W rally and got busted for reading the U.S. constitution. We some minor league baseball player live here, I forget his name. People are really sentimental about this small harbor. Its a place you can live in seclusion and nobody knows your name unless you want them to. Just dont go below Bandini Street. Thats where the baggy pant gang bangers hang loose and you might get in the cross fire. All the middle class white folk live on the top of the hill. The only thing that happens in Pedro is the Christmas boat parade every winter. Oh, they just put blue lights on the Vincent Thomas Bridge. This is kind of cool! The only thing that ever came out of Pedro was The Minutemen.
There is this art deco theater in downtown Pedro called the Warner. It opened up in193
i just read that 1500 people crammed in to the premier too!