We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen (2005)

Director:

Tim Irwin

Genre:

Documentary | History | Music

Plot:

A feature-length documentary chronicling early 80's punk rock band the Minutemen, from their beginnings in San Pedro, California, to their demise after the death of singer D. Boon in 1985.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | San Pedro California | Concert | Punk | Punk Rock Band

Cast

Milo Auckerman	...	Himself
Joe Baiza	...	Himself - Saccharine Trust
Kevin Barrett	...	Himself - Urinals / 100 Flowers
Scott Becker	...	Himself - Option Magazine
Jello Biafra	...	Himself
Richard Bonney	...	Himself
D. Boon	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jack Brewer	...	Himself - Saccharine Trust
Dez Cadena	...	Himself
Joe Carducci	...	Himself - SST Records
Nels Cline	...	Himself - Guitarist
Byron Coley	...	Himself - Archivist
Ed Crawford	...	Himself - Firehose
Brother Dale	...	Himself
Richard Derrick	...	Himself - Musician / Former Roommate
John Doe	...	Himself
Chuck Dukowski	...	Himself
Ray Farrel	...	Himself - SST Records
Flea	...	Himself
Michael C. Ford	...	Himself - Poet / Playwright
Greg Ginn	...	Himself
Carlos Guitarlos	...	Himself - Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs
Grant Hart	...	Himself - Hüsker Dü
Richard Hell	...	Himself
Pat Hoed	...	Himself - Adam Bomb / KXLU
Robert Holzman	...	Himself - Saccharine Trust / Slovenly
George Hurley	...	Himself (also archive footage)
Randall Jahnson	...	Himself - Video Director
Kjehl Johansen	...	Himself - Urinals / 100 Flowers
Curt Kirkwood	...	Himself - Meat Puppets
Martin Lyon	...	Himself - Friend / Photographer
Ian MacKaye	...	Himself
David Markey	...	Himself (as Dave Markey)
Mike Martt	...	Himself - Tex & the Horseheads
J. Mascis	...	Himself - Dinosaur Jr.
Brother Matt	...	Himself - The Watt from Pedro Show
Steve McClellan	...	Himself - General Manager
Vince Meghrouni	...	Himself
Richard Melzer	...	Himself - Writer
Thurston Moore	...	Himself
W.T. Morgan	...	Himself
Chris Morris	...	Himself - The Hollywood Reporter
Keith Morris	...	Himself
Brendan Mullen	...	Himself - Author / D.J.
Colin Newman	...	Himself - Wire
Greg Norton	...	Himself - Hüsker Dü
Raymond Pettibon	...	Himself - Artist
Tony Playton	...	Himself - Friend
Lee Ranaldo	...	Himself - Sonic Youth
David Rees	...	Himself - Get Your War On
Lisa Roeland	...	Herself - Friend
Nanette Roeland	...	Herself - Friend
Kira Roessler	...	Herself
Henry Rollins	...	Himself
Kurt Schellenbach	...	Himself - Nip Drivers
Spot	...	Himself - Producer
John Talley-Jones	...	Himself - Urinals / 100 Flowers
Tom Watson	...	Himself - Slovenly
Jean Watt	...	Herself - Mike Watt's Mom
Mike Watt	...	Himself (also archive footage)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Filming Locations:

San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Rocket Fuel Films

Movie Connections:

References Out of the Blue (1980)

Soundtrack:

Swing to the Right

Has there ever been a better band documentary?

Although a lot of the footage is of poor quality, the way the movie is edited taps into the enthusiasm the band garnered during it's live performances. After a screening at the Rice University Media Center in Houston, several attendees mentioned the urge they felt to get up and applaud 20yr old concert footage. The filmmakers did an excellent job of breaking up current interviews with footage they shoot throughout the band's early years. Surviving members of the band and other music contemporaries reminisce about why the Minutemen stood out and were so important. These ideas are then highlighted by concert footage or an archived interview with the band shortly before the death of D. Boon. For example, seeing Mike Watt today talk about growing up in San Pedro and the aggravations of trying to start a band in a small town is accentuated with comments he makes twenty years prior as the band is starting to taste national exposure. Whether you are a fan of the Minuteman, or alternative rock in general, shouldn't matter in choosing this film. The story resonates around the childhood friendship between D. Boon and Mike Watt and how it produced a sound that was one of the most creative in the history of rock n' roll. Imagine a twenty-year class reunion but only the people you liked are going to attend. That's the feeling I walked away with.