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

User Rating:

7.6/10   

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 Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo. (1966)

Soundtrack:

Paranoid Chant

this is bob Dylan to me

I just attended the premier for this last night at San Pedro's historic Warner Grand Theatre, and man - what a beautiful film. I know that "time sensitive references" are not smiled upon by our IMDb benefactors, but I believe that in this case it is entirely appropriate to put the film in context in this way. A documentary is, by definition, a time sensitive thing - and this one intentionally so as it's release marks the twenty year anniversary of D. Boon's passing. What I experienced last night at the premier is, I think, an integral part of what this film is all about: celebrating the life, and mourning the loss of this tremendous artist.

I first heard the Minutemen in 1985, just months before D. Boon's tragic and untimely death, and so for me, as well as for so many others younger than myself, my love affair with this band has been one of grieving from the very beginning - a grieving which, for Angelenos like myself, is a deeply personal and palpable thing, and one from which it seems we have never fully recovered. ---Until last night. The opening of this movie was like the memorial service for D. Boon that most of us never had. All of LA's punk rock luminaries were in attendance (and in the film!), along with as many of her fans and enthusiasts as the theater could hold, and the feeling was one of - at last - a proper, collective acknowledgment of the contribution made by the Minutemen to punk rock, to DIY, to music period, to each of us; an exhale, if you will, followed by a whoot and a raised fist. The audience cheered and hollered as each of their friends and idols graced the screen to share the myriad ways in which this band touched and transformed their lives, booed at the villains, wept openly at the final goodbye's to D... and this is, I think, what this movie ultimately is: finally, after twenty years, a "time sensitive reference" of the greatness and importance of this band - something which everyone over here knows down in their soul, but which now can be shared with the rest of world with the same level of intimacy - in Mike Watt's own words as he drive's his van around Pedro, in the amazing and extensive live footage of the band, in the very spirit of celebration with which the film was made.

So, see this movie, buy a copy, share it with your friends - then go form a band, make a record, make a movie, start your own label or production company or zine ---or just go drink and pogo!

RIP, D. We love and miss you.