Music Documentaries

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Here's a couple of documentaries from a few years back on Northern Soul focused on how obscure soul music from America's industrial heartland spawned a lifestyle in England's industrial midlands. The first is a 2013 BBC documentary which borrows from the second documentary about Wigan Casino which, until its demolition, was the heart of Northern Soul.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

New "Zappa" documentary.


Zappa on Steve Allen show in 1963:

 

[tikited]

New "Zappa" documentary.


Zappa on Steve Allen show in 1963:

I'm psyched for that documentary! Thanks.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

"Zappa" reminded me of this 1997 BBC documentary on Zappa's high school buddy Captain Beefheart.

On Youtube it's in 6 segments.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

On Hulu, I watched a documentary about Robbie Robertson - former lead guitar player in The Band.

Called "Once We Were Brothers." If you are a fan of The Band, definitely worth watching.

Lot of interesting stuff about Robertson's background and his early years in music. Dude was playing guitar professionally and writing songs at 15. Ronnie Hawkins recorded two songs that Robertson wrote as a 15-year-old! Hawkins is in the doc - one of the all-time great characters in music.

Most of the doc covers the history of The Band, from the early years to the Last Waltz, and goes into some of the issues that resulted in the group breaking up. Drugs and booze were apparently major factors, and a number of cars wound up getting wrecked.

Some interesting stuff on their time backing up Bob Dylan when Dylan went electric

To be sure - this is told from Robertson's point of view. I know Levon Helm saw things very differently.

There was a good Levon Helm doc on Netflix called "Ain't in it for my Health" that covered Levon's final years when he was still playing shows and doing his Midnight Rambles while battling serious health issues.

 

[WilliamsArenaGuy]

The Go-Go's documentary is outstanding. I think it was on HBO

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

The Go-Go's documentary is outstanding. I think it was on HBO

I actually watched that also. Surprised myself. We really enjoyed it! And I was no Go-Go's fan! It was definitely solid

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Coming sometime in 2021:

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Minnesota Hardcore

www.tptoriginals.org

Minnesota Hardcore

is a fast-paced, musical docu-series that examines the punk scene in the Twin Cities from 1980 to 1985. The Minnesota scene was a close-knit community of artists and fans that encouraged culture and spawned huge talents like Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Rifle Sport and more. Minnesota Hardcore is made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

'Minnesota Hardcore': A Q&A with producer who chronicles the Twin Cities' '70s-'80s punk scene - MinnPost

David Roth: "I didn't want to punch home a thought, like 'This is what this meant,' but if you get enough people talking about it, you get the understanding of how exciting and energizing it was."

www.minnpost.com

‘Minnesota Hardcore’: A Q&A with producer who chronicles the Twin Cities’ ’70s-’80s punk scene
David Roth: “I didn’t want to punch home a thought, like ‘This is what this meant,’ but if you get enough people talking about it, you get the understanding of how exciting and energizing it was.”
By Jim Walsh | MinnPost contributing writer

“Minnesota Hardcore” promotional graphic.
Courtesy of Twin Cities Public Television; photo by Nancy Jane Nicolai

 

[tikited]

Coming sometime in 2021:

Can't wait.

 

[tikited]

Minnesota Hardcore

www.tptoriginals.org

'Minnesota Hardcore': A Q&A with producer who chronicles the Twin Cities' '70s-'80s punk scene - MinnPost

David Roth: "I didn't want to punch home a thought, like 'This is what this meant,' but if you get enough people talking about it, you get the understanding of how exciting and energizing it was."

www.minnpost.com

‘Minnesota Hardcore’: A Q&A with producer who chronicles the Twin Cities’ ’70s-’80s punk scene
David Roth: “I didn’t want to punch home a thought, like ‘This is what this meant,’ but if you get enough people talking about it, you get the understanding of how exciting and energizing it was.”
By Jim Walsh | MinnPost contributing writer

“Minnesota Hardcore” promotional graphic.
Courtesy of Twin Cities Public Television; photo by Nancy Jane Nicolai

Hey, thanks for posting this. I heard something about it a while back and then promptly forgot.

 

[tikited]

The 'Rolling Stone' mini-series/doc on AXS TV is pretty good so far if anyone is interested. Episode two has a lot of great Hunter S. Thompson stuff. I think it was originally shown on Prime a few years ago, but I have been watching it on AXS the last few weeks.

'Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge' Docuseries Headed to AXS TV

AXS TV has acquired the 2017 docuseries, 'Rolling Stone: Stories From the Edge,' where it will air in January.

www.rollingstone.com

 

[Bad Gopher]

I posted this over in the regular documentary/film thread, too:

Waaaay late to the party here, but just now watching Ken Burns' "Country Music." It might be the best film of any genre ever made. Or maybe I'm just a hick. Or maybe it's really a/the history of the United States in the 20th century.

 

[tikited]

I posted this over in the regular documentary/film thread, too:

Waaaay late to the party here, but just now watching Ken Burns' "Country Music." It might be the best film of any genre ever made. Or maybe I'm just a hick. Or maybe it's really a/the history of the United States in the 20th century.

Where did you find it? I forgot to record it on PBS at the time.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Where did you find it? I forgot to record it on PBS at the time.

At this point you either have to buy the DVD set or be a contribuing member at the $60 level or above. If the latter, you can access it on TPT Passport.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

I like The Pogues but don't know much about their backstory. This looks like it could be good. Comes out in December.

This is on my list. I would prefer to watch it with a few friends once that is possible.

 

[WorkingMyTailOff]

Minnesota Hardcore

www.tptoriginals.org

'Minnesota Hardcore': A Q&A with producer who chronicles the Twin Cities' '70s-'80s punk scene - MinnPost

David Roth: "I didn't want to punch home a thought, like 'This is what this meant,' but if you get enough people talking about it, you get the understanding of how exciting and energizing it was."

www.minnpost.com

‘Minnesota Hardcore’: A Q&A with producer who chronicles the Twin Cities’ ’70s-’80s punk scene
David Roth: “I didn’t want to punch home a thought, like ‘This is what this meant,’ but if you get enough people talking about it, you get the understanding of how exciting and energizing it was.”
By Jim Walsh | MinnPost contributing writer

“Minnesota Hardcore” promotional graphic.
Courtesy of Twin Cities Public Television; photo by Nancy Jane Nicolai

This was amazing! I moved to Mpls in 1990 and so this scene was pretty much played out but was a huge fan in high school of some of the bigger bands. This was put together and edited well and very fun.

 

[Go4Broke]

Speaking of the Grateful Dead, there's also this documentary about Bob Weir. It covers the Dead's creation (his meeting Jerry Garcia when Weir was 16) and many subsequent strange encounters (for instance: meeting Neal Cassady while Cassady was driving the Merry Pranksters bus).

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Not exactly a muffled drop; but it is a solid doc.

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

The CNN doc on Linda Ronstadt was very good.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

1992 documentary

 

[Frink]

1992 documentary

Ooooh, time to thrown in Roger the Engineer.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

I enjoyed this Netflix series-especially the episodes "Hail Britpop! and "Stockholm Syndrome".

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Here's a trailer for a 2013 documentary on Mike Bloomfield (I haven't seen the doc.)




Here's a different Bloomfield documentary:

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

The Charlie Watts discussion reminds one of this terrific (terrifying?) documentary on Ginger Baker.

 

[stocker08]

The Charlie Watts discussion reminds one of this terrific (terrifying?) documentary on Ginger Baker.

Excellent doc.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

 

[Ope3]

I saw Freakscene in the theater last week. I think fans of Dinosaur Jr will enjoy the film. If not already fan, then probably not.

The most interesting thing I found about it, for how hostile the break-up was in the 90s, just how nonchalant the reunion and subsequent run over the past 15 years has been. Just, hey...no big deal. That happened. They all appear to own whatever roles they had, and are just fine now.

Gordon, Moore, Rollins & Mould provide nice context. Frank Black is in there for a moment too, and I'll just say his perspective is rather unique.

Can't wait to see them this fall at First Ave.

 

[tikited]

I saw Freakscene in the theater last week. I think fans of Dinosaur Jr will enjoy the film. If not already fan, then probably not.

The most interesting thing I found about it, for how hostile the break-up was in the 90s, just how nonchalant the reunion and subsequent run over the past 15 years has been. Just, hey...no big deal. That happened. They all appear to own whatever roles they had, and are just fine now.

Gordon, Moore, Rollins & Mould provide nice context. Frank Black is in there for a moment too, and I'll just say his perspective is rather unique.

Can't wait to see them this fall at First Ave.

I rented it the other day. Was hoping for more live footage from the 90's but still a fun watch. See you at First Ave..

 

[Ope3]

I rented it the other day. Was hoping for more live footage from the 90's but still a fun watch. See you at First Ave..

Yeah, tons of clips but no full songs. Feels like they should have included at least 2 or 3.