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Friday, September 29th, 2006
AMERICAN HARDCORE
Review by “Smitty”
American Hardcore is an engaging and thoughtful documentary celebrating the rise and (alleged) fall of a particularly American (and Canadian) style of punk rock in the 1980’s.
Director Paul Rachman presents vivid and arresting footage of scene luminaries from the well-known, Circle Jerks, Bad Brains, Black Flag, to the more obscure, SS Decontrol, Articles of Faith, Negative Approach and more.
Based on the Feral House book of the same name by Stephen Blush, American Hardcore is a fascinating look at a marginalized subculture defined by radical social thought and politics, yet uniquely American values of fair play, self-reliance and individualism. Throw in some rapid fire guitar & drums, a whole bunch of testosterone and the looming threat or Armageddon and you have hardcore: an All-American invention that changed the face of modern music.
While it’s too easy (but tempting) to question some of the editorial choices, from which bands were featured (or not featured) to a complete glossing over of the subject of skinheads and mainstream perceptions of punk, the overall film does a great job of capturing the energy and the heart of the time, the overwhelming feeling of being part of something important and organic.
The interviewees, from Henry Rollins (S.O.A., Black Flag, Rollins Band) to Ian MacKaye (Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Fugazi), Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) to Vinnie Stigma (Agnostic Front) and Jimmy Gestapo (Murphy’s Law), share a love for first wave hardcore that is apparent as they wax nostalgic about old shows, friends and fights.
The archival footage, much of it shot by Paul during his college years in Boston, is the real star of the movie. It includes never-before-seen clips of SSD, Bad Brains and the infamous final Negative FX show with Mission of Burma.
The legacy of this colorful and controversial movement is lamented by its founders as a hollow shell, a cynical marketing ploy picking at the bones of a dead scene.
For younger folks out there who are fans of bands like My Chemical Romance or Atreyu, or any of the “post, “alt” and “core” genres, as well as anyone who ever felt like they didn’t fit in, American Hardcore is a compelling look at a group of kids who stood up for themselves and fought for change.
Smitty is a Boston-bred writer and manager of punk and hardcore music video site BlankTV.com.
Written by Karie (site owner) on 09/29 at 10:51 PM Post the First Comment!
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