Rock and a Hard Place: Another Night at the Agora

Everyone recalls the 1980's Miami scene. Sex, drugs and rock n' roll! But what ever happened to the Miami sound of rock n' roll? This surprisingly well-done documentary, woven around a one-night benefit reunion concert, exposes us to the largely forgotten Miami rock scene and a talented group of bands that should have but didn't. The bands are largely forgotten-The Romantics, the Z-Cars, Tight Squeeze, The Cichlids, Critical Mass, Slyder, Charlie Pickett and The Kids-but many say they all had the chops to make it. Blame it on geography, ignorance or just bad timing. Aaron Wells and Diane Jacques give us the background, the music, the people and the stories. Well done!

My wife and I watched the world premiere at the 2008 Palm Beach International Film Festival. It's well paced & nicely told story that sheds light onto the rock music scene in south Florida from the late 1970's through the mid 1980's (I didn't even know there was one - lol) - which ultimately failed due to several factors (including location, overshadowed by Disco, change in the drinking age). Live performances, interviews, and vintage video are combined to create an entertaining rockumentary. I found it interesting that one person from that music scene who broke out & made it really big on an international scale - Johnny Depp (who played with a band called The Kids) - did so in in a different industry. Another recognizable name in the documentary was lead guitarist Coz Canler of The Romantics fame - again, I had no idea there was a south Florida connection. The film ultimately ends on an upbeat note (no pun intended) & the filmmakers received a well-deserved standing ovation from a sold-out crowd in a large (400 seat) theater.

This is a very well done, expertly made celebration of a lost era in rock and roll history. This is one "long-awaited" documentary that was well worth the wait. Has a lot of information packed into it, but not boring by any means. Interviews and concert mix together well. Johnny Depp on guitar is a welcome bonus. Who knew? Not me! Have we become too accustomed to the over-hyped & overproduced noise that is palmed off on us as rock music these days to truly appreciate its raw & imperfect - and often superior - roots? Rock And A Hard Place: Another Night At The Agora is proof positive that it's well worth the look and listen! What good music used to sound like... And what it needs to sound like again.