Another State of Mind

You need to get the 20th anniversary edition and watch it with the commentary it is a lot better than the regular versison

Probably the best documentary on punk rock that I have personally seen. "The Decline of Western Civilization" is more entertaining and has better music in it, but this feels more authenticate and deals with some interesting realities that that film does not confront. The setup is a North American tour set up by Youth Brigade for themselves and Social Distortion. It's a real D.I.Y. effort with Youth Brigade buying an old school bus and putting up the money and making the arrangements. A lot of the youthful idealism of punk rock is faithfully captured ... the shows are all "all ages" shows, the bands stay in communal houses in cities they visit, and nobody is in it for the money ... or at least they don't think they are. The movie also captures what happens when youthful idealism runs full steam into real life. The bus breaks down, they don't get paid for shows, and pretty soon nobody is getting paid anything, and band members and roadies start deserting the tour. The tour is essentially called off in DC where the bus fails completely and Social Distortion jump ship. Fascinating stuff from an "early days of punk rock" perspective (especially for Canadians since the tour goes through Canada first ... Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal are highlighted), but interesting even for those not interested in punk per se.

Along with "Decline of Western Civilization," and (now) "American Hardcore," this is crucial viewing about early US DIY punk. What's weird is that neither Social Distortion's nor Youth Brigade's music has aged very well (Social Distortion being better known for their 1990s roots-punk), and Minor Threat, who are barely in the film, have become the definitive band of this scene. Nonetheless, the live footage of Social Distortion is interesting, because Mike Ness is so corny, and how inept the rest of the band is--he is just begging to be surrounded by ringers. Youth Brigade come across a bit better, slightly more tough, definitely more dedicated and principled: more suburban, but also less self-absorbed. The direction and production is not much to speak of, and the film is not edited for drama the way it would be now, rather telling a very simple story of things falling apart on tour. There are a dozen or so classic moments, the music is OK, and you get to see Mike Ness "get out and push" a bus.

I saw this movie tonight for the first time since 1985, when I caught it on Night Flight. Seeing it 28 years later, I was amazed how much of it I was still able to recall, but more than that, how much the perception of Punk has changed since the 80's. Having a shaved head or pink hair does not raise an eyebrow today, you even see kids with those kind of hair styles, tattoos and body modifications, who aren't into punk, or aware of where those styles originated from. A number of times in the Movie, you have various punks mention how people harass them for their appearance, and it was so true, back then it took a lot of guts to walk around like that. This movie brought back a lot of memories of being a teenage punk, how it was almost like belonging to a secret society that most people had no idea existed. I also like how un-PC punks were back then, unlike today's army of whiners. I wonder what became of some of the people in the Film? Like Marcel or that gorgeous death rocker Valerie ? In all it's a very interesting time capsule of a time that will always be dear to me.

I've basically watched this movie about once a year for the last 8 years or so. (Although calling it a "movie" isn't really correct...it's a documentary)

It follows around Social Distortion and Youth Brigade on tour..basically. That's the best way to put it. And at times it cuts off and shows us these kids who go to punk rock shows, and live in the street, all that stuff...that stuff gets sort of boring, but everything with the bands is funny or just good to watch.

Oh yeah, and we see some of Minor Threat in this movie, when they stay at their place...

Just check it out.