- Red Bull’s inaugural Music Festival Los Angeles Film Program – Center Channel – is taking place this month at the Ukrainian Culture Center in Hollywood. What better place, with its history of punk rock shows and melees? I myself have seen Black Flag, the Minutemen, and Unit 3 with Venus, and been involved in at least one good LAPD-sponsored riot there.
The film festival is taking place all month, and kicked off things with a series of punk documentaries, including Dave Markey’s Slog Movie on February 8, 2019. But tomorrow is the day we have been looking forward to. “The Decline of Western Civilization” caught some of the earliest live shows in LA, filming The Germs, The Circle Jerks, X, the Alice Bag Band, and Black Flag. Interspersed with short interviews with band members as well as anarchistic, nihilistic and intentionally provocative young punks, it became the definitive punk rock documentary for an entire generation. Penelope Spheeris and other special guests will be participating in a Q & A before the screening. Doors open 6.00pm. $15 Tickets! Getcher tickets!
At 9:30 PM, Dave Markey (director of 1991: The Year the Punk Broke) will present the first of his two “Lovedolls” films. I also see the film as the third in an unofficial series of cautionary tales about women and stardom, starting with the mainstream but campy “The Valley of the Dolls” to Russ Meyer’s cult hit, “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls” and finally coming home with Markey’s 1980s punk rock classic. Watch Bunny (Hilary Rubens), Kitty (Jennifer Schwartz), and Patch (Janet Housden) try to make their rock dreams a reality as they negotiate their way through the Hollywood gauntlet of sexual predators, drugs and murder. Featuring intense and often hilarious performances from Tracy Lea, Jeff and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross and Jordan Schwartz and the music of Black Flag, The Nip Drivers and Redd Kross. Appearing with Dave Markey will be two of the Lovedolls: Jennifer Schwartz and Janet Housden. $10 Tickets!!!!
