Rock Docs

Latest Episodes:

Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.", a 2020 doc about the legendary indie rock power trio, directed by Philipp Reichenheim.

Early in the movie, Dinosaur Jr.'s singer and guitarist says, "I don't know where people got this idea that it's supposed to be fun to play music." Their music is fun to listen to and their shows are a blast, but for a long time these guys took the whole thing very very seriously, and the strain that attitude put on their relationships is a focus of the film.

There's a lot of lot of great music, excellent live footage, and some good talking heads (including a very weird and funny bit from the Pixies' Frank Black). What more do you want? To have fun??

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Scott Walker: 30 Century Man with Zara Hedderman Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Scott Walker: 30 Century Man", from 2006, directed by Stephen Kijak.

Our guest today is Zara Hedderman, who listens to albums & writes (mostly) & talks (sometimes) about them in The Quietus, Aquarium Drunkard, Northern Transmissions, RTÉ Arena, and The IMRO Podcast.

The movie is about Scott Walker, who evolved from a 50s & 60s teen idol to an enigmatic avant-garde icon whose music pushed the boundaries of space, time, and sanity. For years, nobody knew much about him. Then this documentary came out and revealed that he was actually kind of a chill dude.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

The Decline of Western Civilization with Ian Grant Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "The Decline of Western Civilization", from 1981, directed by Penelope Spheeris.

Our guest today is Ian Grant of the Jokermen podcast and media empire. This is Ian's second Rock Docs appearance, having previously joined us to discuss "Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow" with his fellow Jokerman Evan Laffer.

The Decline of Western Civilization is a snapshot of the early days of the LA punk scene featuring legends such as X, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Germs, and Fear, as well as some less-known scene personalities.

X rules, check out our episode about "X: The Unheard Music" with Juliana Hatfield.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Steven Hyden Returns! Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is a rare one where the subject is not a specific documentary (although there is some rock doc talk). We're joined by returning guest Steven Hyden to discuss his new book "There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." and the End of the Heartland" and all things Bruce.

Steven previously joined us to review "Pearl Jam Twenty".

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Let It Be with Jeremy Kaplan of Dogs in a Pile Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Let It Be", from 1970 and 2024, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Our guest today is Jeremy Kaplan of the band Dogs in a Pile.

A restored version of the original Let It Be movie has shown up on Disney+. We talk about it. It's the Beatles, you know the story. How does this movie fit into the great context of the Get Back experience? Which version of the rooftop concert is better? And what's up with that very weird dialogue between Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsay-Hogg before the movie starts?

Plus: Evan Laffer of Jokermen provides us with his very brief review of The Beach Boys documentary, also on Disney+.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Joan Baez I Am A Noise with Allison Rapp May 21, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Joan Baez I Am A Noise", from 2023, directed by Miri Navasky, Karen O'Connor, and Maeve O'Boyle.

Our guest today is Allison Rapp, a music writer and the host of the brand-new podcast all about Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Podcast. Check it out!

Joan Baez I Am A Noise covers the life of the folk music legend from her early days as the middle daughter of a globetrotting academic to her rocket to stardom as a late teenager, through her involvement with various activist movements (about which she says "I was addicted to activism"), her fraught relationship with Bob Dylan, up to her farewell tour in 2019. With a brief stop in the 80's when she attempts to cover Tears for Fears' "Shout". Joan is exactly as thoughtful and insightful as you'd expect her to be. The movie features great footage, riveting music, and, of course, some very funky dancing.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon with Dan Jasper May 07, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon", from 2024, directed by Alex Gibley. It's on MGM+, a streaming service the everybody definitely subscribes to.

Our guest today is Dan Jasper, who previously joined us to discuss the Rolling Stones documentary "Crossfire Hurricane".

In Restless Dreams is a two-part, three+ hour comprehensive look at the career of Paul Simon, if "comprehensive" means you go up to 1990 and then skip to about 2022. That's right, if you wanted to spend a lot of time watching Paul grumpily work on his 2023 banger "Seven Psalms", this is the doc for you.

There is, however, a whole lot of great music featured from the early and middle parts of Paul's career, as well as some killer performances. And a bunch of Lorne Michaels.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Monks: The Translatlantic Feedback with Evan Laffer Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Monks: The Transatlantic Feedback", from 2006, directed by Dietmar Post and Lucia Palacios.

Our guest today is Evan Laffer of the Jokermen podcast and media empire. This is Evan's second Rock Docs appearance, having previously joined us to discuss "Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow" with his fellow Jokerman Ian Grant.

The movie is about the pioneering art-rock band The Monks, who were comprised of five Americans who met while serving in the U.S. Army in Germany in the early 1960s. They formed a beat group called The Torquays and then connected with some mysterious German businessmen who convinced them to fully reform their sound and dress like monks, including the "Friar Tuck" style hairdo, shaved on the top. They were to be Monks at all times, to always be sexy, and avoid being Torquays.

The Monks' music and ethos was unlike any band at the time, and nobody has come close to copying them. The film sometimes raises more questions than it answers, but that's appropriate for a band that is steeped in mystery.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten with Elizabeth Nelson of The Paranoid Style Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten", from 2007, directed by Julien Temple.

Our guest today is Elizabeth Nelson of the band The Paranoid Style. Check out their outstanding new album The Interrogator: https://theparanoidstyle.bandcamp.com/album/the-interrogator

Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten is more of a wake for the then-recently departed punk rock legend than a by-the-books rock doc. Many of Joe's family, friends, musical compatriots, actor and director pals, and other partners in crime gather around various campfires to tell Strummer stories. The movie does go through his biography in a more or less linear fashion, but it's not an "everything you ever wanted to know about The Clash" kind of doc. You come away from the movie feeling like you know Joe Strummer, but that he was also unknowable even to those closest to him.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)? with Galen Howard Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is about "Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)?", from 2010, directed by John Scheinfeld.

Our guest today is Galen Howard, star of stage and screen. Check out his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/galenhoward/?hl=en

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)? takes us through the life of the unlikely, self-destructive pop genius. Harry rose from a troubled childhood to become the Beatles' favorite musician. Many of the famous talking heads in the film survived partying through the 70s. Harry's lifestyle eventually caught up with him. The film celebrates his legacy and is full of hair-raising stories and fantastic music.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod Instagram: @RockDocsPod Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

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