The Chicago Punk Seen.

You Weren't There: A History of Chicago punk.

 Directed by Joe Losurdo and Christina Tillman, this 2007 movie is based on the Chicago punk seen. Set between the years 1977–1984, we get a good look at some pretty talented musicians; in a way more so than most cities. The problem with these bands getting any notoriety is that Chicago is a small city and doesn't have the clout that New York City nor Los Angeles has. 

 The movie/documentary dives into talented bands like "The Effigies", "Naked Raygun" and "Big Black". Many music critics at the time felt that "Articles of Faith" was maybe one of the best punk bands in America. Where many punk bands got along in other cities, Chicago was different. Many bands disliked each other; many bands fought among themselves, even when onstage. 

 The story of punk begins at a gay nightclub named La Mere Vipere. A punk enthusiast went to the club and asked if they could play punk on Sunday's there. The rest was history as the club became packed every Sunday, even more so than the other six nights when the club played various genres of music. 

 With the popularity of the Sunday nights at Vipere, punk producers tried desperately to secure more clubs. The problem with Chicago's nightclub seen was that unlike New York's lower East Side, Chicago did not have dystopian areas like that. Punk producers had to secure nights at various gay clubs to get the music heard. As more bands started to surface, abandoned warehouses had to be rented to accommodate the new movement.

 The documentary also makes it clear that Chicago residents, a more Midwest conservative society by-in-large, did not like punk, nor want punk. Many punk enthusiasts were mocked, beaten and ridiculed. Labeled as "Devos" (a deconstructionist band), the punks were outcasts in the city. 

 Throughout the two hours we get interviews and insights from: Steve Albini, Vic Bondi, Jeff Pezzati,John Kezdy, Santiago Durango, Terry Fox, Lorna Donley and many more. The vast majority of the people interviewed really pointed out the Chicago punk seen. Like the many punk documentaries that I watched, this one too was a learning experience. 

 The documentary shows how some bands were hacks, however, it showed some really talented musicians as well as bands. Even though Chicago bands never received the record contracts like New York City, or the tour offers, some of these people could flat out play!The documentary shows how some bands were hacks, however, it showed some really talented musicians as well as bands. Even though Chicago bands never received the record contracts like New York City, or the tour offers, some of these people could flat out play! The musicians make this documentary different. To hear their thoughts, how some played; how they spoke about other talented musicians was the key to this movie. Where documentaries like CBGB, Sid and Nancy, The Sex Pistols and Max's Kansas City showed more of the clubs; the insights were how innovative the clubs were. Even Sid and Nancy showed more about the various clubs, the drug use rather than the music.

Jeff Pezzati, Vic Bondi and Durango give some of the best thoughts on the punk rock movement in Chicago. Where Albini may have the most knowledge of the movement, he was very disliked by a lot of musicians in the movement. It becomes evident that he just does not have a really great personality and he is probably discounted with his musical thoughts. Yet, his knowledge was very educational. Some of what he said was brilliant, some was not.

While this was not "Salad Days" (the Washington DC movie), it was still enlightening and worth seeing as a documentary of the punk rock seen.

 #No Bull With Raging Robert, Chicago, Punk Rock, The Dead Kennedy's, Vic Bondi, Jeff Pezzati, CBGB.