Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Black Flag – Live in San Francisco, 1984



An Ace video production, so expect excellent sound, multiple cameras, and great editing. The set runs at about an hour and fifteen minutes, and the band just nails song after song. This is a perfect documentation of one of the greatest bands of all time performing at their peak. This is an overall superior show to the Live 1984 DVD that’s in print now.

Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers (CCM) – No Words


An incredible Ace Video production. Perfect sound quality, multiple cameras, great editing, and of course one of the most ferocious bands of all time just KILLING IT for an hour straight in San Francisco, presumably during their tour with BGK. If you thought CCM sounded intense live on the Last White Christmas tape, wait ‘til you see ‘em. This is probably my favorite music video offered.

Crucifix/MDC – Target Video



Two top tier USHC bands captured in their prime by the Target Video crew circa ’84. Expect the signature Target editing and perfect sound quality.

The Decline of Western Civilization


OF COURSE it’s the first one, duh. It’s insane that this isn’t available as a deluxe 2x disc DVD, but until that glorious day comes when this masterpiece gets the legit reissue treatment, you can at least do yourself the service of upgrading the 4th generation boot you’ve had since 6th grade and pick up this version, transferred direct off a legit VHS copy. And if for some reason you haven’t seen this, you’re missing out on some essential (and I don’t use that word lightly) cinema.

DOA –The Warrior


An old DOA set packed with the hits. Multiple cameras, editing, and great sound on this one.

A Factory Video


Cool Factory Records compilation of various Manchester post-punk acts from the scene’s heyday. Great mix of live footage, videos, and I’m assuming whatever the bands felt like contributing. Bands include: Section 25, New Order, A Certain Ratio, Omitd, Cabaret Voltaire, Durutti Column, Kevin Hewick, The Fall, Crispy Ambulance, another New Order song, and Stockholm Monster. If you ever wanted to watch a bunch of bored, somewhat attractive looking, British young adults look vacantly in a camera for 60 minutes, than this is the video for you! I tacked on a later Factory Records vid that’s not very good at the end. Lucky you.  

A Factory Outing + Factory Shorts


A two for one of vintage footage from the seminal Manchester post-punk label. Bands include on Factory Outing (which is, as you might guess, mostly live footage): New Order, James, Stockholm Monsters, 52nd Street, A Certain Ration, Swamp Children, Durutti Column, The Wake, Section 25, Quando Quango; and on Shorts (which is music videos [they would have probably liked you to call them “short films”]): Durutti Column, Stockholm Monsters, The Wake, Cabaret Voltaire, Royal Family, Section 25, Kalamia, Jazz Defektors, Quando Quango, 52nd Street, and of course, New Order. Whew. Whole lotta synths and gloomy melodies going on here.

Flipside Video Fanzine #1


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’83 from: Social Distortion, Vandals, Sin 34, Black Flag, RF7, MDC, Descendents, DI, TSOL, Circle Jerks, Husker Du and Youth Brigade. Pretty much sells itself.

Flipside Video Fanzine #2


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’83 from: White Flag, GBH, 7 Seconds, Battalion of Saints, Minor Threat, Big Boys, Stretch Marks, 100 Flowers, Black Flag, Kraut, Minutemen, Angst, and the Dickies. Quite the lineup, no?

Flipside Video Fanzine #3


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’83 from: Agent Orange, Big Boys, America’s Hardcore, MIA, Subterfuge, Confederate, Darby Crash Band, Suicidal Tendencies, Killroy, Toy Dolls, Mad Parade, Eddie and the Subtitles, Iconoclast, GI Joe, No Trend, The Dickies. Jesus Christ, Iconoclast and AHC!  

Flipside Video Fanzine #4


A departure from their usual format, this one just focuses on GBH live circa ’83 or so. No complaints here.

Flipside Video Fanzine #5


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’84 from: Decry, Heart Attack, Red Cross, UK Subs, Basic Math, Conflict (US), Iconoclast, TSOL, Justice League, Bad Religion, Vagina Dentata, Pariah, Subhumans. Heart Attack are absolutely manic! Such great footage.

Flipside Video Fanzine #6


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’84 from: DOA, Sonic Youth, Target of Deman, Love Canal, PHC, Condemned To Death, Exploited, Toxic Reasons, Stretch Marks, Kraut, Detox and DI.

Flipside Video Fanzine #7


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’84. This is the “viewer submission” edition and is most notable for the CCM and I Refuse It! Footage, and an INCREDIBLE batch of Finnish HC with Lama, Bastard, Riistetyt, Rappio, and Musta Paraati. You also get Stuckas Over Bedrock, Government Issue, Adolescents, Big Boys, Plain Wrap, Armed Citizens (live at CBs, great vintage NYHC footage), 76% Uncertain, Dandelion Abortion, Gay Cowboys in Bondage, and an Alaskan scene report.

Flipside Video Fanzine #8


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’84-‘85 from Doggy Style, Plain Wrap, Circle Jerks, Agression, Asexuals, Entropy, Marginal Man, Detonators, and the most GODLY vintage Agnostic Front live footage and interview (Agnostic Front are from the streets, not the Jacuzzis of California!) you’ll ever see.

Flipside Video Fanzine #10


Featuring various footage (interview, live, rehearsal, etc.) circa ’85 from Government Issue, Radwaste, COC, Razerbrae, 7 Seconds, Sin 34, Necros, Frightwig, Big Stick and The Grim.

JFA – Live at CBGB’s


Legit Placebo Records live vid of…Well, JFA live at CBGB’s

The Misfits – Three Shows (’82-’83)


Well, you should know what to expect with Misfits footage, and alas, this is the raw stuff. You get three shows, though (Santa Barbara, Pennsylvania and Detroit), and the Detroit one is pretty happenin,’ as you might expect, and features an on-stage interview. Pretty cool, but yeah, don’t expect the best film quality here.

The Best of New Wave Theatre Vol. 1 and 2


In the early 80’s there was a local LA show called New Wave Theatre that would feature up and coming punk and wave bands. Here you get absolute top quality footage, sometimes live in studio, sometimes live, sometimes interviews of 45 Grave (two songs, one on each volume), Fear, The Plugz, Legal Weapon, Angry Samoans, Circle Jerks, and then a bunch of funny haircuts, all from the heyday of LA punk. Great stuff!

Placebo Underground Music Hallucination Vol. 1 and 2


Placebo Records compilation of footage from Butthole Surfers, DOA, JFA, TSOL, Tales of Terror, Faction, Mighty Sphincter, 45 Grave, COC, Sun City Girls, Zany Guys Harvest, Our Neighbors Suck, and Keening Killer Pussy. Man, where all the Meat Puppets at, right?

The Tour w/ Husker Du, The Meat Puppets, Minutemen, Saccharine Trust, SWA


Target Video production documenting the 1985 tour of the aforementioned SST bands. Great stuff if you want to get more into mid-period SST bands.

Target Hardcore Vol. 1-3


All three volumes of Target Video’s “Hardcore” series. You’re getting two hours packed on one DVD here, with bands including Black Flag, Bad Brains, Killing Joke, Germs, Sick Pleasure, Flipper, and tons more.

Target Video Underground Forces Vol. 2


With Sex Pistols, UK Decay, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Judy Nylon, Young Marble Giants and Brian Brain. Cool to see some bands from across the pond on this one.

The Dicks – Fun With Dicks and Jane


Straight up braindead title, but what can you do. This is an incredibly well done video featuring a lengthy band interview conducted at the Dicks house, with Gary Floyd in full drag, of course, intercut with a killer live set. Great insight into a great band.

Thrasher Magazine – A Blast From the Past and Present


OG skate rock vid featuring live performances from Agent Orange, Condemned To Death, Drunk Injuns, The Dicks, and Screamin’ Sirens along with lots of old school skate footage.

UK/DK: A Film About Punks and Skinheads


The UK82 Decline of Western Civilization? Well, sorta. The lineup is pretty fucking hard to beat, though: The Exploited, Vice Squad, Adicts, Damned, Blitz, The Business, The Varukers, Chaos UK and Disorder. Can’t ask for much more than that, can you?

UK Subs: Gross Out UK


Absolute killer live on TV set from the always invincible ‘Subs from the ‘80s. 20 songs in all, with great editing and sound.

Urban Struggle: The Battle of the Cuckoo’s Nest


Documentary on squatting in LA and what a bummer it was with Black Flag, Circle Jerks, TSOL and the Vandals. Lots of killer, gritty, black and white footage.

Charles Manson: Superstar


This is a really well researched documentary exploring the Charles Manson mythos, which does a fine job of neither demonizing nor glorifying the man. A very interesting study into how we’ve turned this individual into a pop culture figure of sorts. The documentary centers around a thoroughly engaging interview with Manson himself conducted in prison during the 80’s. If you have even a passing curiosity in the myth of Charles Manson, and the various curiosities surrounding the Tate-Labianca murders, this is an incredibly informative (and unfortunately rare and out of print) film.

Galaxy of Terror (1982):


Wow, this one really caught me off guard. You look at the cover and you assume this might be some Good Times repackaging/retitling of an old b-movie with swiped cover art, but in reality this is a surprisingly gory/explicit Alien ripoff, complete with sophisticated death scenes and, yes, this is the uncut version with “the giant maggot rape scene.” Really weird this hasn’t been given a quality reissue, ‘cause gore/exploitation fans would eat this up for sure.

The Love Butcher (1975):


Obscure slasher about a mentally challenged gardener and his brother who get revenge on the housewives who give him a hard time. Hopelessly inept and bleak Floridian exploitation at its finest.

The Mafu Cage (1978):


Killer character study of these two sisters, one of whom has this Jungle obsession courtesy of her anthropologist old man. Her problem comes when she locks up and eventually kills the monkeys she keeps in her cage. Her sister, who’s repulsed by the behavior, obviously, is sick of providing her with the monkey supply, even though it’s about the only thing that pacifies her. While the sane sister’s out on vacation, crazy sister decides to step her game up and move on to humans. I’ve been trying to think of the “message” of this flick for awhile now, something about the thin line between man and animal, but I don’t quite have it yet. It’s a beautiful film to look at, though, and Carol Kane absolutely knocks it out of the park, and it’s basically her engaging character that makes this movie work, not that it’s particularly flawed otherwise, but it’s like Anthony Perkins in Psycho, just the perfect actor for the part who makes the movie “sizzle” as they say. Great, great, great flick.

Night of the Demon (1980):


Holy shit, this one’s a face melter. Everything’s going normal, just your standard Bigfoot number, complete with college kids going into the woods and interviewing some rural creeps about their encounters with the Bigfoot. Seen Return to Boggy Creek? Then you know the score. BUT, things take a sharp turn to crazyville every time a death scene comes up and it’s like, 10x more brutal and over the top than more slashers at the time. For instance, you get a dude getting wielded around in a sleeping bag and impaled on a branch, freaking girl scouts having their hands forced into stabbing each other over and over again, and, yes, a dude whipping out his dong to take a waz, dong fully exposed, getting it ripped off and bleeding profusely from his crotch. These death scenes are total mind blowers, not only for their extremity, but because, like I said, they’re totally out of step with the tone of the movie. This is the stuff that keeps me digging through hundreds upon hundreds of hours of VHS slime, these disorienting moments of sheer exploitation delirium that lie beneath the unassuming veneer of an average low budget Bigfoot flick.

Satan’s Blade (1984):


Well, I went into this expecting some full blown SOV retardation, 555 style, but there’s actually a lot of character to this low budget obscurity to raise it above the dregs. Actually, if you’re expecting cheese and over-the-top gore, you’re sure to be disappointed, as the nudity’s kept to a minimum, and the death scenes are pretty sub par, but there are these weird elements like “plot,” and “dialogue,” I think they call it, that kept me pretty engaged throughout. I mean, obviously no one’s reinventing the wheel with this one; you got a cursed knife that possesses its holder into doing evil, some cabins in the woods, a body count (body motherfuckin’ count), so it’s nothing too new, and will definitely appeal to shit fi slasher fans, but there’s a weird dichotomy between the married couple cabin and single college girl cabin at play, and for whatever reason I found myself kind of warming up the to characters more than I usually do in these movies. Yeah, I’d say it’s definitely worth a watch or three. And of course it’s a long out of print obscurity.

Splatter! (1986):


I think this is a shot-on-video joint, but I’m not 100%. I have to admit I’m a bit biased, as I saw this film as a youth and kind of got all nostalgic watching it again, BUT, at base there is a fairly interesting premise here: it’s a special effects “mockumentary” behind the scenes at a post-apocalyptic amazon vs. mutant movie. The fake movie is just a tool to give the viewer a “behind the scenes” look at how all the “state of the art” special effects are done. It would almost certainly be more entertaining to watch the actual amazon vs. mutant flick, but at 70 minutes, this flick does its job for mindless entertainment. Also, there’s a scene with some A+ T&A(&P!) from a Canadian punker amazon chick. Just throwing that out there.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Rare Cult Flicks

Hey, here's a list of some rare flicks I got that I don't have any artwork for.  These were all taken direct from factory VHS, but you just get the naked DVDr, no case or art.  Just $5ppd a pop.

Act of Vengeance AKA Rape Squad (1974)
Blood of Nostradamus (1961) Killer gothic Mexi-horror
Coffin Joe - Strange World of Coffin Joe (1968)
Coffin Joe - Bloody Exorcism of Coffin Joe (1974)
Coffin Joe - Hellish Flesh (1977)
Coffin Joe -Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind (1978)
Coffin Joe - Perversion (1979)
Dance or Die (1987) beyond shit-fi zero budget SOV action failure.  Do you dare?
Dead Girls (1990) Later period slasher centering around a female rock band, surprisingly competent (but cheesy)
Deadly Sunday (1982)
Demonoid (1981)
Devilfish (1984) Lamberto Bava 
Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid (1986)
Frozen Scream (1975)
Hot Resort (1985) Braindead obscuro rauncy 80's comedy
Keep My Grave Open (1976) Obscure and atmospheric gothic horror, great stuff
Massacre at Central High (1976)
Night Ripper (1986) beyond obscure SOV slasher
Satan's Touch (1984) Doesn't get much worse than this.  Beyond obscure for good reason.
Strike of the Tortured Angels (1982) HK women in prison schlock...Asian lady in blackface alert!
Trampa Infernal (1990) Cheapo Mexican slasher
Venus Flytrap (1987) SOV House on the Edge of the Park ripoff, gloriously inept
Yeti (1975) Killer Italo schlock