Punk Vs Punk - DVD
Eric Nielsen 9.9.7
I went to a Flaming Lips show recently, and saw a ton of “punk-looking” kids dressed up old school wearing the same old fucking gear: Black Flag shirts, Dead Kennedys shit, Misfits, etc. It got me thinking, “where is the fucking real punk underground in this city and what's different now?” A few days later, my question was answered in a video that came in the mail: Punk VS Punk by Shane Vozar.

Shane shows us into the local punk music scene in this documentary of live shows and interviews. "Ours the magic ours the power” he professes. The DIY nature of this video translates the power and energy of today’s San Diego punk scene very well.

Negative energy was a large part of the punk scene 20 years ago, and from Punk VS Punk, it shows how elemental that energy remains today. The music now is more translucent and full of fire; and that's the shit I’m interested in. At least there's not a bunch of nazi bullshit or FSU surrounding the music. The scene seems to be a lot more forgiving than when I saw Black Flag at Wabash Hall, when people tried to fuck me up because I had hair that was too long.

Henry Diaz from the Rhythm Lounge talks about what goes on at the club regarding the punk scene. I used to play punk shows at the old Texas Tea House in OB (Diaz used to own that spot) and this thriving underground is well represented in this amazingly grainy, energetic, and beautiful underground video.

Watching this video of the local punk scene makes me think of so many things. It's driven and propelled by beer and young men. There are about three girls in the whole video…it's definitely very SD. There are some great live videos of the scene including my favorite the band gizzards. There are also live performances by Reservoir Tips, The Shitgiveits, The Wastrels, Screamin' Yeehaws, The Yucks, The Shift, Viva La Chiva, Yer Mom, Jodie Foster's Army, Drunkin Punkin Idiots, The Bowel Tones and Operation Vacusuck.

There is some political shit that I love and reminds me of the classic punk DK shit that I love. "Why go to war and be a fucking whore?" sings Shitgiveits on War Whore.

It's not your old classic school punk that I grew up on. It's often long hair and wool hats, though still alcohol fueled. The music is propelled by vocals and straight, heavy, fast riffs. It's still ‘fuck social values’ and ‘you've gotta fight for your own version of freedom’. It's backup singers screaming choruses and energetic live shows. It's fucking underground in the darkest of realia.

One of the standouts of the dvd is gizzards covering the Exterminators "Occasional Lay" with their old lead singers. It's "negative excitement”.

If you can get your hands on this unreleased dvd you will dig it as a true document of a strong scene worth noting, if not participating in.

Thanks Mormo for sending it in, hope you're feeling better.