We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen, is a full-length documentary about the influential 1980s punk rock band Minutemen, created by director Tim Irwin and producer Keith Schieron in association with Rocket Fuel Films. The film premiered on February 25, 2005 at the historic Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, California, after two years in production.
Synopsis Poignant recent interviews with the band's two surviving members Mike Watt and George Hurley, as well as first-person anecdotes from notable musicians including Ian MacKaye, Flea, Henry Rollins and Thurston Moore, complement the archival concert and interview footage of the band.
Development As fans of the band, director Tim Irwin and producer Keith Schieron had discussed making a documentary about Minutemen since they were in high school, around 1989. The two approached Mike Watt who gave the project a thumbs up and that inspired them to start calling and emailing potential interviewees.
The title is a lyric from their song "The Politics of Time." It's also referred to in a comment made near the end of the film by Mike Watt, in a 1985 interview, when the band is asked if they have anything else to say. He answers for them: "We jam econo." Econo was local slang for economic and described the band's dedication to low-cost record production and touring. It also describes the band's (and burgeoning underground independent music scene's) do-it-yourself attitude and philosophy.
Interviews
Film includes interviews with the following individuals (in alphabetical order):
Milo Aukerman Joe Baiza Kevin Barrett Scott Becker Jello Biafra Richard Bonney Jack Brewer Dez Cadena Joe Carducci Nels Cline Byron Coley Ed Crawford Brother Dale Richard Derrick John Doe Chuck Dukowski Ray Farrell Flea Michael C. Ford Carlos Guitarlos Grant Hart Richard Hell Pat Hoed Rob Holzman Randall Jahnson Kjehl Johansen Curt Kirkwood Martin Lyon Ian MacKaye David Markey Mike Martt J Mascis Brother Matt Stephen McCllellan Vince Meghrouni Richard Meltzer Mike Mills Thurston Moore W.T. Morgan Chris Morris Keith Morris Brendan Mullen Colin Newman Greg Norton Raymond Pettibon Tony Platon Lee Ranaldo David Rees Lisa Roeland Nanette Roeland Kira Roessler Henry Rollins Kurt Schellenbach Spot John Talley-Jones Tom Watson Jean Watt
DVD
The 2-disc DVD (with 16-page booklet) was released on June 27, 2006 on Plexifilm.
DISC 1: Feature "We Jam Econo - The Story of the Minutemen" Original music videos filmed by Louis 'Video Louis' Elovitz "This Ain't No Picnic", "Ack Ack Ack Ack", "King of the Hill" & "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" [not used]Due to licensing issues the fourth official Minutemen music video, "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" (a cover of a Van Halen song), could not be included. There is however a bonus feature on the DVD of Randall Jahnson telling the story of the video he directed. for: "This Ain't No Picnic" (directed by Randall Jahnson) "Ack Ack Ack Ack" (directed by John Talley-Jones) "King of the Hill" (directed by Randall Jahnson) 19 Deleted Scenes and Interviews Uncut Bard College Interview (56min)
DISC 2: Three live performances:
The Starwood, West Hollywood, CA - November 18, 1980, songs include: Swing To The Right Fascist Joe McCarthy's Ghost Paranoid Chant Tension Contained Fanatics Art Analysis Issued Validation Definitions Warfare Sickles & Hammers Hollering On Trial
9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. - 1984, songs include: Big Foist Retreat Toadies Anxious Mo-fo Love Dance Static Search Cut Plight Working Men Are Pissed Ack Ack Ack Life As A Rehearsal Beacon Sighted Through Fog The Only Minority Mutiny In Jonestown Maybe Partying Will Help Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts Mr. Robot's Holy Orders One Reporter's Opinion God Bows To Math Please Don't Be Gentle With Me Joe McCarthy's Ghost The Punch Line Definitions The Anchor Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs This Ain't No Picnic There Ain't Shit On TV Tonight No Exchange Self-Referenced Dream Told By Moto Corona I Felt Like A Gringo Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth? Little Man With A Gun In His Hand
Acoustic Blowout (Public-access television Show) - Hollywood, CA - 1985, songs include: Corona Themselves The Red And The Black"The Red and the Black" by Blue Öyster Cult and "Green River" by Creedence Clearwater Revival appear on Disc One as the extra "Copy Songs." Also, "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" was part of the acoustic performance but has been removed due to licensing issues. Badges I Felt Like A Gringo Time Green River Lost Ack Ack Ack History Lesson Pt. II Tour Spiel Little Man With A Gun In His Hand
Reception The A.V. Club declared "We Jam Econo catches a lot of what made the Minutemen great" and said "The cold comfort that We Jam Econo offers is the notion that genius is fleeting, and the best anyone can hope for is that someone will record it before it fades." Variety called it "a suitably unfussy tribute to a band that disdained even the slightest rock-star flash" and predicted the DVD release would be "a must-have for music aficionados." PopMatters said We Jam Econo was " an endearing, heartfelt documentary that's made by the devout, for the devout, but which is sure to win over anyone except the occasional racist who mistakenly intended to watch a movie about border vigilantes."
References
External links Official DVD site features video excerpts Preview Trailer from the Official Minutemen website Interview with the producer, Keith Schieron