Why Am I Doing This? (A Film About Touring)
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- Опубліковано 17 кві 2021
- 100% Dave Grohl free! This is a film about touring musicians who don't care about making it in the music business and all of the hardships they face without the fame. Directed by Eric Fundingsland.
Featuring members of Shellac, Visqueen, Police Teeth, Silkworm, Bottomless Pit, Tight Bro's From Way Back When, Nudity, The Young Evils, The Bismarck, Helms Alee, Lozen, Sunn O))), The Most Secret Method, Beauty Pill, Conan Neutron & The Secret Friends, Melvins, Thrones, Racetrack, Straphanger, Out, Wimps.
Cast - Steve Albini, Cristina Bautista, James Burns, Andy Cohen, Eric Fundingsland, Dave Harvey, Cody Hurd, Chris Jury, Nate Marshall, Hozoji Matheson-Margullis, Tim Midyett, Dan Mohr, Ryan Nelson, Conan Neutron, Matt Nyce, Joe Preston, Quitty, Dave Ramm, Chris Rasmussen, Rachel Ratner, Isaac Turner.
You know how after playing your set and someone that really enjoyed your band comes up to talk to you and at some point in the conversation tells you how they wish they could play music and be in a band, and in that moment you forget about all the struggle, the hours and hours of practicing, the hardships and abject poverty, the bubble-guts from eating Taco Bell for too many days in a row, you forget all that and you realize how fucking great it really is to do this.
I will never feel that I wasted my life, because I toured with my band.
Well said....while I must say that I feel my life took an alternate route because I never toured with mine. We might have gotten around a bit, which could've opened some doors for some or all of us. I'm happy, but I can't help thinking, "what if"?
I took the opposite. I warned anyone I could haha.
Your Mom's Daddy....I know exactly what you mean, I was a lead guitarist in a band for 6 years, we toured with other musicians across the us...I miss those days but im happy now,working a normal,stable job, loving life with my wife and kids. I look back and reminisce about all the good,the bad, and the Ultra Bad and say to myself, "Damn...I really (we really) did all that! Lol!?!?!?!?!😁
Fuckin Eh!
i never even gotten that far. i can't even find people as serious as I am.
I toured in an all bagpipe Genesis cover band for over a decade. I saw things that I will never unsee.
I believe it.
Is there any footage of that cover band on here?
i bet you guys played a mean supper's ready
I need a CD
WOW...... I got nothing.....
I was just thinking the other day how documentaries have become these soulless sensationalistic entertainment vehicles for outfits like Netflix, and how much I missed documentaries that just explored a topic without any flash or CGI or cheap attempts to manipulate emotions. You've given me that genuine pure documentary experience and I appreciate it.
This is, as I said in my comment, "A perfect film." Echoing the statements in the film, "If you haven't done it, you can't really understand it." This is a 101 of touring. It is the same for all who endevour to take their music to the people. The big budget tours have some of the same situations albeit, on a different level. This is the touring I remember in the 80's. Raw, unexpected, insane, no glitz or glamour, just a group of people against the trials of the road in all it's unavoidable glory. It was fun. I would do it again if I were not 61...........and tired.
in the doc there are legends like Shellac (steve albini, ancient menber of cult band big black who recorded In utero by Nirvana) Melvins, Blone redhead.... not really D's...
Some of the best documentarians are on UA-cam now. Check out Folding Ideas
Thank you, made my day!
Agreed!
Not a single lie in this, nor an exaggeration. More fans should know these stories so they'd support live music more.
@@chestyvulva Subjects doesn't seem to be a bad decision, sounds great
I’ve supported many touring bands in my life. I wish I had some of that time back.
I think the real issue is all the ways venues and promoters (not to mention the labels, management, etc) exploit the bands while generally do a crap job at what they’re supposed to be doing - musicians just be stepping into bear traps without knowing any better. Working musicians could really use a union!
Stuff like this is why I always buy a tshirt and will always by albums by the bands I love.
Hell, I still use itunes lol I'm the only person I immediately know who does. My friends tease me but its harder and harder to be a musician and I want to support however I can.
Now I need to hear the Mississippi Hippie Killers.
...no you don't. But still not the worst band I have ever play with. That distinction goes to a band from Fort Collins called Trash Cannon.
That might be the best band name ever!!
I'd buy the T-shirt.
Anyone in HR this is why you should hire someone in a touring band, you can throw ANYTHING at these people, and they will not fucking blink.
I fought for my work to hire someone who had toured a few times. Best employee ever. Got promoted a bunch. Awesome dude
Yes! Great observation!
@@joepopprocks Well I have been in a shit eating band for 20 years, played a ton with the film makers band.
I find it is best to find someone that has toured as opposed to a straight musician.
i always try and think of a way to fit it into my resume lol
"Why am I doing this?" Is the exact same question I asked myself while I was setting up my rig at my very first gig at Mojos Bar in Fremantle. When we finished the first song I was like, "that's why."
fuck yea
I was told a tour is anything over two weeks...and anything under is just a trip. My fav story on the road- 1996 we played ocean something New Jersey and it was a heavy thunderstorm. Only like 2 people came to the club. The owner came out to our van after the show and said he couldn't pay us but wanted to at least give us 6 pack of Coke for the road...after looking in and realizing there were only 3 of us, he took off 3 cans and handed us the remaining 3 cans for the road. Big time!
Your comment made me chuckle
@@tangyorange6509 looking back that whole tour and many others make me laugh. Heck in L.A. (city of over 3 million people) we played a show in front of 1 person. 1. The odds of only getting one person to show i think is harder than getting like 10 people. What a night.
People gave us a lot of coke on the road too.
Wtf? You guys didn't take cases or anything ? What you got a manager paying you? Or u doing door only and u owe him 60 bucks for the beer drank on stage? Yea been there..but folks generally do share .. got shroom, lil microdots,blotter, weed, weed, weed ( every where..even grand canyon chick hooked us up) that alone was worth that trip. Got robbed in Denver..buddy had last of my cash and I knew dude was fuckin wrong. But he wanted bud soo bad and shit gotta listen to him for 4000k miles more.but thank u women.
U guys must have booked your own gigs. There are tough days..but I'm support for artists..and there was sex and drugs with rock and roll. And yes I can get u a pass. Yes. If you do me I will introduce you to the guy you want. But he will be polite to you and ur going come back to me..know this b4 u start. And they think I'm lyjng..till they see guy with his girlfriend or something..then she's back to me but I can't do u on bus unless u want to fuk everyone else there. And no pooping on the bathroom in bus! Pee only. No tampons or other stuff in the potty! No snoring. No drinking others booze,or asking for there shit. Cold pizza at 4 am if lucky u til commissary @ venue..then we kicking it again!
Three components ABSOLUTELY necessary for remaining sane on tour: Adaptability , Patience , Sense of Humor.
Lots of theraflu too...
Any other 'retired' indie touring musicians here find this a little hard to watch? This is hitting home in so many different ways for me.
Not hard to watch. Validating
Not hard really. Still doing it after 30 years
If you have ever wondered what it is actually like being in a touring band, or if you have played in a touring band and never seen it accurately depicted. This movie is for you and is a MUST SEE.
The hardest road dogs I've ever seen are so unexpected: The Dicks and Tori Amos. They both stayed on the road 3/4 of the year, doing 4 hour sets, for decades. Incredible stamina.
One friend of mine always liked to say "The Dicks went on tour one year and never came home"
Tori isn’t that surprising. She’s a tough cookie!
"Tour changed me, maybe for the worse" can relate to that
Been touring since 16, I'm 29 now and still actively touring on big and small tours. It's the worst decision I've ever made in my entire life, but its def a lot of fun lol.
Why is it the worst decision you've ever made if it's so much fun?
Love this! This was my life for over 20 yrs. I have similar versions of all these stories. The phone bills, the smells, the vans, the band houses, the restaurants, my bandmates, the drudgery and stress and danger and joy and teamwork and successes, the hours of travel. all of it. I fully relate to where these artists are coming from. LOL. Dave Grohl's movie left me feeling like "where are all the real bands". Well... here that are. Liked and subscribed. Thank you for making this movie.
Oh my god, the band houses. Sometimes sleeping in the van is the pragmatic option. The van often smells better than the band house. No way am I sleeping on the bed, nope...😮
@@terrystowers6085 I can remember every house where I opted for the van. Because they were insanely gross. lol. Sleeping in the van, shoes on with a baseball bat.
@@terrystowers6085 just thought of the name "bedbug itchies."
It could be a ska band.... 🤔🤣
20 years ! Highway Pirate !
I have only been on audience side, but in early 90s there was a great music scene in Baltimore where there were 3 venues and all these different bands would roll throught tow, "on tour" and catching a good show of a band you did not know was the best, definitely crowd, often small, and band would feed off of each other, nothing like it, so thank you to all those who put up with monsense to delicer that spe ial hour or so
I'm nervous to say this because none of the musicians have brought it up yet and I'm afraid of what they'll have to say . . . but your comment reminded me of some amazing little venues in Salt Lake City. I've had some great nights grooving to random bands who were passing through. It's a big enough city with people thirsty for entertainment who typically respond positively. I can't tell you how many times bands have been shocked at how enthusiastic SLC crowds were.
As much as I love music, touring sounds like a very specific/special type of hell that I would never be able to do... I suddenly don't regret trying harder to get my band going.
Lemmy knew how to tour. He never knew any other kind of life. He did all the regular crazy stuff but after the 80's he had some infrastructure and it became a business. The Motorhead name is golden and he could and would end up touring his entire life.
This film resonated in my bones and immediately after watching it, I reached out to everyone I've ever been on the road with to tell them I love them and cherish those memories. Thanks for making this and sharing it, Eric. Love to everyone in the movie. We're all in the same club.
The band names and members being interviewed should be in the description
They're in the intro, but yeah they should be in there too
YES YES
yes
It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock n roll. Where these punk bands? That would explain a lot. I never experienced shit this bad. Actually most of the people and places where cool. Their were a few sketchy events but few and far between. The end for me was my equipment was stolen.
Absolutely
I was probably fortunate doing merch for a relatively established band during the last portion of their 30 year existence. A few less punk house stories, a lot more Motel 6 check-ins and reasonable turnouts every night. Except Fargo. It was 30 below. The band played to the bar staff and 5 other people (including one guy who came down from Canada). The comments on Fargo hit hard.
And vans breaking down in Montana (which happened a couple days after Fargo).
Although I was not a musician, I am so happy I got the touring experience across the US, Canada and western Europe. I wouldn't want to do it again, but it was a very special time of my life that I'm amazed ever happened. Get in the minivan!
I'm dying to hear which band it was! 30 years is pretty significant.
@@MikeP2055 It was Nomeansno
I remember playing in Memphis Tn around 95 ish....we stayed at a house the club had for bands, as I lay in the bottom bunk wide awake from hearing one of our techs snoring I started to read all the names and quotes previous musicians had written on the bottom of the bunk above me . The most profound quote I read asked this question...."what the fuck am I doing with my life?"
It was a fun time of my life but damn, it wasnt easy at times!
Oh, man, you won the internet with that quote! I'm cryin' ... and you ain't lyin.
Was it A club called the stage stop? Right by some railroad tracks… Shitty band house in a run down residential neighborhood. I stayed in that place more times than I care to remember.
I honestly don’t remember the named of the club but yea the house was a hell hole
Anyone who has lived this life recognizes these stories. I spent many years in the 80s and 90s driving from one city to another playing shows, and it's all this and more. And I wouldn't trade those experiences and memories for anything
The one dude was talking about Chris Jericho’s band Fozzy. 😂
This randomly came up in my suggested videos and it turns out I know several of these people. My two cents regarding the worst bands you had to play with is, always remember YOU are someone's most hated band. Your band is a big joke to a group of people somewhere having these same conversations. Everyone's band is. I always think about that. I might love my stupid music but I'm fully aware of how stupid it is.
Chris Jury in the film read in the tour journal of a band they played with that Imipolex-G (the band he was in at the time) was the worse band they had ever played with on tour. So yep, that is totally true.
But my band, Alley Mattress, really was a laughing stock to the Punk Gatekeepers in Vancouver. Whatever.
This isn’t true at all lol. If someone thought The Beatles or Jane’s Addiction were the worst band, they would just be wrong and their tastes too arbitrary.
The 70s was a great time to work in the music biz. Lots of clubs and the scene was exciting. Two of us rode in the back of a Uhaul type bobtail truck with the roll up door secured with a rope for ventilation and we had an ice chest with some ice and a case of Miller light beer's. The beer's helped to ease the heat, bumps, and exhaust fumes.
Hey...we were working and paying our bills. Live music is the best!
You had me at ""100% Dave Grohl free"
"The place smelled like 200 year old piss" had me crying.
Anything under 5 days or 500 miles is a "jaunt".
Awesomely truthful video! I"ve toured in the mid 70s in Ontario. We were all in a cube van. In the winter. Fucking cold! Some of us would be wrapped in sleeping bags in the box of the van.We'd keep the door open between the cab and the box just so we'd get some heat. Driving south from Kapaskaping, there was so much snow on the road we could barely do 15 MPH. There were no other tracks in the snow. If it got rough on the right side, we'd veer a bit to the left. If it got rough on the left side, we'd veer a bit to the right.
On the other hand, I toured in the middle late 90s in Europe in a bus that had been also used by the Tolling Stones.
Funny thing, life.
30 years in the trenches. I was built for this.
No matter who's in a Van on tour,If Watt still does it and Loves it we can all get through it with a grin
Watched this 3 full times now. You guys absolutely nailed it. The first totally honest film about touring. Well done!
Watched twice. I missed half the movie - it moves so fast.
I have played music and toured off and on for almost 50 years now.
Too many stories... But the highlight was taking my boat to Cuba in the early '90s and hitch hiking around the country with my Ovation 12 string playing with local bands. The safest place I have ever been, the nicest people and beautiful girls. 😊
First time out in '93 we did roughly 11,000 miles in just under 6 weeks. 9 guys (2 bands) plus a shared set of equipment in a van. Only 1 punch thrown the entire time. It was in my face. Went out again the next year with the same guys. Next 2 years by ourselves, just the 4 of us. Every tour was absolutely fucking horribly awesome. Some of the best times and memories in my life.
Maximum Rock and Roll, Book Your Own Fucking Life started it all.
What made you quit? Do you miss it?
@@PuffyTortilla We broke up when we got home from the last tour in '96. Dumb band personality conflict stuff. Nothing major. Silly to look back on. It wasn't the punch. That came from a guy in the other band towards the end of the first tour. Everybody was wiped out by then. Shit happens.
I do and I don't miss it. I live a different life today. Without writing a novel I'll just say some of who I am today doesn't exactly align with what some of the band was about. We were heavy on the politics. Rather opinionated. It's not that I even disagree with those politics but I couldn't do it today in good conscience. And while I met some awesome good people at shows that scene and crowd just really isn't for me anymore. Nothing against them and I still listen to us and similar bands. I just see things differently now. For the most part. Kind of, sort of, maybe.
But I definitely have very fond memories because of it. And I'm certainly not ashamed of it. It was what it was. And I got to go places and see things that wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for being in the band. Haven't talked to any of them in two years but they will always be my brothers.
Edit: Broke up the wall of text.
93 my fav year !!! never been a band if ya heard me pick a guitar you would understand , but did follow AIC around a bit that year. did you get in on any of the palozza action ,? i aint gonna try to spell it i guess ya know where in going here
@@brianpinion5844 No we never did any shows of that size. We've sold places out a couple times but nowhere near that scale. Tops for people at a show was about 800 or so. We also played in a storage unit once. Think the kid that set it up broke in. People stood in the parking lot. He handed us a frisbee they passed around after the show. In it was maybe a couple bucks in change, a guitar pick and a cigarette butt.
We didn't make a living off the band. We all had 9 to 5s. But things started to pay for themselves, kind of, after the 2nd tour. New(ish) van and some equipment. Recording and tour costs etc. There was still some out of pocket but it was just getting to where the band paid for itself. Which was cool.
Oh and we ran in a different circle than Alice In Chains. Shows and fans consisted of mostly spikey hair people and or skinheads.
@@PuffyTortilla mmmmmmmmmm
My band from Seattle did this west coast tour... Seattle, Eugene, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Fran, Inland Empire (I forget the town), Portland, Arcada CA, Vancouver. In that order. 🤣
😅
That’s some terrible planning
😂
Albini is in it. That’s all I need to watch something. The stories of them going to random houses to sleep are great
Touring seems rather different in the US than it is in Canada. That said, I've experienced some of these awful things - and others, besides, but my experience has, on the whole, been a lot better than what I've heard in this doc. I will admit that I haven't toured much in quite a while, but I was on the road fairly steadily from the early 80s into the early 2000s. Until Covid, I was still able to make a living playing music... it's the only job I've had in 33-odd years.
But good job on the documentary, Eric... most enjoyable in a masochistic way... ;-)
Amazing ! 33 years !
Thanks for the film Eric. Loved it. In the early nineties when touring our Am Rep releases we would rent a new Ford Econovan and once across the Hudson, crawl underneath and disconnect the odometer. Our bass player Henry paid a speeding ticket once heading north in California but we avoided paying for tens of thousands of miles over the years.
Oh, that's a good story!
Helmet guitarist correct?
@@andrewlee563 Correct
Stick it to the man at the van rental 😛
@@Kunstx1 great band!
Haven't toured for 20 years but it appears as not much has change. Thank you for getting it totally right!
What was your best and worst experiences of touring? Love your channel and your musical insights.
@@jefflikeusual20 I am in my 60's now and over 20 years removed from touring so the bad experiences tend to fade completely. The best part of touring was the excitement of playing for people, even if a small handful, that I had never met and were paying their hard earned money to hear it. The promise of that excitement and the really minute possibility that it would lead to something much bigger kept me going for a really long time. But eventually that question in the back of your mind, "Why am I doing this?" gets replaced with "I think I've had enough,"
@@RockessentialTim thanks for replying! Really cool to hear and especially have a taste and understanding about what being in a touring band is like. Makes you appreciate what the bigger bands did to get where they are today.
I hope the hotels have gotten better lol !
The Melvins, with Joe Preston, stayed at our house in West Palm Beach after playing Melbourne FL (early 90s). The next day Buzzo was sick and had to go to the hospital. They had to cancel their Miami show. Our friends jokingly blamed us.
Ahh, the "glamour" of indie rock. This made me nostalgic.
Umm this was amazing and brought back a ton of memories. I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING
That description of St. Louis basically sums up every experience I’ve had there, shows or otherwise.
Second this
It’s Bad, But Not That Bad.
I love the 100% Dave Grohl free! mention
Driving for hours and hours and hours, playing the show and staying in a motel that Norman Bates would be afraid of....... ahhhh those were the days.
Meliah Rage has a song called Bates Motel. Now I understand !
This is all so very accurate & amazing. Everything from “Oh your little band put out a little record” to everyone asking how NY was when you barely saw any of it to figuring out where you’re gonna take a dump. Great documentary!
My keyboard player and I played in Canada several tours in a NON INSULATED 1979 Chevy CArgo Van. We finally got a plug in heater for our radiator so we would not crack our block in the snow. Unbelievable ❤️ this is some real stuff
Non Insulated ⛄️😛
@@seagullpoet those coldest tours make me want to go put on two coats and a sweater in July every time I remember that van ❤️
As girlfriend of a locally known musician, it is not a glamourous life even in smaller scales. They are people and it can be stressful. And the majority realization at some point eventually becomes " Don't want to play this gig, but I need money." Love him regardless
Making my little songs in my living room is stressful enough....no way I would ever go on tour...I'd freak the heck out first leg, 100 percent. I love returning to this doc from time to time....as I've always admired the pirates who strike out and give it a go.
I have to say being in a mid level touring band living around Vans, Friends, Floors.. I am still laughing at the the name of the video. Its perfect. If you've lived it, it will hit home. I asked myself that question many many times on the road. I would be saying to myself "Im still broke, but now Im lost, Im in a shitty van and about to get shot at. Wheres the club?" Then I would show up and they didnt't put the posters out.... I ask for the payment right away and get the "Its on they way down" then dude tries to wheel me a gram of coke... I knew what type of night it would be. It would usually be at that point I would say "Why am I doing this again?!". Another time we played a hall with 200 people but we sold 35 tickets. PS - I love the 100% Dave Grohl Free Disclaimer. Amazing guy, and its more of the media side but he's fucking everywhere.... I cant get a glass of milk without hearing or seeing something about Grohl.
The 100% Dave Grohl free line is what the British would call "taking the piss" out of him. No offense meant, just a fun jab that he is in basically every rock documentary. Plus the fact that he is releasing a doc very similar to this one.
@@ericfundingsland Im certain he would be the first to laugh.
I’ve toured millions of miles. Van broke down as vans love to do so Myself and 3 band mates had to ride 10 hours in grandma’s attic in a U-Haul. So About hour 5 we introduced beer into the environment. About hour 7 we were dancing in the back. Hour 10 and I was a little more mentally deranged than I was at the start of that insane adventure. Great times in my life.
Let me just add that the touring van literally burned down to the ground. So fire trucks and police showed up. They put the fire out, what was left of the van loaded onto a tow truck. And we were left on the side of the interstate in the blazing sun in Georgia with a trailer full of equipment. Then enters a drifter whom I wouldn’t be shocked to learn that he may have murdered someone to acquire the truck he was driving. He became our driver for the next few days all for free beer. 🙄 Which we then had to basically threaten with violence to get him to part ways. I have stories like this for days. Haha
Musician ‘want ad’ should also include - Car Mechanic too. What was your band name ?
@@seagullpoet Bobaflex
@@TheCarelessAquarius I remember bobaflex, they were legend. strange youre commenting here in a clip where all the bands depicted are indie dweebs, I would guess you played before audiences that were actually enthusiastic.
@@batvette on our come up I’ve played in front of the bar staff and nobody else in Minnesota on a Tuesday night in the middle of winter. I’ve also played in front of 30k people singing the lyrics to your songs. I loved playing live it was the best feeling.
I remember people coming up to me in some god forsaken place when I toured with my blues bands and I'd hear people shoot me a compliment, then talk about how they wish they could play and how awesome it is to be in a band going to different places every night, meeting new people, seeing new places.
At which point I'd say, "Thank you! That's so nice of you to say that.", then I'd go about educating them on the reality of my shitty touring existence. The bad food. The late night drives. The fear of having your gear stolen. Having your gear stolen. Van breaking down. Trailer bolt frozen. Not being able to actually do any sight seeing. Worried constantly about where you're going to use the bathroom and sleep. Sometimes there being no accommodations meaning sleeping in the van.. which sucks. Especially for our bass player who's built like a house and is 6'2. Not enough room for him and the snores he'd let out would set off the richter scale a state over. Pretty much living on an emotional scale that went from mild amusement to boredom to absolute misery, until it's time to play. Once we got to playing, all that stuff would disappear for 3 hours. Then another hour of mostly forced smiles and saying hi to folks and socializing and making sure to thank the owner so that they'd be motivated to let you play in their joint again. Then packing up your gear. Finding somewhere to sleep.. and on it went for months.
At the end of my discourse, they'd ask, "Well.. if it's so horrible, why do you do it?".
My answer? "Because I can't help it."
Great film thanks for posting :)
Gotta give credit where credit is due. The director promised no Dave Grohl and delivered! (Plus, this was a great film!)
i see some of my favorite bands touring all over the country driving from city to city in a tiny van taking turns driving while they drive with a U Haul trailer hooked up to the van. it really looks like a crappy time doing that but i respect the hell out of them and anyone who is that commited to their craft.
Every time I watch KEXP Live sessions (on youtube) I think about how life is on the road with all those small indie bands they showcase. This sounds about right.
I watched a documentary about a bridge from which people would sometimes jump. This is more depressing. A few good laughs though and nicely produced. ❤️
Maybe the jumpers were punk rockers !
@@seagullpoet Lol!
@@seagullpoet one of them was a metalhead. Ive seen it too i think if its about the golden gate bridge. It has the people they knew talking about the person that killed themselves, WHILE playing footage of them actually jumping. Some depressing stuff
Working the door back in the late 80's, used to charge $12/15, and regularly pull over a grand for several local bands.Ironically, these unknowns used to draw harder than up & coming national acts like Blues Traveler or Phish (prior to their becoming big).
On the other hand, I remember Metallica drawing 20 people in tiny NYC and Connecticut clubs charging $5 ; the scene was much different before social media.
I never harbored any illusions about touring with my own band, and at the time, it was a hindrance to moving forward.I like travelling, and seeing the country, but touring just sucks unless you've got the money to do it right.And you have to find the right people, or it's about as cool and romantic as drug addiction.It's hard to get excited when it's costing more than you made; you can't lose sight that in this case, economics aren't the proper measure of success.
Some good general life advice, and advice for keeping a band together.Endeavor to be the guy who lets everything roll off; talented people are usually quirky, and often outright neurotic or annoying.Look at it like test to become the better person, and make it a goal to try to help others be better.Playing out is an unbeatable, addicting, experience,- but you do have to commit and be willing to pass up standard operating procedure.Most give in early, and return to the world of marriage, mortgages, and kids, thinking they're missing out.Personally, I could never relate to such concerns.
You had me at “100% Dave Grohl free.”
No kidding!!! Can he just go away for a few years???
Wait what’s the issue with Dave, this is the first time I’ve seen people who hate him
@@leek6927 everytime there’s a “rock” mini doc he’s like the only person interviewed as if he’s the only musician who plays in bands with distortion
Haha! Not just me then! 😅
Yeah, what's the deal with that? That dude shows up all over. In interviews for documentaries, a guest on stage at tribute shows.He played drums for Ghost a few times.Fuck, I saw him @Lemmy Kilminster's funeral doing the friggin' eulogy. The day his next album is released, he's gonna be a greeter at the door in Best Buy. If there's any music event that you don't see him, take a look backstage. He's probably doing the catering or something like that. Dave, you gotta give us all some space, you're smothering us.
Very nice. I passed this to my son who has for a few years been grinding the circuit. Reason why musicians do this, same reason we picked up an instrument in the first place. I don't tour but play in bands and yeah, even that has its downsides with personalities but beats sitting at home watching mindless TV. Thanks for putting this video out.
I am a female sounengineer and I did a couple of tours around europe. even if those tours where a bit more comfortable with sleeping situations and getting payd and the quality of the venues and all that stuff I recognized every single situation you described in that film. It is all true and it made me laugh so hard. everytime I got back from a tour I thoth I never ever gonna do this again- it is so stressfull- I am too old- I don‘t want to be away from home again for such a long time-blah,blah. after a month I think yeah maybe one more time.…I know it is different to be the sound person because your not a full member to the band but I understand myself as a transmitter from the band to the audience and we are also part of the energy exchange and your going through all that situations and becom real friends to the members of the travelling party. I also worked in a club for many years as the local sound person and understanding what the band is going through on the road makes me want to feel them really welcome at the venue and everything is well prepaired when they arrive.
more people shoud watch this and estimate the efford of playing live music!
I went and saw Tight Bros From Way Back When play the Showbox in Seattle back in 2002 or 2003. They opened for Jon Spensor’s blues explosion. I ended up scraping what money I had left and buying one of their vinyl singles they were selling. Best concert openers I’ve ever seen.
What a great documentary!! As one who toured (in the manner described in this film) for many years from the mid-80’s/early 90’s, I related to every ounce of this film. The drudgery, the euphoria, the weirdness, , asking for a place to crash at night from the stage, being in a million strange situations, the van (practically a member of the band), meeting so many super cool people, the connection, the exhaustion, tension, creativity and energy, painting t-shirts to sell from show to show.. etc.. this film flooded me with so many memories (mostly good!). So great.. sometimes we move on with our lives and forget our past…. Thanks for reawakening this moment in time and (for the most part) this particular joy!! Kudos amigos!!!
Thanks!
You had me at 100% Dave Grohl free.
i love how the music in the background at the beginning just explains conveys the sheer terror of those van stories
Very good. The musicians were articulate, funny, thoughtful and brave hearts. I wish them all the best - keep on truckin’ and Bruce Springsteening 😉.
Great comment !
Any film that features not 1, but 3 songs from Nudity is a fucking classic! This is a highly rewatchable doc.
The Nightfeeders is one of my favorite songs to come out of Olympia.
@@ericfundingsland It is one of the greatest songs ever, hands down. Dave Harvey is a legend.
already laughing my ass off in the first 10 minutes, Ahahahah
GREAT job
EDIT: "ALMOST FAMOUS" VS "THE ROAD" OOOOOOOOHHH MY GOD AHHAHAHAHA
Edit #2: This is legitimately the funniest and best documentary I have ever seen on ANY subject, EVER. THE. BEST.
Thanks!
@@ericfundingsland bro thank YOU for all the work making it (the artists too)
Excellent editing with continuity of narrative ! 🎥
Thanks!
I was not in a punk band at any point, but for 40+ years I made my living playing in mostly cover bands in animal clubs (Eagles, Moose Clubs, local dives, etc) 4 to 6 nights a week. also did tours like this doc shows with original hard rock bands, and this doc hit it on the head.....Thank You for posting it!!
"Animal Clubs" would be a great band or album name!
I'll only watch this if Thurston Moore is in it, sitting in front of his record collection and awkwardly cradling a guitar while drawling about Patti Smith
You funny. 👍
What no Henry Rollins..
The van years....do they every stop? Years ago, went to Oklahoma from Nashville on a run. The keyboard player's dad had a conversion van he had just redone so we borrowed it and got a 6x9 trailer - no tags (van had a "towing package") - drive 12 hours to OK, play a show, crazy party after and the power steering pump starts leaking in the guy's driveway, then it's using oil, and the transmission started slipping (probably from towing the trailer). Next day, we play a festival, we leave at midnight to drive straight through 12 hours back to Nashville. I drive 5 hours through torrential rain. We stop for gas in Arkansas. Someone takes over driving. We pull into the parking lot of the singer's publishing company in Nashville where we had all parked our cars, and literally as he put it in Park, the transmission falls out. The van wouldn't go forward or back so it sat right where it stopped for about 4 months.
The current act I tour with flies most places and we still rent a van now and then. Sprinters if we can afford it. Chevy's if we can't. I hate the new Ford vans where it's all bucket seats and none of them remove. Pointless for touring.
Sounds like the Blues Brothers car - falls apart at the final destination !
Those new Ford seats have even my knees(5'10")jammed up. Totally agree useless for touring
Just want to say, I'm obsessed with your channel. Long live The Bismarck and all the bands featured.
Amazing doc. So relatable for any DIY musician.
I once went to record a demo with my best friend at the time Izaac. We drove to this guy named Vision's apartment. We recorded our vocal parts in a closet, had to use a keyboard for drums and only had my guitar. The guy even burned us a few copies for a very reasonable price considering what all he did for us. It was like maybe two hours. He made multiple copies, provided some equipment for the tracks, played our drum tracks and only asked for $60. Fun fact, I taught his little brother piano in high school! That definitely helped knock the price down a lot. Networking can help when you least expect it! So, the demo sounded like shit lol. Very basic. Izaac wasn't that great of a vocalist and I wasn't that great at guitar or vocals. Very amateur stuff. Vision made it sound better than it really was in my opinion haha. It was a fun experience though. We were living in the back of a thrift shop full of junk at the time. We'd go out and bring stuff back, refurbish it and sell it. I'd play my guitar in the dark most of the time since there were limited working lights and no windows where I stayed. It sucked but, it helped me grow into who I am today though. It also taught me to be honest with people when asked about their music. Stop saying it sounds good if it doesn't. It'll help us all get better. The guy who said, "I like to be honest. You guys had a lot of energy. You looked like you were having fun." Aka it wasn't good but, you had the energy lol. Love this documentary!
I have certainly been on the receiving end of the "You guys looked like you were having a lot of fun up there" response. I always think of it like someone saying that, although they didn't really enjoy your band/music, they appreciated that you were out there doing it.
What an amazing documentary! 👍 I always wished I'd have been part of the R&R world, rather than the ultra dull corporate world, but the rock life is definitely a harsh, cold, cruel mistress. That these small, barely known bands submit to this painful existence in the hopes of making it big, says much about their heart, dreams, passion, & endurance. After all, how DOES a band break out into the big time, what does it take? Well...a lot of this stuff in this video, and even then, there are never any guarantees. You have to be a VERY driven type, very passionate about your craft. It's a brutal life for sure. God bless *all* these folks. ❤🙏💔🎤🎸🥁
Love this, Nice job!
The first thing I thought when I saw this in my feed was that it'd feature Dave Grohl. Read the description, and was happy with what I read.
This was amazing! Great job!
We had a shit (but lovable) venue in St. Louis named the Creepy Crawl. They had doubleheader nights, I was in a local band and we were opening the late show. Planes Mistaken For Stars were the headliners of the early show, and they would NOT get their gear off the stage. It cut into our set time and we played like three or four songs. I was so upset at the time, it’s funny to look back on, especially since we maybe had like eight people show up for us 😂 This doc is amazing. Brings back so many memories.
me and my lady bassist were playing and this guy with his lady come up to the stage and are like "Do you wanna be in a reality show?" he was all excited and I think he was a producer or something. We both just shook our heads and said "no".
Incredible work! Cheers
Amazing documentary bro!!! Congratulations! Those 11 cockwaffles that gave this a "Thumbs Down" probably never gigged away from home and have NO CLUE. There's so much within this that I directly relate with (Fargo, cat piss houses, "band houses" aka squat huts, sketchy hotels, sleeping in the van for most tours 🤣)...definitely bringing back some fond memories for sure. My last gig was February of 2020, hoping things pick back up in the fall to start doing this all again. All the best with all endeavors!! Cheers!
Great film!! Thank you for making it.
What a brilliant, true to life film this is. My own stories raced through my head watching this.
I can’t stop watching this. Over and over. Well done Sir!!! Even started checking out the bands music. FKN DEDLY Can’t play or write shit, but i would happily be a roadie/driver for free just to be a part of a nationwide tour
This was done very well and I completely enjoyed it, thanks for sharing!
Lol this same thing happened to me and my friends punk bands while driving through Montana also our van broke down and 12 of us had to cram into the other touring bands van like sardines. We drove from Montana to Texas like that it sucked so bad but was so great at the same time!
This is great. Thanks Eric.
Fully in the spirit of what I remember it to be... a little of (almost) everything. This is going to be watched in full soon- good on you Eric, for making this!
Thank you for making this, Eric, and all the people who collaborated. I watched the whole thing. I relate to this on every level; you captured all the highs/lows of tour and the end was the real payoff: its tough to articulate unless you've done it, and the reason behind it is something that can't quite be understood until you've played for nobody and then hundreds of people. Bravo!
Great film! And that riff on the into track. So hypnotic. Love it!
Lovely film. I've lived every minute of this movie and now I'm so ready to hit the road again. Thanks Eric.
It’s amazing how a lot of these stories resonate. The singer in my band got robbed at gunpoint after a rehearsal. Great fun.
Really enjoyed this. Love the end credit, those guys were killing.
This is fantastic! It makes me wish I would have toured when I was in bands. I take that back, there was always someone, who irritated me and I think after a few days, we would come to blows. It is amazing how you could spend so much time with the same people and no one ends up dead.
Nailed it. Great job!
So much fun to watch. Absolutely loves these people. Thank you.
This keeps getting algorithmically recommended to me and I’ve put it off so far because I wasn’t in the mood to answer it’s perfectly apt, question of a title. I hope your answer is adventure with or without constant self-introspection
A little from column A, a little from column B.
I've never been in a touring band, but if I was young and thinking about being in a touring band this would be such essential viewing/learning.
And then I'd go get an accounting degree.