Revenge of the Mekons
What Angio captures, beautifully, is that the Mekons make great music because, together and apart, they're so alive to the world around them.
Revenge of the Mekons
Revenge of the Mekons charts the unlikely career of the genre-defying collective notorious for being—as rock critic Greil Marcus notes—“the band that took punk ideology most seriously.” Born out of the 1977 British punk scene, the Mekons progressed from a group of socialist art students with no musical skills to the prolific, raucous progeny of Hank Williams. Joe Angio’s exuberant documentary follows their improbable history – a surprising and influential embrace of folk and country music; forays into the art world (collaborations with Vito Acconci and Kathy Acker); and consistent bad luck with major record labels. Among the celebrated fans who appear on screen to testify to the power of their music and artistic innovations are authors Jonathan Franzen (The Corrections) and Luc Sante (Low Life), musician/actor Will Oldham, film director Mary Harron (I Shot Andy Warhol), comedian/ musician Fred Armisen (Portlandia), and critic Greil Marcus (Mystery Train). Revenge of the Mekons reveals how, four decades into an ever-evolving career, punk’s reigning contrarians continue to make bold, unpredictable music while staying true to the punk ethos.
“The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock ’n’ roll.” - Lester Bangs, legendary music critic
“An exemplary documentary about an exemplary band.” - Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine
“A buoyant exploration of the musicians’ devotion to their art and each other.” - Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
“The Mekons are the most revolutionary group in the history of rock ’n’ roll.” - Lester Bangs, legendary music critic
“An exemplary documentary about an exemplary band.” - Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine
“A buoyant exploration of the musicians’ devotion to their art and each other.” - Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
Genre
Documentary,
Rock Doc
Runtime
95
Language
English
Director
Joe Angio
FEATURED REVIEW
Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times
In the liner notes for a 1982 record from the Mekons, the critic Lester Bangs wrote that the band would “gourmandise” rock. (He also suggested that he was paid $1,500 to write the essay.) “Revenge of the Mekons,” an infectious new documentary from Joe Angio, is a celebration of that voracity. The ...
Played at
Playhouse 7 6.19.15 - 6.25.15
NoHo 7 6.22.15 - 6.22.15
Royal 6.23.15 - 6.23.15
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