Release
date: June 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: DD/DVD
Lo
Sound Desert – Two Chapters Of Rock Music
Chapter
1 – Backyard Rebellion
Chapter
2 – The Outskirts Of Town
Cast:
Various
Review:
Lo
Sound Desert is finally upon and it seemed like an eternity for the
film to be released. Trailers started surfacing back in 2011 and it
promised an in-depth look at the legendary Desert Rock/Stoner Rock
scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Director Joerg Steineck then
decided to make another Stoner Rock Documentary sorry I mean
Fuzzomentary with the excellent Truckfighters Fuzzomentary released
back in 2012.
After
that film was released Joerg went back to his earlier project and Lo
Sound Desert is finally here. Lo Sound Desert provides an in-depth
look at the origins of the Desert/Stoner Rock scene and how it
influenced bands and musicians for generations to come. The film is
split into two parts - Backyard Rebellion and The Outskirts Of Town.
Backyard
Rebellion explains how the scene started with key interviews from
Sean Wheeler, Mario Lalli, Brant Bjork, Scott Reeder, Nick Olivieri, Alfredo Hernanez, Tony Brown Diprima and Josh
Homme. I never knew the Desert Rock scene had it's foundings with
Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack Culture moving to Palm Springs and
bringing their type of life with them. As the documentary states they
hated Rock And Roll culture. They banned Rock and Roll concerts to
the mid 1980s but with kids being kids, they needed a place and an
output to create music of their own. And this is the beginnings of an
underground scene starting to develop.
Joerg
expertly delves into the emergence of this scene with great
interviews and cool animated sequences (I think that Joerg is a
massive Terry Gilliam fan. As the sequences are funny and surreal as
hell at times) moving the film along at a rapid pace. Lo Sound Desert
also contains a ton of great footage recorded from the 80s/90s and
you can see real talent emerging right in front of you.
The
second part of the documentary explores how the scene moved to the
desert with the scene becoming more and more wilder with each
generator party. Mainly with the bands and their fans evading police
at every given opportunity. The film then explores band who found
some minor success within the 90s Stoner Rock scene mainly KYUSS and
Yawning Man. Though not everyone was pleased with KYUSS's success and
Joerg captures these moments with brutal hilarity. Not going to say
which bands or members who diss them but it made me laugh.
The
one thing you come away from the movie is who the real saviour or
hero of the Desert/Stoner Rock scene actually is. And that honour
goes to Mario Lalli. I came away with a much greater respect for
Mario after watching this documentary as his generosity for helping
other bands knows no bounds. Mario is perhaps the true embodiment and
spirit of the Desert Rock/Stoner Rock scene. And I thank Joerg for
pointing this out on this excellent documentary.
The
production is superb throughout. It may have taken Joerg a long time
to make this film but he's delivered the goods here. This is perhaps
the most important film of the Desert/Stoner Rock scene. If people
need educating on how the Desert/Stoner Rock scene evolved then they
should watch this film. This ranks along side Such Hawks Such Hounds
as one of the essential music documentaries to own.
Words
by Steve Howe
Links:
