Half-Cocked (1996) is quite possibly one of the best rock and roll movies about the early 90s indie scene. Not only is it studded with an all-star cast featuring members from some of the most relevant indie rockstars from that period (members from Nation of Ulysses/Makeup, Royal Trux, Retsin, etc) but it also perfectly typifies the riot grrl ethos which helped to pave the way for many mainstream female artists through the rest of the decade and even today.
The movie itself is not to be admired for good acting or complex plot development but rather, as an example of the energy and attitude of the music during this time frame in the same way a film like Performance is an important cultural artifact.
Half-Cocked’s filmmakers, Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky plan to release the DVD on February 13th along with their second film Radiation (199 
which features indie darlings Stereolab and Will Oldham. Of course there will also be bonus material on the disc such a “making-of” documentary, music videos and pictures.
As a means of promotion for this release Anthology Archives will actually be showing a double feature of Half-Cocked and Radiation at 6pm on February 13th. For more information on times please refer to the Anthology website.
Ode to Daniel Barrow, my favorite video artist
Roses are red,
Sometimes they can be blue.
I enjoy your videos,
Please make something new (already)
Daniel Barrow, is a Canadian multi-media artist who has been creating pieces since the mid-nineties. My favorite, a series titled Catalog of the Original (2004) was one of the selected pieces in Astria Suparak’s tour in 2005. The video, ten multi-media portraits of obscure popculture personalities features a a short biography which Barrow recites dryly against the backdrop of melodic midi-beats.
Fortunately (for me) Barrow promises to be on tour in 2007, promoting his latest piece titled Artist’s Statement (2006), a five minute animated video of his “personal manifesto” set against music by The Ballet.
For more information on Daniel Barrow, his tour schedule and his email address so that you can convince him to come to New York City first go here: www.danielbarrow.com
Filed under: bbc, documentary, garapedian, genocide, screamers, system of a down, video
Speaking of Darfur and genocide, who knew that System of a Down were so politically charged. I guess somewhere in their songs, which as far as I can tell are a pattern of grunts and old man-style grumblings, there might have always been a political message but I had never known until now.
Screamers, which debuted in November to critical acclaim documents the Armenian genocide of 1915 which to this day still remains unrecognized by the international community. The band’s lead singer, Serj Tankian, is actually of Armenian descent so SD’s involvement in the project makes a bit more sense. Tankian’s 96 year-old grandfather is a survivor of the genocide and the film weaves his personal story along with other interviews by survivors of other genocides such as Rawanda and Darfur in order to create awareness about the Armenian genocide as well as ones that continue today.
Directed by former BBC anchor Carla Garapedian, the film will open on January 26th in New York, D.C, Boston, Chicago and Detroit.
For more information on the movie go here: http://screamersmovie.com
To enhance your knowledge of System of a Down go here:
http://www.systemofadown.com
