Fugazi “Instrument”
| May 28, 2008 | ||
| 9:00 pm |
Known more by some for their political stance than their diverse body of work, the staunchly independent Fugazi has consistently refused interviews, and as such any non-musical information about its members has remained a bit of a mystery. As directed by Jem Cohen, “Instrument” is a fascinating melange of concert footage, rehearsals and random moments that goes a long way in diffusing some of the misconceptions brought about by the band’s dislike of the media.
As early as 1990, MacKaye knew his band was in a class of its own. “To exist independent of the mainstream is a political feat,” he says to an interviewer. Still, there are some genuinely funny moments where the message is hopelessly lost on the audience (MacKaye booting an obviously drunken teenager out a gig, the band playing a 1990 show at a prison in front of about 10 inmates) or when the band takes great delight in subtly mocking the status quo (MacKaye being interviewed in a lavatory by some slick Canadian MTV knockoff). It ain’t all politics and dead serious staredowns. “Instrument” emphasizes that Fugazi’s members are really no different than the rest of us.
Cohen manages to touch on all of the band’s many facets: its do-it-yourself aesthetic (MacKaye counting the money after the gigs, the band hauling its own equipment into a venue), the intense concert experience and a very revealing series of shots of fans standing in ticket lines outside shows.
The film has an appeal to a casual observer as well as a hardcore devotee.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 28 @ 9 PM
WHERE: The Civic Media Center, 1021 W. University Ave
COST: Donations Appreciated