Revenge Of The Mekons Plays At Film Forum

October 9, 2014 in Film, Videos | Permalink

Four years ago, I began telling you about Joe Angio’s Revenge of the Mekons documentary, which was then just in its Kickstarter phase. Now it’s a completed, critically acclaimed movie about the legendary punk band, has played numerous festivals and is ready to begin its run at Film Forum in New York, the city’s best cinema. It’s scheduled for five showings daily from Wednesday, October 29 through Tuesday, November 4. (Buy tickets online at the theater’s site; I’ll leave a link at the top of the front page so that you can get there easily.)

Revenge of the Mekons is a movie that combines rock music, independent filmmaking and journalism, the second, third and fourth worst career choices possible. (Fuck you, Radio Shack clerk!) It’s a profile of a complicated and revolutionary group which refuses to go away after 37 years and continues evolving and making great music. It’s also a testament to maintaining focus on what’s important regardless of changing fashions (and the same can be said of the film itself).

Take a look at the trailer.

In addition to watching an exciting film, you’ll also witness a number of special guests introduce various screenings, including Mekons Jon Langford and Steve Goulding, The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn and the great critic Greil Marcus. Jonathan Franzen, who’s featured in the movie, is not scheduled to introduce a screening because he has Jonathan Franzen money, so fuck you. But one of my favorite writers, Luc Sante, will present a showing because he does not have Jonathan Franzen money. You’ll recognize Sante as he’ll be the one dressed like a Bolshevik, muttering something about an 1890s Bowery barber who severed a customer’s tongue with a straight razor. Nice and normal, Luc.

And I promise that if you go see this movie at Film Forum, I will never, ever mention it again.

Until the home video release.

Thanks, Darren.

Might I interest you in a Victrola?

Tags: Craig Finn, Greil Marcus, Joe Angio, Jon Langford, Jonathan Franzen, Luc Sante, Steve Goulding, The Mekons

The World Premiere Of Revenge Of The Mekons

November 8, 2013 in Film | Permalink

I’ve told you many times about Joe Angio’s new documentary, Revenge of the Mekons, an exciting look at one of the most iconic bands in history of rock. The filmmaker just announced that the movie will premiere on November 15 in NYC. Get ticket info here. Learn more about the project on The Facebook.

From Angio:

I’m excited to tell you that Revenge of the Mekons, the documentary I’ve been working on for the past six years, will make its world premiere at the DOC NYC film festival on Friday, November 15.

The film—which Spin magazine touted as one of the “next big rock docs”—chronicles the uncharted course of the Mekons, “the band that took punk ideology most seriously,” as writer Greil Marcus described them, and reveals how, four decades into an unpredictable and still-evolving career, the group continues to make original, genre-defying music.

Please join me, co-producer Jessica Wolfson and editor Jane Rizzo, along with special guests Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Steve Goulding and Rico Bell of the Mekons, at the screening.

Friday, Nov. 15. at 9:45pm

SVA Theatre

333 W. 23rd St, between 8th & 9th Aves

For ticket information, go to: http://www.docnyc.net/film/revenge-of-the-mekons

I hope to see you at the premiere!

Tags: Joe Angio

Update About Joe Angio’s Revenge Of The Mekons

October 8, 2013 in Misc. | Permalink

I’ve told you a few times now about the production of Joe Angio’s film, Revenge of the Mekons, an exciting documentary about the iconic band. Now there are ways for those of you in Leeds and Chicago to support the film. Sadly, I’ve run out of ways to mock Angio and his loved ones without resorting to slander (e.g., so many infants murdered, their kidneys harvested), so I’ll just give you the straight-up information.

Leeds info:

Revenge of the Mekons will screen on the closing night of the Leeds International Film Festival! It’s a fitting location (for those of you who don’t know, the Mekons met at Leeds University) and I’m really excited for it to be the site of the film’s U.K. premiere.

Here are the details: Thursday, Nov. 21, 9:30pm at Hyde Park Picture House. Come Friday, find more info here.

Chicago info:

For those of you in the Chicago area who would like to join us on October 20, the invitation is attached. Publican Quality Meats and Panozzo’s Italian Market are providing the food and Dog Fish Head and City Winery is providing the beer and wine. We’ve got loads of great raffle prizes and I will screen about 25 minutes of the film. It’s going to be fun. I hope to see you there!

UPDATE: As if you needed another good reason to join us for the film’s fundraiser in Chicago on Oct. 20: The Mekons’ very own Jon Langford will be attending. The evening just got a whole lot more fun!

Tags: Joe Angio, Jon Langford, The Mekons

Tonight Is The Revenge Of The Mekons Party

April 16, 2013 in Film, Misc. | Permalink

Just a quick reminder about the Revenge of the Mekons fundraiser party I told you about recently. It’s tonight at 7pm, so RSVP at events@alisoneighteen.com or call (212) 366-1818. In addition to beer, film, food, fun and Franzen, there will also be an auction of rare Mekons posters and art work. It will be a silent auction, so shut the fuck up.

Will there be any Mekons there? It’s a cash bar, so you do the math.

Tags: Joe Angio

Fundraiser Party For Revenge of the Mekons Film

April 8, 2013 in Film | Permalink

Some of you may recall a post from November 2010 when I directed your attention to a Kickstarter campaign for filmmaker Joe Angio, who was trying to finish editing his latest documentary, Revenge of the Mekons. The campaign was successful, the edit is complete and the buzz is tremendous. To defray closing costs and to be able to take his film about the legendary rock group to festivals, Joe is having a Manhattan fundraiser party on Tuesday April 16 at Alison 18. Tickets are $75 and you can RSVP by calling (212) 366-1818.

While Joe is loath to hold a fundraiser, such action is required. For those of you unfamiliar with the world of independent documentarians, these directors are essentially hoboes with cameras. Usually, the cameras are rented. Some of the male documentarians could actually buy a camera if they could make a sale at a sperm bank, but who would want their children to turn out like that? The line must end.

This party is very exclusive and open only to those who have $75 and can throw on a pair of pants before entering the building. (Pants requirement gladly waived at door.) In addition to Two Boots pizza and Dogfish Head Brewery beer, you’ll get an extended sneak peek at this very anticipated film. There will also be special guests, including the brilliant novelist Jonathan Franzen, who appears in the movie discussing the Mekons. And you know if Franzen’s there, Oprah Winfrey won’t be. Finally, an evening without Oprah crawling up your ass! An added bonus: Donald Trump will also not be there. Mostly because he’s a moron.

There are 667,200 millionaires living in the New York City area, and if you’re reading Afflictor, you’re most certainly not one of them. But if you have $75 and want to have fun and support good cinema and good music, this is your chance.•

Joe Angio, left, and a fellow indie filmmaker take the train to the party.

Oprah: Would love to go to the event and give that snooty Jonathan Franzen a piece of her mind. If only she had $75!

Oprah: Would have loved to attend and give that snooty Jonathan Franzen a piece of her mind. If only she had $75!

The real Joe Angio: A career counselor couldn’t hurt.

Tags: Joe Angio, Jonathan Franzen, Revenge of the Mekons film

Thanks For Supporting The Mekons Documentary!

December 13, 2010 in Misc. | Permalink

If you tell Jonathan Franzen to sign your book, "Dear Oprah," he has no choice but to do it. You fucking deal with it, Franzen! (Image by David Shankbone.)

I want to thank all of you who’ve generously supported the Mekons documentary that is being made by my old boss Joe Angio. His Kickstarter campaign has been a great success, and he’s raised enough money to begin the editing process in earnest. Now with just four days to go in the fundraising, every dollar he makes brings him closer to being able to completely finish the movie.

My guess is some Afflictor readers might like books more than music or film, so I wanted to point out that some of the writers who are featured in the doc have contributed autographed books that can be yours for a donation. Still available, for instance, are four copies of Freedom by Jonathan Franzen, who will personalize the inscription to the pledger. (Freedom, by the way, was just chosen by the New York Times as one of the “10 Best Books of 2010.”) Check the Rewards list on the right-hand column of the Kickstarter page to get a nice holiday gift for a loved one (or yourself). And thanks again for helping a great project.

••••••••••

The original post from November 8, 2010:

Bleg: Help Complete A Movie About The Mekons

You know I don’t bleg for me, but I am willing to bleg for a good cause or a good project. One such project is a documentary about the rock group the Mekons that is currently being made by Joe Angio, a former boss of mine and a fine filmmaker. He has finished shooting just about all the material and needs some money to begin the editing process. You can give by visiting his kickstarter site. But some questions you may want answered before you give:

Who are the Mekons?

An incredible and incredibly influential band that has stood the test of time for more than three decades, maintained integrity and still rocks on.

Who is the director?

Joe Angio is the talented filmmaker who made the smart and entertaining film, How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It), a documentary about Melvin Van Peebles. The film was critically acclaimed and called “an energetic and admiring biography” by the New York Times‘ A.O. Scott, who has read books and shit.

Should I give money if I like the director Joe Angio?

Yes, though I question your taste in people.

Should I give money if I hate the director Joe Angio?

Definitely. There’s no better way to stab someone in the back than to encourage that person to be an independent filmmaker. It’s an awful and unglamorous life. If you really want to twist the blade, encourage that person to be a documentarian. There’s no money in it, and it’s endless work. These are the kind of filmmakers who actually have to pay for their cocaine. Meanwhile, Brett Ratner dates Maggie Q. Unfair.

Why don’t the Mekons hold a benefit concert to raise funds?

They’re currently drunk, every last Mekon. It’s rock and roll.

Have any celebrities contributed to the cause so far?

Indeed they have!

Are there rewards?

Yes, there are. Go to kickstarter and see all the cool stuff you can get for a modest donation. You can probably resell most of it on eBay for at least twice what you pay for it. (Joe Angio is a filmmaker, not an accountant.)

Will my donation be used responsibly?

All contributions will go to editing this film and making it great. Every penny will be squeezed until Abraham Lincoln’s head wounds reopen.

Seriously, it’s a great project, so if you love the Mekons or independent film or people doing something creative because it’s good thing to do, please give.

And look for my documentary about Ke$ha in 2014. It will $uck.

Tags: Joe Angio, Jonathan Franzen, Oprah Winfrey