View Full Version : Dig - Dandy Warhols vs. Brian Jonestown Massacre
Has anyone else seen this excellent documentary? It follows both bands for 7 years. The leaders of each band were friends - from high school I think. One band chooses the major label route. The other band goes the indie route. BJM are a total mess - fist fights with each other on stage, band members quitting on stage, fans attacking them on stage - all captured on video. Highly recommended. I got it from Netflix, so I didn't get the bonus disc. I think I might have to order that separately now. Has anyone seen the bonus disc?
Chip Z
02-27-2007, 01:48 PM
It's an excellent documentary. I think it would be interesting for anybody interested in modern rock music. Even those that don't care about BJM or the Dandys.
I have the 2 disc set but have never watched the second disc. IIRC, it's mostly performances.
Thanks for the info. I'll pass on the second disc since it is mostly performances.
It is definitely a top notch flick even if you aren't into these bands. I had never heard anything from either of them before I saw the movie and it didn't matter. I am considering picking up "Give It Back!" by BJM. It sounded like there was some interesting stuff going on during the recording sessions. There was a scene where Miranda Richards (I think) was singing a quiet part and then this massive psychedlic riff came blasting in and it sounded pretty darn cool to me.
Chip Z
02-27-2007, 02:00 PM
I think there was another thread on this movie some time ago. I might even have started it.
In any event, I'll pull out disc 2 tonight and let you know what it's all about.
Christopher J
02-27-2007, 04:02 PM
This really is a fascinating doc, and I don't particularly care for the music of either band(although I give The Dandy Warhols props for their pioneering use of bouncing breasts as a metronome :) ). The second disc is well loaded with practically another movie's worth of deleted scenes as well as videos, concert and jam session footage, "Where are they now?" featurettes, footage of the commentaries being recorded, and a bunch more that I can't even remember. Best Buy offers Dig! as a 3 disc set, adding a sampler CD of the BJM Tepid Peppermint Wonderland comp that includes a 30-minute interview from with Anton Newcombe from Pseu Braun's WFMU show.
scotto
02-28-2007, 06:58 AM
Thoroughly enjoyed the film despite a barely passing knowledge of either band (knew more of their reputation than music). As a result we've scored both Tepid Pepperming Wonderland collections on vinyl and really enjoy them.
I agree with the above poster that anyone interested in contemporary rock 'n' roll should check it out.
somnar
02-28-2007, 08:21 AM
One of the best music docs I've ever seen. There's some pretty funny stuff from Anton on the BJM website about the film - worth checking out.
Chris M
02-28-2007, 09:12 PM
Easily on the of the best rock films ever IMO. I'm not a big fan of either band but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
8tracks
08-09-2007, 09:17 AM
I just go around to watching this last night. If this was just about the Dandys, it'd be boring. If it was just about the BJM it's be a pretty good watch, but the way these two bands are involved with each other makes this doc rise above most others music films. The self destruction of the BJM (you know the gig w/ Elektra's A&R reps attending at the Viper room is going to go badly, but there's no way to anticipate how badly), Anton Newcombe showing up on rollerskates up a Dandys gig to hand out copies of the BJM's response to the first Dandys hit, etc.
Fascinating.
Chip Z
08-09-2007, 09:37 AM
BJM is coming to Cleveland again soon.
In the last year or so, Anton played a "solo" gig here. (Actually him goofing around with some friends in an acoustic setting. At least the part I saw. It started ridiculously late -1:30 AM or so - and I live across town so I didn't stick around long.
There are a fair amount of people that have seen Dig or otherwise heard about Anton's antics and are just looking for some kind of blow-up.
gloomrider
08-09-2007, 09:58 AM
I just go around to watching this last night. If this was just about the Dandys, it'd be boring. If it was just about the BJM it's be a pretty good watch, but the way these two bands are involved with each other makes this doc rise above most others music films. The self destruction of the BJM (you know the gig w/ Elektra's A&R reps attending at the Viper room is going to go badly, but there's no way to anticipate how badly), Anton Newcombe showing up on rollerskates up a Dandys gig to hand out copies of the BJM's response to the first Dandys hit, etc.
Fascinating.
When I first put this flick on, I was bored. But my interest increased as I watched. There's so many interesting things here at so many levels. Harry Dean Stanton stopping by to shoot some heroin with the band? They acted so nonchalant about it.
The idea that kicking someone can be considered "Assault With A Deadly Weapon" is a stretch and shows how aggressive the LAPD is.
vince
08-09-2007, 01:18 PM
That kid with the tamborine...... now, THAT'S ROCK 'N' ROLL, BABY!!! Ha,ha,ha. I had to watch it twice, 'coz I couldn't believe that it all started in '97!?!! To think the woman who directed it would have something THIS COOL after all her editing is nothing short of a miracle!
8tracks
08-09-2007, 02:26 PM
That kid with the tamborine...... now, THAT'S ROCK 'N' ROLL, BABY!!!
Joel Gion? He's almost as arrogant as Anton... but with, ummm, less talent. Funny how he was the one to go to NYC to sign the band with TVT.
Bahax
08-09-2007, 03:01 PM
The onstage fight is priceless.
I like Take It From the Man! by the BJM, only one I've heard.
Steve G
08-09-2007, 03:10 PM
I can't watch this documentary because Anton is a lovely person who has for some reason made this career of having some crazy cult of being a "problem" but really he's a good egg and I only wish for the best for him. So don't believe the hype.
In fact everyone always says "well I know he has a reputation for being a #(*&$#^ but he's always been great to me" (I've said this as well), and when you hear that enough times you start to realize that that "reputation" might just be a shtick.
What he is is, a really good musician and songwriter and a nice person.
Now he will probably be p.o.'ed at me for blowing his cover. But don't believe the hype, that's all I'm saying.
blind_melon1
08-09-2007, 08:16 PM
I also enjoyed this documentary...
If anyone is interested in "Dig" they might also like "Fearless freaks", its a documentary about the flaming lips, I found it to be inspirational... :)
nobby the villan
08-10-2007, 01:14 AM
There are a fair amount of people that have seen Dig or otherwise heard about Anton's antics and are just looking for some kind of blow-up.
I'm another who would recomment the film to anyone with even a passing interest in music. I was already a BJM fan before seeing the movie but I still found enough content in it to hold my interest.
As for the aforementioned point, In the UK, it seems to be mainly the southern audiences that turn up to the gigs purely to see Anton have a fight, and these idiots will spend time goading him throughout the gig, due to his reputation. In the north & midlands (where I'm from), the gigs have always been cool and have gone down really well.
GoldenBoy
08-10-2007, 06:02 AM
I dig BJM and The Dandy Warhols, but I haven't yet seen the film. I remember hearing about it a while back, I thought it looked interesting, maybe I'll check it out.
vince
08-10-2007, 06:52 AM
I also enjoyed this documentary...
If anyone is interested in "Dig" they might also like "Fearless freaks", its a documentary about the flaming lips, I found it to be inspirational... :)
Me too! It inspired to write. I became a hard-core LIPS fan after watching "Freaks".
Alfie Noakes
08-10-2007, 07:58 AM
I enjoyed Fearless Freaks as well. Nicely done.
I saw Dig after hearing how much Anton hates it, and that he feels it was edited for "dramatic purposes" to make think look worse than they really were. It sort of tainted it for me.
Has anyone else heard this?
Chip Z
08-10-2007, 08:30 AM
I enjoyed Fearless Freaks as well. Nicely done.
I saw Dig after hearing how much Anton hates it, and that he feels it was edited for "dramatic purposes" to make think look worse than they really were. It sort of tainted it for me.
Has anyone else heard this?
I think I remember Anton's complaints and possibly a posting from him somewhere about it. However, seems to me that the subjects of a documentary that are shown in an unflattering light always complain after the fact. I'm sure that their complaints are legitimate in some cases.
vince
08-10-2007, 08:31 AM
I enjoyed Fearless Freaks as well. Nicely done.
I saw Dig after hearing how much Anton hates it, and that he feels it was edited for "dramatic purposes" to make think look worse than they really were. It sort of tainted it for me.
Has anyone else heard this?
True or not..... I don't care. It's still good. And I really would'ntve cared about either band.
Laservampire
08-10-2007, 08:58 AM
"DiG" made me fall in love with the BJM and hate the Dandys :D
Take It From The Man is an awesome album, if a little hard on the ears.... (a lot better than an Oasis album though, that's for sure!)
My favorite part of the film is when the chick from the Dandys is saying how creeped out she's getting from Anton's antics and he just appears in the doorway behind her with a stupid look on his face :laugh: priceless....
Joel Gion? He's almost as arrogant as Anton... but with, ummm, less talent. Funny how he was the one to go to NYC to sign the band with TVT.
I think Joel lives in the San Francisco area now. My friend says he has seen him a couple of times at Amoeba's in SF. I guess Joel works there.
I dig 'Dig' too.
scotto
08-10-2007, 11:00 AM
I saw Dig after hearing how much Anton hates it, and that he feels it was edited for "dramatic purposes" to make think look worse than they really were. It sort of tainted it for me.
Has anyone else heard this?
Yes, I've read this, but can't remember where. Like it or not, I'm sure the film has had a positive impact on Anton's record sales.
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