Rock Docs

Today's episode is about "Not Not Jazz", a 2024 film about the trio Medeski Martin & Wood, directed by Jason Miller.

Our guest today is Josh Frisch of the Dad Rocks podcast, which we were on years ago, and now we get to return the favor.

As you'll hear, there was a bit of confusion, as Andy ended up watching a different MMW documentary. But we made it work.

"Not Not Jazz" asks as many questions as it answers - when was it filmed? What happened to the music that was being recorded during the filming of the movie? Why is it coming out now? Is music really its own kind of language, man?

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Instrument", a 1999 film about the D.C. post-hardcore legends Fugazi, directed by Jem Cohen in collaboration with the band.

Check out "Celebrate the Catalog: Fugazi" on treblezine.com

Our guest today is Vish Khanna, the host of the Kreative Kontrol podcast. This is a first for Rock Docs...in prep for this episode, and in recognition of the film's 25th anniversary, Vish got Jem Cohen and all four members of Fugazi together for a rare interview on his show. You can listen to that episode here.

We over at Rock Docs HQ are thrilled to have played any small part in that momentous event. Nonetheless, we managed to keep it together and have a lively conversation with Vish about the band, his history with them, and this incredible film.

Finally, Vish was also nice enough to share his thoughts about his friend, the late Steve Albini, a Rock Docs legend who we never approached about being on the show, to our regret.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple", a 2024 HBO/MAX doc about Little Steven aka Miami Steve aka Silvio Dante aka the Lillehammer guy, directed by Bill Teck.

This doc has almost everything you ever wanted to know about the legendary sideman, front man, and Renaissance man. The man who likes scarves, who loves rock & roll, and who ain't gonna play Sun City.

If you're a fan of almost any subgenre of rock music between approximately 1955-1990, or if you just thought he was fun in The Sopranos, you'll dig this one.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Check out Treble's piece on the Springsteen classic "Born to Run": https://www.treblezine.com/bruce-springsteen-born-to-run-treble-100-no-33/

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.", a 2020 doc about the legendary indie rock power trio, directed by Philipp Reichenheim.

Early in the movie, Dinosaur Jr.'s singer and guitarist says, “I don’t know where people got this idea that it’s supposed to be fun to play music.” Their music is fun to listen to and their shows are a blast, but for a long time these guys took the whole thing very very seriously, and the strain that attitude put on their relationships is a focus of the film.

There's a lot of lot of great music, excellent live footage, and some good talking heads (including a very weird and funny bit from the Pixies' Frank Black). What more do you want? To have fun??

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts   Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Scott Walker: 30 Century Man", from 2006, directed by Stephen Kijak.

Our guest today is Zara Hedderman, who listens to albums & writes (mostly) & talks (sometimes) about them in The Quietus, Aquarium Drunkard, Northern Transmissions, RTÉ Arena, and The IMRO Podcast.

The movie is about Scott Walker, who evolved from a 50s & 60s teen idol to an enigmatic avant-garde icon whose music pushed the boundaries of space, time, and sanity. For years, nobody knew much about him. Then this documentary came out and revealed that he was actually kind of a chill dude.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "The Decline of Western Civilization", from 1981, directed by Penelope Spheeris.

Our guest today is Ian Grant of the Jokermen podcast and media empire. This is Ian's second Rock Docs appearance, having previously joined us to discuss "Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 - Both Ends of the Rainbow" with his fellow Jokerman Evan Laffer.

The Decline of Western Civilization is a snapshot of the early days of the LA punk scene featuring legends such as X, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Germs, and Fear, as well as some less-known scene personalities.

X rules, check out our episode about "X: The Unheard Music" with Juliana Hatfield.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is a rare one where the subject is not a specific documentary (although there is some rock doc talk). We're joined by returning guest Steven Hyden to discuss his new book "There Was Nothing You Could Do: Bruce Springsteen's “Born in the U.S.A.” and the End of the Heartland" and all things Bruce.

Steven previously joined us to review "Pearl Jam Twenty".

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Let It Be", from 1970 and 2024, directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Our guest today is Jeremy Kaplan of the band Dogs in a Pile.

A restored version of the original Let It Be movie has shown up on Disney+. We talk about it. It's the Beatles, you know the story. How does this movie fit into the great context of the Get Back experience? Which version of the rooftop concert is better? And what's up with that very weird dialogue between Peter Jackson and Michael Lindsay-Hogg before the movie starts?

Plus: Evan Laffer of Jokermen provides us with his very brief review of The Beach Boys documentary, also on Disney+.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "Joan Baez I Am A Noise", from 2023, directed by Miri Navasky, Karen O'Connor, and Maeve O'Boyle.

Our guest today is Allison Rapp, a music writer and the host of the brand-new podcast all about Joni Mitchell, Big Yellow Podcast. Check it out!

Joan Baez I Am A Noise covers the life of the folk music legend from her early days as the middle daughter of a globetrotting academic to her rocket to stardom as a late teenager, through her involvement with various activist movements (about which she says "I was addicted to activism"), her fraught relationship with Bob Dylan, up to her farewell tour in 2019. With a brief stop in the 80's when she attempts to cover Tears for Fears' "Shout".  Joan is exactly as thoughtful and insightful as you'd expect her to be. The movie features great footage, riveting music, and, of course, some very funky dancing.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt

Today's episode is about "In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon", from 2024, directed by Alex Gibley. It's on MGM+, a streaming service the everybody definitely subscribes to.

Our guest today is Dan Jasper, who previously joined us to discuss the Rolling Stones documentary "Crossfire Hurricane".

In Restless Dreams is a two-part, three+ hour comprehensive look at the career of Paul Simon, if "comprehensive" means you go up to 1990 and then skip to about 2022. That's right, if you wanted to spend a lot of time watching Paul grumpily work on his 2023 banger "Seven Psalms", this is the doc for you.

There is, however, a whole lot of great music featured from the early and middle parts of Paul's career, as well as some killer performances. And a bunch of Lorne Michaels.

Rock Docs is a Treble Media Podcast hosted by David Lizerbram & Andrew Keatts

Twitter: @RockDocsPod   Instagram: @RockDocsPod   Cover Art by N.C. Winters - check him out on Instagram at @NCWintersArt