Watch Desolation Center

Desolation Center is a fascinating documentary film that highlights the underground punk and industrial music scene in 1980s California. The movie explores the story of a series of guerrilla punk and industrial concerts that made a significant impact on the music and culture of the time. The events were organized by Stuart Swezey, a young artist looking to create a new form of live performance amidst the overcrowded and often commercialized music scene in Los Angeles.

At the time, rock and pop music was everywhere, with commercial, MTV-friendly artists dominating the airwaves. Swezey wanted to create a space for a different kind of music - one that was raw, edgy, and experimental. Through his connections in the underground rock and art scenes, Swezey was able to bring together some of the most iconic figures of the industrial and punk scenes, such as Sonic Youth, Einstürzende Neubauten, and Survival Research Laboratories.

The overriding theme of Desolation Center is the idea of breaking boundaries and creating something new. The film depicts the rise of this underground music scene in LA, which was characterized by a DIY ethos and a refusal to conform to existing norms. It shows how these punk and industrial bands used their music as a form of protest, aiming to subvert the status quo through their sound and live shows.

The documentary includes interviews with many of the key players in the punk and industrial scenes of the time, who provide insightful commentary on the events and their significance. Among them are members of Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, and more. Throughout the course of the film, we see how the Desolation Center concerts developed from small, impromptu performances in warehouses and abandoned buildings, to much larger outdoor events in the desert and mountains.

The cinematography in Desolation Center is striking, with sweeping shots of the California landscape and the chaos of the live concerts. The film is a testament to the energy and creativity of the underground music scene of the time, and it is clear that the events organized by Swezey were a major catalyst for the punk and industrial movements that followed.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its exploration of the audience reaction to the Desolation Center concerts. Many attendees had never seen anything like the chaotic, often dangerous performances by these punk and industrial bands. The film shows how the music brought people together in a spirit of rebellion and creativity, and how it inspired a new generation of artists and musicians.

Overall, Desolation Center is a thought-provoking and highly entertaining documentary that sheds light on an important moment in music history. It is a must-see for fans of punk and industrial music, but it is also a fascinating look at the power of art and music to challenge the status quo and create something truly new and unexpected.

Desolation Center is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.