In Heaven There is No Beer (2012)
Plot: In Heaven There Is No Beer tells the story of the Los
Angeles 'Kiss or Kill' music scene (2002-2007). Fed up with the Sunset Strip
pay-for-play policies and "too cool for school" trendiness of the
Silverlake scene, the bands that made up Kiss or Kill forged their own scene
based on great music, cheap booze, and a mid-western sense of community. At its
peak, Kiss or Kill had more than 60 bands in its roster and 1,000 L.A. fans.
But as Kiss or Kill grew, it eventually became the very thing it was fighting
against.
My Review and Thoughts:
Here is truly a brilliant documentary on the wonderful
aspects of underground bands and a music movement in Los Angeles called Kiss or
Kill. This is about fun and true bands that never got the limelight or didn't
want the limelight they deserved. A great mix of personalities through
interviews, filmed performance footage and personal experiences. This film
shines in all its thought provoking perfect originality in showcasing a
movement of what was perfection at one time.
I am a true music lover. I have always been a music lover.
My passion is for groups that never sell out, groups that never seem to become
the glorified money hungry fakes.
This is about a music movement. A true music movement of
originality, fun and for the fans. A stamp of Kiss or Kill music movement gave
the fans, the outcast and those who never seemed to fit in with the stuck up,
glamorized bars and clubs and outlet to shine. The Kiss or Kill movement was a
place to shine. This was the underground. This was the side bar. This was like
the original CBGB of the present. But sadly like all good things, everything
comes to an end.
I really liked this documentary. You become a part of the
story through amazing history of the movement and through the wonderful years
that the movement was in existence. You get the interviews by band members, by
participants, by those who experienced the young new awesome fresh and all
originality that this became.
This is actually a fun documentary. A documentary to rock
two, to see all the antics and all the personalities and the drunken states. To
showcase the no holds bar attitude of letting go and being free and giving into
the music, allowing the music to win and for those listening being able to be
front and center.
Truly a fascinating story of all the personalities and all
the bands that were involved in 2002 to 2007 Kiss or Kill music scene. A
fascinating look at the many bands and one group that I really am fond of Bang
Sugar Bang.
Now to explain this documentary is to look at it from a
historical music point of view. People outside of the Los Angeles area probably
had never heard of this movement. What it was is Kiss or Kill was a club that
brought in local bands that seemed to be shunned or could not find their place
in other clubs because of the style, because of money and the stuck up reality.
Now it slowly started to grow with a bunch of bands becoming
friends getting together and creating their own little music world, creating
their own music movement that ended up expanding. The Kiss or Kill movement
created an atmosphere for an enthusiastic crowd of music lovers, cheap beer
drinking and great punk rock, and loud music that created the vibe for this
five years that it happened.
Something I really like about this documentary, about this
film, is that it being created, because it caused such a lasting memory. It
left such a lasting mark on individuals that they wanted to document it. They
wanted to spread the wonderment that this movement was. Most of these things
are never heard of, most seem to fade away throughout history and really have
no trace or existence other than passing stories and drunken memories or once
upon a time reality. The Kiss or Kill movement created such a story and passion
of music and a growing family of artists and fans that it would not be
forgotten.
Kiss or Kill music scene started off in one club. They
relocated several times as more and more came. They made a group, it
flourished, and it became a family. The bands and the fans became the one unit
until sadly what they rebelled against, what they looked down upon ended up
becoming there reality.
Another great and flawless idea that makes this documentary
shine is that they do the research. They basically leave no stone unturned.
They interview people that were involved with the movement, from fans, from
bands, to promoters and so one. You get a vast mixed array of interviews,
conversation and most of all pictures and videos of that movement and that era
that left the mark.
This is flawlessly written, produced and directed by Dave
Palamaro. He crafted a perfect documentary on a shining reality of a music
scene that was one of a kind.
I feel this should be essential viewing for any person who
considers themselves a true music lover or a music historian. This is a
documentary that goes up there with some of the great films on Music. This was
flawlessly directed and created and showcases a wonderful music movement that
sadly faded away but yet at one time had over 60 bands and many upon many fans.
Thanks to Dave this music scene will never fade away and be forgotten, for this
documentary documents the truth and the reality of the movement. I can say with
all honesty I would've loved to have been there. I would have loved to of been
a part of it. Would have loved to experience it. It seemed like a wild, fun,
original fresh and real music scene.
Flawless documentary. I highly recommend it. It’s a must see
experience and a film that shines with truth and the art-form of a one of a
kind music scene titled Kiss or Kill.
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