"DIG!" (DVD) | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

"DIG!" (DVD)

In the psychedelic rock traditions of the Velvet Underground, the 13th Floor Elevators, Spacemen 3, and the U.K. sounds of Blur, Oasis and Primal Scream, comes the story of two of the hottest, and most prolific modern bands to hail from the West Coast. This 2-Disc Rockumentary profiles the tumultuous career paths and the devolving relationship between The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The bands tell their own story over a 7-year period, beginning in 1995, and mixes in live concert footage, videos, "on the fly" interviews, commentary tracks and more. The film transitions from a behind the scenes of close friends on the verge of being the next big things, to become bitter rivals in a cautioning tale on the first hand effects of rock fame, heroin addiction and its fall out. The no-apologies personal story includes footage of on-stage brawls, stormy exits by former band mates, to a tour cancellation due to a drug search and arrest by the Georgia Highway Patrol. Dig won the 2004 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Documentary. -- Herman Snell and Alex Slawson

Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.