I loved this documentary! Before it I had never heard of The Brian Jonestown Massacre but now after watching dig I am a fan of them. I like the way the music just seems to flow out of Anton. I love how one of the records was made in a booth for $20. The band is so raw and unique. I hope they go far.

“You broke my sitar, motherfucker!”

this is one great film … deserves every award it ever wins. In addition, you’ll become an instant Brian Jonestown Massacre & Dandy Warhols fan from watching this flick.

Would love to have heard more of the music in the film, instead of just being told about it.

That being said, this is fascinating to watch, if only for the human drama. But what elevates it is the knowledge of these two bands’ outputs, and the absolute dominance of Anton Newcombe’s (BJM) musical talent over Courtney Taylor’s (Dandys). And yet, one can watch in all its painful glory why The BJM fizzles in obscurity and The Dandys make a splash.

It says more about the record industry than it does about either of these bands. But it also says a lot about artistic talent and integrity and what it sometimes takes to have it.

Or maybe Anton’s just an ass.

I found this to be fairly fascinating, although I don’t think we heard enough of the MUSIC of the Brian Jonestown Massacre. It’s all very well to keep hearing that this Anton guy is a ‘genius’ but there was very little of their music showcased to indicate this – and personality-wise he just comes across as a very annoying, self deluded and self defeating pain in the arse. It was all quite interesting to watch – in a voyeuristic sort of way.

A strange thing happened to me at the video store the other day. I spotted a film I never heard of. The case looked intriguing. The film synopsis seemed right up my alley. Most interestingly, it was covered in laudatory comments from media outlets and writers that I read and trusted: Variety, the New York Times, Rolling Stone. It even won the Grand Jury Prize Documentary at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

How in the world did this film fly under my pop culture radar? What black hole sucked it from me periphery? What vortex.. alright alright… It was a movie I missed—it happens, right?

Anyway, the movie is called DiG and here’s the DL:

The filmmakers cull over 7 years of video footage and journal the tribulations of two bands: The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The bands are very similar: Both are lead by charismatic and artistic frontmen, Courtney Taylor of the Dandies and Anton Newcombe of BJTM. Both are influenced by 60’s acid rock and glam. Both hold up the other as inspiration and friendly competitors. Both don’t seem to shower and sport fairly questionable hair styles.

That’s right. They walk alike. They talk alike. At times they even…. I always forget that next line. Smoke pot alike?

Two of a kind they may be. The same coin, for sure. But they are definitely different sides of said coin.

Witness:

Taylor is more together and more responsible. He wants to be an artist, he wants to defy convention. He wants to be a bad ass with a capital BAD. But he’s not. He’s not bad. Who’s bad? His band, following in his image, is fundamentally drama-free.

Newcombe on the other hand, is self destructive, conceited, unreliable, drug abusing, ass. But here’s the rub: Newcombe’s music is better. He’s more in touch with his art. He wants to share his art with others, but apparently not at the expense of having a real job and acting like a mature adult. Hey, I don’t fault him. The dude sees something horrible in record companies and any system designed to generate dollars for the latest pop hook. He believes it to take the purity away from what he does. He’s probably right.

So the movie documents Taylor’s move towards catchy ditties and Newcombe’s propensity to sabotage his own shows with brawls and band in-fighting. It presents alleged artistic superiority versus reliability (even if reliability occasionally pitches a hissy fit).

So who get the big record deal?

The answer to this question says a lot about what it takes to be a “successful” band with a recording contract. Sometimes, it’s not about being the great artist, sometimes it’s about showing up for work on time and doing your job. And unfortunately, sometimes the great artists get left out in the cold. Sometimes, it’s their own damn fault too.

The film shows some absolutely priceless moments—the best of which involve both Newcombe and Taylor in the same space. It becomes apparent that Taylor idolizes Newcombe and wants to emulate him—but not at the expense of jeopardizing his band. Taylor playing Newcombe the Warhols mid-nineties pop hit “Not if you were the Last Junky on Earth.” Taylor is clearly looking for approval from Newcombe, and Newcombe clearly hates the song. Later in the film, Taylor accompanies the Brian Jonestown Massacre on tour and witnesses first hand a fight and cancellation of a show. He squats in front of the camera in mock disbelief as obscenities hurl behind him and whispers jealously “this never happens to my band!”

It’s full of great moments that suck you into these people’s lives, their desires, and the differing ways art and commerce check each other.

Very cool flick.