Nerd alert

With Giftmas behind us and unsavoury credit card bills only now drifting into our mail slots, I would say it’s high time to beat out the January blahs with some self-gifting. Here’s some rad shit that’s guar­anteed to make you punk nerds squeal with glee.

First off, there’s a couple of DVDs that just hit the shelves—let’s start with the amazing Silver Edition of the X documentary The Unheard Music, originally released in 1986. Director W.T. Morgan gets in on the ground floor, keeping his hand-held camera running through the L.A. band’s formative and most crucial years that would include the landmark records Los Angeles, Wild Gift, Under the Big Black Sun and More Fun in the New World. With live footage, studio footage and talking heads, a ton of bonus material including current interviews with John Doe, Exene Cervenka and the film­makers, as well as a snazzy 5.1 mix, this is a treasure trove of delight. Go to mvdvisual.com for a trailer and more information.

Bloodied but Unbowed, a documentary on the early Vancouver punk scene, made its Montreal premier at last year’s Film Pop, but sadly slipped under my radar. Thankfully, a new (count ’em) three-disc deluxe edition was just released, and is a guaranteed good night in. Directed by Susanne Tabata, this documentary captures the zeitgeist of the scene dating from the late 70s until the legendary D.O.A. would change the game and help usher in the term “hardcore” in the early 80s. What Tabata’s camera captures so vividly, and sadly what most punk rock revision­ists tend to ignore, is how intertwined the punk movement was with the fringe art and gay community of the day.

As great as the feature film is though, the accompanying discs help paint a crisper picture. The documentary on early Vancouver no wave band Tunnel Canary by director Eric Lohrenz is particu­larly stunning. If this band had been born on the Bowery as opposed to East Hastings, they would easily be held in the same regard as James Chance or Teenage Jesus and the Jerks. Also, the short film Useless by director Glen Sanford looks at the life of Subhumans bass player and Vancouver 5 member Gerry Useless, including his eventual incarceration for his part in the Litton bomb­ing of the early 80s. Go to thepunkmovie.com for more info.

Finally, there are two more items aimed directly at the punk rock nerd that are sure to spark up any desk. This week marks the release of the Wayne Kramer and James Williamson bobble-heads, complete with legendary riffs. For you L7s who don’t know who Kramer and Williamson are, they are the guitar legends that helped electrify the MC5 and Iggy and the Stooges, respec­tively. So stop pulling yer puds and get down on your knees and worship these guitar deities, you troglodytes! For more rad bobbleheads including Tesco Vee, Roky Erickson and others, check out aggronautix.com. ■

CURRENT OBSESSION: SPIRITUALIZED, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE ARE FLOATING IN SPACE… JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM

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