Washington, D.C. Punk at SCPA and MSPAL

Set against the conservative early 1980s political landscape, this film chronicles the American hardcore scene that was a swift kick in the head to corporate rock and mainstream complacency, as disaffected teens adopted the same collective credo--harder, faster, louder. Features live concert footage and interviews with people involved in the scene.

Shot over ten years (from 1987 to 1997), this documentary on the D.C. punk band Fugazi includes concerts, interviews, tours, practice, portraits, landscapes, studio work, super 8, 16mm and video.

When punk rock exploded in Washington DC, it was a mighty convergence of powerful music, foundational friendships, and clear minds. Punk the Capital explores the inspiring story of how this singular punk subculture took root in an unlikely place at the perfect time. Punk the Capital dives deep into a movement that not only refined a genre, but created a lasting model for DIY culture and political engagement. Situating DC punk within the larger narratives of rock n' roll, this film reveals why the sounds and ideas of this revolutionary music scene continue to influence and inspire people across the globe.

Examines the early DIY punk scene in the nation's capital. It was a decade when seminal bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Government Issue, Scream, Void, Faith, Rites of Spring, Marginal Man, Fugazi, and others released their own records and booked their own shows--without major record label constraints or mainstream media scrutiny. Contextually, it was a cultural watershed that predated the alternative music explosion of the 1990s (and the industry's subsequent implosion).