Director: David Palamaro
MPAA Rating: NR
Film Pulse Score: 6/10
As a music fan obsessed with the punk rock scene in the early 2000’s, David Palamaro’s In Heaven There is No Beer is of special interest to me. Having grown up on the East coast, I was never really in tune with the indie scene in L.A. other than the few comps that made their way into my hands. That being said, I wasn’t aware of how dismal the scene was until Kiss or Kill came along and changed everything.
From 2002 to 2007, Kiss of Kill was a weekly showcase that highlighted some of the best of what L.A. had to offer in the indie scene. Like CBGB in New York, Kiss or Kill came at just the right time and helped propel and promote some fantastically talented groups. The show started out small, at a crowded venue with only a handful of bands, but it quickly gained notoriety and eventually outgrew two locations before ending up on L.A.’s famed Sunset Strip. Like so many of these shows however, the good times couldn’t last forever and the flame inevitably burnt out.
In Heaven There is No Beer chronicles the triumphant rise and fall of Kiss or Kill but talking to many of the people and bands that made it so popular. It’s an event that holds a special place in the heart of a lot of people because of how many opportunities and friendships it created. Bands like Bang Sugar Bang, the O.A.O.T’s, and The Dollyrats got their start with Kiss or Kill, and many of the performers would go on to get record deals.
One of the biggest takeaways from the documentary however, is how Kiss or Kill eventually became the exact type of thing they were originally rallying against. Some of the bands were achieving the type of success they’ve never had before and abandoned the club, and after it hit the strip things began to go downhill. It seems like the corporate powers that be began digging their claws in and it ultimately ruined everything.
On a more positive note, this film can be looked at as a blueprint for those looking to reinvigorate the indie music scene in their own town. Kiss or Kill proved that if you had the right talent and the right people organizing you can build a thriving music scene even when there’s seemingly nothing there.
The doc itself looks like one of the old punk compilation VHS tapes I used to buy in my youth. The quality is fairly poor and everything has that cheap DIY look that would probably make any other documentary look atrocious, but in this case it fits in with the content. Still, it’s seriously lacking in the visual department.
But visuals aren’t really the film’s focus. It’s the music that takes center stage, and if you’re a fan of pop-punk of the early 2000’s then there’s a lot to like here. There are a number of bands featured that I never even heard of, which is a welcome bonus.
In Heaven There is No Beer is a very specific type of music documentary that contains some very universal themes. If you grew up in L.A. during this time there’s certainly more to latch onto, but even if you didn’t there’s still a lot to get out of this movie.
