930 F STREET
Tarik Dahir, Jeff Gaul
USA, 2004, 87 minutes
The mention of Washington, DC brings many things to mind--politics, the Kennedy Center, its time as murder capital of the world, and of course--the 9:30 Club. A bastion of youth, energy and music, it was born in the early 80s out of a need to support kids searching for an identity and a way to express themselves through music. This concert venue actually changed the face of music instead of just showcasing it.
The 9:30 Club was one of the first venues in the country to hold shows for all ages. This fueled the straight-edge movement that continues today, inspired by a song written by Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat and Fugazi. MacKaye shunned the lifestyle of hardcore excess, promoting instead a simple philosophy: "don't drink/don't smoke/don't do drugs" Kids wore big black X's on their hands to signify that they were not in the club to drink, and those X's became badges of honor.
930 F STREET is a thorough look at many aspects of the venue and the music performed there. Nostalgia overflows during interviews with patrons, original staff, indie record producers and musicians who played there in the early days, including REM, Minor Threat, The Rollins Band, Clutch, Bad Brains and many others. From the graphic artwork to the historic Atlantic building to that damned pole that stood in the middle--everyone has his or her own memories of this little piece of American history.
Mary Kerr
Tarik Dahir and Jeff Gaul are native Washingtonians and independent filmmakers who have been collaborating on projects for over 15 years. Their early film efforts began with borrowed VHS equipment and a trusty Amiga computer, and were the basis for their DIY approach to filmmaking. Though technology has become more refined, their methods remain the same: small crew, good communication skills, and polite phone manners (and they still have to borrow equipment sometimes). In 2002, the two set out to create a document that captured a piece of Washington D.C. history, and more importantly why this landmark was so important to so many both in and beyond Washington D.C. This document is their first feature-length documentary, 930 F STREET. Dahir and Gaul are currently developing ideas for several short format and documentary projects.
Print Source:
Tarik Dahir, Seven Psycho Samurai
8212 Roxborough Loop
Gainesville, VA 20155
Tel: 571-332-6740
Email: film930@yahoo.com
Sunday 6/19 at 8:00 p.m.
FILMS BY: TITLE | DATE | COUNTRY | INTEREST
| 
