Retox: YPLL (Epitaph, 5/28/13)
Last week, ALARM premiered footage from Retox’s YPLL documentary, giving an in-depth look at the existence of the punk-hardcore outfit and touching on the realities that face any group of people looking to play music for a living.
Now, as promised, here’s the hour-long film in full. (You also can get the full documentary by purchasing the new album, out May 28 on Epitaph.) It expounds on the topic of perpetually paying dues to yourself, with illuminating commentary from Retox and members of Melvins, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tomahawk, and many more. Simply put, the film is encyclopedic in its view of playing rock music on the road.
Singer Justin Pearson (also of The Locust) opens the film with an unforgettable line: “You kind of have to ruin your life to be in a punk band.” More than 50 minutes later, he nearly closes the movie with another poignant thought: “Did I really ruin my life or did I actually live life? … I am what I am and I do what I do, and I have to appreciate what I do have.”