The (Punk Rock) Documentary No One Knows About – Punk Revolution NYC

I am joking when I say “no one knows” because when searching for Punk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and CBGB’s Set there are barely any reviews. None on Rotten Tomato, and only a few on Amazon which seemed to be dated during the start of the 2020 pandemic. With the amount of drool on streaming platforms, I recommend this film to any punk rock fan eager to step away from binge-cringe shows like The Crown. For the amount of detail and what it covers, it should be a film everyone should be at least familiar with, if not know about it.

Lasting over three hours, and doing a better job of keeping my attention than Avengers: End Game, Punk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and CBGB’s Set is as much about New York City as it is the music. It deep dives into the drab scene of daily life in a city overrun with poverty, crime, and drug abuse resulting in a migration to places like East Village for inspiring artists to practice their craft at the venues available. And it circles back to how the city is a muse to these various performers painting a picture of their home with lyrics while offering revolutionary sounds to match.

Another highlight of Punk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and CBGB’s Set is the background in which the film goes into the various artists’ influences. Bands like the Velvet Underground, the Ramones, and Suicide are given an in-depth history of their motivation and reason for taking the stage. While hearing their story, you can’t help but feel inspired. Each artist or band is forming a new way of doing things simply by pursuing their interests. It’s the punk rock way – gabba love that.

The interviewees within Punk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and CBGB’s Set are stellar. Some of the big ones include Richard Hell (Neon Boys, the Heartbreakers, Richard Hell & the Voidoids), Richard Llyod (Television), and Gary Lachman (Blondie). These are the various characters who lived during this time, and hearing firsthand from them about a period of time I love was chilling. Plus, the footage is outstanding – revealing live performances from inside various famed venues like the Mercer Arts Center and CBGB’s.

All in all, if you have three hours – check out Punk Revolution NYC: The Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, and CBGB’s Set. If you don’t know much about the punk rock revolution that took place in New York – give it a go. Or feel free to check out the latest episode of The Crown. I am sure it’s a real thrill.