Pavement, fronted by Stephen Malkmus, are one of the most influential indie bands to come out of the American underground in the 90s. But this bittersweet documentary focuses on the story of Gary Young, the hippie drummer at whose house the band started recording their initial songs. Young — an unpredictable force on stage, always running or doing a headstand — ended up leaving the band after the Slanted and Enchanted tour, but his legacy is still felt.
This is a film about Gary Young and how chance, coupled with his chaotic individuality, transformed Pavement into a cult band of the lo-fi movement of the 90s. Gary Young starts by welcoming a group of young men led by Stephen Malkmus into his studio, but he quickly becomes the drummer of this band. His no rule approach aligns perfectly with the irreverent spirit of Pavement. Fueled by excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs, the line of his sanity becomes blurred and leads him to abandon the band. The film presents us with this portrait intimately, in the voice of Gary Young himself, who, after thirty years and despite all the illnesses that accompany him, shows us how he does not give up the freedom of setting the rhythm of his own life. (Ricardo Duarte)
