Tempe Arizona is your typical college town: It’s more urban than the surrounding area, has a classic main drag with many bars, and an ever-changing music scene. Starting in the late 80s, Tempe gained the eyes of the nation when record executives descended on the town looking for new talent. Suddenly, the small city went from a college town to the music scene in the Southwest.
Million-dollar record deals were passed out to dozens of performers from the town which included the likes of Gin Blossoms, Live Nudes, and Jimmy Eat World. One of these bands was Pistoleros. Founded by two brothers, Mark and Lawrence Zubia, the band rose to some national attention when they released their first album, though they never found the broad success of some of their peers. Mark, Lawrence, and other notable performers from Tempe share their stories and experiences in this deep dive into a music scene that helped to define the 90s.
While there are moments of high dramatization, most of the documentary follows an interview format. Lawrence is given the most screen time, though people from other bands and his brother Mark are given space to talk about the history of the Tempe scene. Drugs and alcohol abuse are discussed at length, and some brutal instances of self-harm and suicide are topics as well. While this may put some off their interest, it is the honest and intense nature of these discussions where this documentary finds its greatest strength.
The ‘Behind the Music’ stylings are obvious, but where Pistoleros really differs is the nuanced way in which it approaches addiction and recovery. Those studying 90's music will find helpful insights into the minds of key performers and songwriters of the Tempe scene, and those studying addiction or recovery will find heaps of useful information in Lawrence’s shared experience. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
As a documentary film, Pistoleros: Death, Drugs and Rock N' Roll could be shelved in the library's nonfiction DVD collection, alongside other films that explore music and culture.