Tim Vega first turned me on to Redd Kross in 1986. We were record shopping at the legendary St. Mark's Sounds and he made me buy "Born Innocent." We then got to see them twice at The Ritz, once as headliners and again opening for the Butthole Surfers. The band was always on my radar right on up to 2013, when I saw them play live again at Santo's Party House. Since 2013, Redd Kross released two more albums, including 2024's self-titled release which was on a number of "best of" lists for the year.
Still, I always just "liked" Redd Kross. I thought their records were good, solid records, but not great records. In 40 years, they never ended up on heavy rotation, except for a little while in 1997 when "Show World" came out. That record knocked me out. It's hard to find a power pop song as good as "Mess Around."
But after watching "Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story" this weekend, I felt something I hadn't felt before. There was so much I did not know about this band and its leaders, brothers Jeff & Steven McDonald.
I'm sure this has happened to you. One thing--- a fact, an incident, a song, a story, a different point of view ---and suddenly your heart shifts one way or another.
This documentary is essential. If you are unfamiliar with the band, start here. If you love the band, I can't imagine you not loving "Born Innocent." Or, if you are like me, more than a casual fan, but not quite all in, this film may seal the deal.
The McDonald brothers are beyond engaging. The talking heads do a great job of selling their love for the band. The ever-changing band members are never bitter. And the overall direction of the film is superb.
Run, don't walk to your nearest streaming service and dial up "Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story" toot sweet.
I caught it on Night Flight...Plus.
I feel a Redd Kross binge coming on.
11 comments:
All I can say is Beatlesque -
Those two voices in harmony sound very familiar
ditto for me. i thought they kitschy at first, then slowly grew to respect them. can't wait to see the flick.
“Born Innocent…” is also available for free (w/ commercials) on Tubi -
https://link.tubi.tv/yr1VdnOpy4b
Couldn't agree more about "Mess Around." and like you I always thought they were good not great. Can't wait to see the flick.
LOVE this doc…My first exposure to Redd Kross came in ‘93 with Jimmy’s Fantasy off Phaseshifter and that baby knocked me over! I was a fan for life and still am.
I've just watched a half dozen song, videos of this band, some live which always is my benchmark for a band. The older brother has a great voice in the manner of a Liam Gallagher and singing covered in a veil puts him into that same batshit crazy presentation as L.
We saw the film on the Underground Garage cruise and the brothers did an entertaining Q and A afterwards. Great way to spend the afternoon while docked in Cozumel. AND the played played two fun sets during the cruise.
You can rent the movie on Amazon for $2 or watch it for free with ads on Roku or Tubi, as Dr. Wu mentioned.
I've been a fan of Redd Kross for over 30 years. Surprisingly I have never seen them live. In the meantime, I'll check out this documentary.
thanks a lot for the tip! watched the Tubi version yesterday, not too many commercials....really fun and interesting doc, thanks again!!
Saw it on Tubi this morning. I saw Redd Kross in '95 at a music distributers promo/convention. I was excited to see Peter Himmelman, who was just about to release "Skin," and realized that PH's band at the time was still the guys from Sussman Lawrence I had seen in Minneapolis as they were coming up. Redd Kross followed. All I remember seeing is the closing jam/rave-up that every band does at the end of some song, where the drummer solos and the guitarists strum and play runs and its all a noise pit until it justs BOMPS to an end. Redd Kross did this for 20 minutes!
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