Boom! A Film About the Sonics

Guitarist Larry Parypa felt the pull of rock & roll in 1960 and decided to start a band. Little did the Tacoma, Washington, native know that more than 50 years later musicians would look to his band as a template and inspiration. The Sonics created punk rock, or maybe grunge, or garage … or any number of musical genres that rely on blistering tempos, distorted guitars and a wailing vocalist. Jordan Albertsen's documentary Boom! A Film About the Sonics features all five original members of the legendary band discussing how they got together and then changed the face of popular music without really meaning to do so. Boom! also includes interviews with the band's famous fans, including Nancy Wilson (Heart), Mark Arm (Mudhoney) and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam). Boom! is shown at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 2, at the Stage at KDHX (3524 Washington Avenue; www.cinemastlouis.org) as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival. Tickets are $10 to $13.