DESOLATION CENTER is the previously untold story of a series of Reagan-era guerrilla music and art performance happenings in Southern California that are recognized to have paved the way for Burning Man, Lollapalooza and Coachella, collective experiences that have become crucial parts of alternative culture in the 21st century. The feature documentary splices interviews and rare performance footage of Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Swans, Redd Kross, Einstürzende Neubauten, Survival Research Laboratories, Savage Republic and more, documenting a time when pushing the boundaries of music, art, and performance felt like an unspoken obligation.
Illuminates a momentous time when the Mojave beckoned with anarchic artistic overload.Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
Packed with great archival photos and video footage... an extremely well-rounded set of interviews.Carla Hay, Culture Mix
Swezey's film confirms that his scene's flame is still burning.Leah Pickett, Chicago Reader