I finally got around to watching We Jam Econo, the 2005 Minutemen documentary chronicling the underground rise and premature dissolution of Mike Watt, D. Boon, and George Hurley's eternally influential union. It's an imperfect film that could have benefited from more aggressive editing, but it's nevertheless essential viewing for anyone who holds the band in high regard. Particularly affecting are the scenes in which Watt's mother explains why she and D. Boon's mother were so supportive of their sons' musical endeavors. Her reasoning was that playing music was much better than getting involved with typical adolescent mischief making and that punk rock was not only a safer alternative, but a laudable one. "I thought this was really wonderful that they did this themselves," she explains, going on to describe how impressed she was that they helped pave the underground network that became the touring path for countless young punk bands in the '80s and beyond. (Another precious moment: Watt admitting that the first time he picked up a bass, he thought it was the exact same thing as a guitar, just with fewer, fatter strings).

As someone who, ahem, digs a good musical archeological exploration, We Jam Econo provided the bonus of turning me on to the Pop Group, the abrasive and ferociously funky punk outfit that flourished in late-'70s Bristol, England. Watt cites them as a major influence on the Minutemen, and the instant you hear their 1979 record, Y, you'll understand why. Similarly leftist politics inform their distinctly unpoppy brand of experimental, jazz-inflected punk, and the thick, annunciated bass lines are obvious touchstones. I was only able to find Y as a pricey import from Japan, but I highly recommend searching it out if you're a devout Minutemen fan.

Speaking of leftist politics, there's nothing like a liberal cause to kick Seattle musicians into action, and in the case of Radio Nationals, it's helped convince them to temporarily reunite to play a benefit for congressional candidate Darcy Burner on Monday, August 28, at the Tractor. Radio Nationals will be joined by the Starlings, K-Pop and the Coalition of the Willing, Dudley Manlove, and Colin Spring in support of what the band describes as "a young, intelligent progressive we want to help send to the U.S. House of Representatives this fall."

As for the preceding week, there's something noteworthy nearly every night, starting with the record-release party for Vindaloo's Jack Endino—produced sophomore effort, Machine Gun, at the High Dive on Thursday, August 24. A noisy convergence of Tacoma and Bellingham will take place at the Comet on Friday, August 25, when the Fucking Eagles and the DTs roll into town. If that's not enough preplanning for you, head to our newly launched Bumbershoot website (www.thestranger.com/bumbershoot), which contains compete schedule information, artist previews, and staff picks.