Music Mondays Presents : I Swear I Was There

Sometimes, no matter how much we loathe certain bands, we can't deny their importance and influence. Attitude and intent can often be more important than substance, and in the case of the Sex Pistols, their nihilistic rejection of "pompous authority" actually became their substance. Their earliest live shows set off a chain reaction of influence that would birth some of the most important bands, producers and labels in the UK's punk, new wave and rock scenes, ultimately altering the course of music forever.

Tonight, Alamo Music Mondays presents I Swear I Was There, a documentary look at the Pistols' pivotal 1976 performance at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall—a gig that directly inspired the formation of Joy Division, New Order, the Smiths, the Fall and Buzzcocks. Based on a book by David Nolan, the film tells the true story of that fateful night through interviews with people who were actually in attendance.

Be sure to get there early—the preshow will include a live Buzzcocks performance from 1981, and before the feature the Alamo will be screening London Weekend Television's 1976 "Punk Special" featuring the Sex Pistols, The Clash and more.

I Swear I Was There (feat. the Sex Pistols)
Monday, December 18th
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
9:45pm, $2 / $1 student, AFS
[Tickets]