The Elephant 6 Recording Co.
Directed by Chad Stockfleth

TICKETS

$12 | $8 Speed members

“A definitive screen history to date of the collective that put the psychedelic twee back in rock-pop.”—Dennis Harvey, 48 Hills

The Elephant 6 Recording Co shares the unique inside story of the collective creative evolution behind the sounds of 1990s psychedelic rock bands Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Apples in Stereo–the founding groups behind the Elephant 6 collective, as well as a host of other artists–with inspirational resonance for today’s music makers, and music lovers everywhere.

Around 1985, a group of Ruston, Louisiana area high schoolers began experimenting with whatever random instruments and gear they could lay their hands on. Moving to other small college towns including Denver, Colorado and Athens, Georgia, their musical coming of age coincides with the new consumer availability of old-school 4 and 8-track recording technology and cassette tapes. Sharing like-minded sensibilities, influenced by past sounds and psychedelia, and with little to distract them, their efforts to create whole new musical worlds become the bands Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel and The Apples in Stereo, and many more.

While the collective grew to a natural breaking point, its founding members overcame obstacles and remained closely bonded, reuniting for tours, and still collaborating today. This documentary provides insight into this revolutionary era of popular independent music in America, the defiant DIY spirit in music making, and championing the integrity of an authentic quest for artistic expressiveness over the more mainstream image of being a “successful” musician in our fame-obsessed times. 2022, U.S., DCP, 93 minutes. Recommended for 15+.