Bunkers: An American Music Story

I have never been to Minneapolis so I have never been to the city’s legendary Bunkers Music Bar and Grill. I have never seen, nor heard for that matter, any of their local musicians until watching Bradford Thompson and Maurice Jolly’s independent documentary Bunkers: An American Music Story. But after watching the film, should I ever find myself in town for a baseball game or other bit of business, I know where I’m kicking back.

Bunkers tells the story of the establishment’s history going from a struggling pub to a hot spot for local musicians. Bunkers isn’t a fancy joint, the cuisine doesn’t look to be prepared by a world-class chef and its clientele isn’t all rich and swanky. Bunkers is a place for the Average Joe and Suzy to hang out and hear some music. That’s the way it’s been for some 25 years.

Bunkers is a celebratory film made by those who hold the place close to their heart. So don’t expect any dirty secrets or scandalous revelations about the Minneapolis music scene. Instead the film mixes live performances with nostalgic interviews in which musicians pay tribute to one another, music and, most of all, Bunkers.

This is a simple film – and I mean that in a good sense. What made Bunkers what it is today is the music. Thankfully much of the documentary pays tribute by squeezing in as many musical numbers as possible. So now even though I can’t make it to Bunkers in person, I can cozy up on my own couch, have a cold one and let the sweet sound of Bunkers jazz fill my mind. Before seeing Bunkers I’d never heard of Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers, the TC Jammers, Debbie Duncan or GB Leighton. Now I consider myself a fan.

There are times when I found the interviews a little repetitive, but they were merely interludes to shape the story that is Bunkers. And while I did find some of the chatting tiresome, they still help shape the feel for the place. Often the talking is enhanced by chatting in the background – the Bunkers ambiance in action.

While I may not be an expert in music and music theory, but through Bunkers, I have gained tremendous respect for the local Minneapolis music scene and the role Bunkers played in bringing it along.