SXSWORLD

3 2 SXS W O R L D | M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 | SXSW.COM "What if this all stops today?" In the SXSW 2019 world pre- miering documentary, Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero, which traces the short, but impactful life of the '90s indie rock band, that is the question Brainiac's bassist Juan Monasterio recalls asking himself in 1997. At the time, the Dayton, Ohio-based quartet had just completed another stellar tour and was about to begin recording its major label debut. But not long after that question flashed in Monasterio's head, the unthinkable suddenly ended the band's brilliant five-year run — vocalist and keyboard player Tim Taylor was killed in a bizarre acci- dent. That tragedy is where the film starts, but it soon rewinds to the band's beginnings, and the screen is alive with Brainiac's infectious, angular, distorted musical thrill ride. Behind the film is director and co-producer Eric Mahoney, a fellow Dayton native who saw Brainiac play while he was in high school. "To this day, I devour music, film, and books; and to this day, that band is seared into my DNA because of how incred- ibly innovative they were," he says. Mahoney long ago ditched his own musical ambitions for filmmaking. An internship with lauded indie director Jim Jarmusch led to a job on HBO's The Wire, and in 2011, his documentary debut North Dixie Drive. For the Brainiac film, Mahoney partnered with an old friend and fellow musician, New York City-based video editor Ian Jacobs, and formed Hotshot Robot Productions. Along with interviews, stills, and stunning live and off-stage footage, the film includes animated scenes, which give Taylor added voice. "There isn't much that exists where he is speaking," explains Mahoney. "We have these concerts; we have a couple of on-camera things. Animation was a way for us to breathe life into him, so he could also be a part of it." Eli Janney, who produced Brainiac's albums, says Taylor could have tossed off palatable chart-topping songs, but intentionally did things the wrong way. "Tim was that elevated an artist — that jazz band he played in was astounding. Disruptive is an apt adjective," agrees Mahoney. Taylor and his fellow disruptors thrived in the mid-'90s as noise rock emerged from the underground after grunge's non-conformism kicked down the doors to the mainstream. "That was something Ian and I were interesting in dealing with under the umbrella of the story. It is almost a period piece," says Mahoney. The doc- umentary's wider arc also looks at the major record label system and a brief time when A&R reps looked in the indie rock scene for the next big thing. "We believe in it because it is an amazing story and also it's a Shakespearean tragedy." Mahoney says. "It just happens to be about a group of artists that I couldn't hold in higher regard." Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero screens Thursday, March 14 at the Alamo Ritz (320 E. 6th St.) at 2:15pm and Friday, March 15 at the Alamo Lamar (1120 S. Lamar Blvd.) at 4:45pm. Check out SXSW GO for all the information. Brainiac: Beloved Cult Band Celebrated in New Film By Linda Laban Brainiac. Photo by Adam Richer

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