We Were There to Be There

Great documentary and band footage. The show is remembered as both a landmark moment for punk rock and for the perception of mental health care within U. S. popular culture, all in the wake of then-former California Governor Ronald Reagan's cuts to social services within the state1. The Cramps performed a free concert before an apparently appreciative audience at the Napa State Mental Institute on June 13, 1978Shot by local visual artists, the quality of the video is amazing and both bands put on a show. The mix of 70's punk scenesters, mental patients, and staff is a rare example of the punk rock ethos without an ounce of pretension. It's amazing how much The Cramps, who even then were super polished, seemed to enjoy the experience. The styles and sound from that era are amazingly resilient, but it's rare to see the scene at its founding. Also a poignant commentary on the devastating impact of Reagan's withdrawal of funds/privatizing mental health services.