Joe Escalante

"So Long, Astoria" Reunion

In October 2013, four old friends met up together for the first time in years.

The Other F Word

What happens when a generation's ultimate anti-authoritarians — punk rockers — become society's ultimate authorities — dad's? With a large chorus of Punk Rock's leading men — Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, Rise Against's Tim McIlrath — The Other F Word follows Jim Lindberg, 20-year veteran of skate punk band, Pennywise, on his hysterical and moving journey from belting his band's anthem, 'Fuck Authority', to embracing his ultimately pivotal authoritarian role in mid-life, fatherhood.

We Were Feared

We Were Feared chronicles the rise and fall of the Cuckoo's Nest punk rock club. Hailed as the birthplace of slam-dancing, the Nest famously shared a parking lot with a cowboy bar and the mayhem that would ensue when both clubs emptied was immortalized in the Vandals' songs “The Legend of Pat Brown” and “Urban Struggle.” Featuring interviews with the people who populated the scene, archival images of gigs, and live performances by Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, & T.S.O.L.

One Nine Nine Four

Explore the birth, growth and eventual tipping point of punk rock during the 90s. Narrated by skateboarder Tony Hawk, the film features interviews and footage of various bands and figures in the punk scene.

Cake Boy

With danger hot on his heels, erotic-cake baker Selwyn (Warren Fitzgerald) flees his abusive girlfriend and takes up with a punk band in this inspiring tale. Working as a roadie for No Use for a Name, Selwyn falls for a disabled cutie who persuades him to grab his mixer and compete against the "Master Baker of France." The Vandals bassist Joe Escalante directs this film featuring songs from Yellowcard, The Bronx, Jackson, Piebald and many more.

Fear of a Punk Planet

Vandals bassist Joe Escalante stars as beleaguered club owner Brian Gomez in this tongue-in-cheek look at the California punk rock scene -- which has undeniable elements of after-school specialness -- that he also wrote and produced. Tenacious D's Kyle Gass co-stars as the evil fire marshal determined to shut down Gomez's Mullet club. Bonus concert performances are also included, featuring NOFX, the Ataris and Good Riddance.

That Darn Punk

The straight-to-video feature That Darn Punk was produced by a new film division of the Kung Fu record label, and its soundtrack features a number of punk-pop bands, some of whom are, naturally, signed to the label. Several songs were recorded especially for the film by bands like Nerf Herder, No Motiv, and the Vandals, while much of the material recorded by the label's own roster is exclusive to the soundtrack or at least previously unissued. Plus, there are a few cuts licensed from bands like Pennywise, Rancid, and Lagwagon.