The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary (2023)

The Dogmatics might very well be the most emblematic Boston band of this half-century, that too-few people know about. This outlier status has more to do with the untimely death of their bandmate than with their catalog of kick-ass garage rock. The Dogmatics were established in 1981. They gained notoriety with a loyal following in the Boston music scene, and beyond. The quartet was no different than any other talentless, self-deprecating, beer-swilling, girl-chasing lunkheads with guitars. It wasn't about money. Catching a girl's eye, a free round of drinks, or simply completing a song in unison were their rewards. Fans and fellow bands in Massachusetts look fondly on the decades of positive ripple effects their presence (still to this day) has on the local music scene. This documentary is a labor of love by family and friends, crafted as a tribute to the Dogmatics' late co-founder and bassist Paul O'Halloran. See how the band came into being in the early 1980s, rising out of a pocket of musical talent in the South Shore area near Boston. At its core, this is a story of brothers - by both blood and bond. Not only that, but a rock and roll quartet that included identical twins with a common passion for music and its rich history.