'Life on the Other Planet' Documentary Film

The Boston music scene of the 1970s and '80s was not like anything else, before or since.

In his teens and 20s, Vince Straggas was immersed in that world — spending night after night in gritty clubs, forming community with his fellow fans, and checking out bands that helped shape the future of rock.

Now a filmmaker, Straggas illuminates this heyday in a new documentary, "Life on the Other Planet." The film includes recent interviews and archival footage, and features artists including The Neighborhoods, Willie Alexander, Robin Lane, Mission of Burma, Human Sexual Response, The Atlantics, the Lyres, Girls Night Out, Jon Butcher Axis, the Nervous Eaters and many more.

Straggas is an Emmy Award–winning producer, director, writer, and editor for film and television. With his Waltham, Mass., film company, Flagday Productions, he has worked on more than 150 projects in the past 25 years. Previous feature-length docs include Afterwords, Love is Blind, and Member of Parliament.

Life on the Other Planet is a little different from the average rock doc. Straggas conceived of the idea to interview bands, former club owners (including Jim Harold, the owner of the Rat), and members of the scene—around two dozen people total—during the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic. After amassing more interview material than he knew what to do with, plus tons of archival footage and photos, he changed the focus of the project. Instead of getting bogged down in the details of who-played-what-where or who-signed-whom-when, he decided to create something more sweeping: a love letter to Boston told through its soundtrack.
Straggas at the sold-out premiere of his new documentary, Life on the Other Planet, on October 24.

“It took me about six months to figure out how to edit it, which was really weird for me, because normally I can just look at something and know how to approach it,” he says. “But I kept looking at it from the musicians’ point of view, and then I thought, ‘Wait a minute. The only way I can tell this story is to have Boston be the star of this film, and make everybody else the costar.’”

You won’t hear much about Aerosmith, Boston (the band), or the Cars in this documentary. While they and other national acts may have made a few appearances at the Rat, they didn’t encapsulate the era the way the local acts did, says Straggas.

“The people who played there and made their mark are groups like the Nervous Eaters, Willie Alexander, the Real Kids, the Neighborhoods,” he says. “I consider those groups to be the Mount Rushmore of Boston rock and roll.” (The Nervous Eaters performed at the film’s October 24 premiere.)

Following the film The Nervous Eaters will play a full set LIVE at The Fallout Shelter!

The Nervous Eaters -
“The Nervous Eaters were among the leading lights of Boston’s flourishing pop-punk scene in the late 1970s. Their resurrection album shows they’ve only enhanced their hooks, headlong acceleration, and gift for inspiring song. Play it loud and proud”. ~ Lenny Kaye

“The Nervous Eaters have that eclectic Boston heritage. There never was a real ‘Boston sound,’ but with the Eaters, there’s some roots attached to it. I associate the Boston sound going back to the big ones: Barry and the Remains, The J. Geils Band and Aerosmith. You can see Steve Cataldo’s evolution from the punk world to post-punk. I can hear a bit of Bowie, Petty, The Kinks. They’re gonna make Boston proud again.” ~ Stevie Van Zandt

Fueled by the raw sounds of Link Wray, early Chicago Blues greats and British guitar legends Beck, Clapton and Page, the Nervous Eaters created a raw edgy song style uniquely their own. The band consisted of Steve Cataldo lead vocals and lead guitar, Stanley Clarke vocals and rhythm guitar, Rob Skeen vocals and bass guitar and Jeff Wilkinson on drums.

They debuted in March of 1976 under the management of Jimmy Harold, owner of the legendary nightclub “The Rat” in Boston. The band released their first of two singles for Rat Records that included the hit song “Loretta” which became one of the city’s most endearing rock and roll anthems. The second single featured the punk classic “Just Head” one of the bands most popular songs.

The Nervous Eaters were one of the more popular rock & roll bands in the Northeast, eventually headlining at venues throughout the United States and Europe. The band has opened for numerous National Acts that included Iggy Pop, Squeeze, The Go Go’s, The Pretenders, The Police, The Ramones and The Split Enzs. Other bands from the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia have covered songs by the Nervous Eaters.

Ric Ocasek of The Cars produced a demo for the band that was picked up by Elektra Records and released nationally in 1980. They have also recorded for Penimman Records, No Tomorrow Records and Ace of Hearts Records. The band was signed by Wicked Cool Records in 2021 with new songs to be released during 2022.

The current band is Steve Cataldo on lead guitar and vocals, Brad Hallen on bass and vocals, and David McLean on drums.

The Fallout Shelter is an all ages performance venue welcoming worldwide, world class music in an intimate setting. Our studio audience attends to watch the creation and production of the music television series The Extended Play Sessions. The Fallout Shelter events are immersive experiences for both audience and performers alike...a live music experience like no other. We are fully ADA compliant and have wheelchair access. We have a wide selection of beer and wine for your adult beverage pleasures and each show comes with a free commemorative event poster. Our doors open at 6PM. Seating is General Admission. We recommend you arrive at the time the doors open.