Before grunge and Britpop's rock-star antics took over in the mid-'90s, shoegaze was alternative music's gentle giant: soft-spoken, noncommercial and, depending on the band, unbearably loud. For fans of the era, from its inception in the late 1980s to its resurgence with newer artists, L.A. filmmaker Eric Green's new documentary, Beautiful Noise, is an aural gift. Nearly a decade in the making and funded by Kickstarter, the movie tracks the history of the movement — which Creation Records founder Alan McGee aptly called “the marriage of punk and psychedelia” — via concert footage, videos and interviews with Cocteau Twins' Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde, My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields and The Jesus and Mary Chain's Jim Reid and Douglas Hart, as well as members of Slowdive, Swervedriver, Ride and Lush. Listening to Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan and The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne gushing over albums like Loveless and Psychocandy is a treat; even better is The Cure's Robert Smith talking about listening to The Cocteau Twins' Treasure while getting ready on his wedding day. Sadly, there's no interview with ever-elusive singer Elizabeth Fraser, but the film is as close as you'll get to hearing The Cocteau Twins in a theater. Cinefamily screens the L.A. premiere as part of its Don't Knock the Rock festival, with Green and producer Sarah Ogletree in person. Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Fairfax District; Thu., July 10, 7:30 p.m; $12. (323) 655-2510, cinefamily.org.

Thu., July 10, 7:30 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 07/10/14)

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.