Live House is a 2009 documentary film directed by Kevin McGue. The film includes interviews with Minutemen

Minutemen (band)

Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...

 founder Mike Watt

Mike Watt

Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...

, Red Bacteria Vacuum

Red Bacteria Vacuum

Red Bacteria Vacuum is an all-girl Japanese punk band from Osaka formed in 1998 consisting of Ikumi , Kassan , and Jasmine . The band relocated to Tokyo in 2000...

, and other Japanese underground bands.

The documentary explores the underground rock music scene in Japan, in which bands play at venues called "live houses," which differ from live music venues in other countries. According to live house owners and bands interviewed in the film, a live house is different than bars in America

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 that invite bands to play and charge a cover, as customers at a live house come primarily to enjoy music rather than drink alcohol.

Mike Watt, interviewed for the film during a tour of Japan, talks of first coming to Japan when playing bass for J. Mascis and Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...

during stadium tours, but became interested in the country's underground music scene and returning to tour in much smaller venues.