From the CUFF program: “The story of D.O.A. frontman Joey “Shithead” Keithley, who transitioned from a punk activist musician to politician when he was elected for the Green Party in Burnaby, BC. In 2018, punk icon Joe Keithley turned art into reality by winning a council seat in his hometown of Vancouver. When he ran for reelection in 2022, his campaign demonstrated how music can still effect change, even in these surreal times. Something Better Change documents Keithley’s 40+ year journey as an activist musician in Canada’s most iconic punk band, and how it informs him as a Green Party politician today.”
Scott Crawford also directed Creem: America’s Only Rock’n’roll Magazine and Salad Days: A Decade of Punk In Washington.
This features appearances by Ian and Alex MacKaye, Duff McKagan, Jello Biafra, Beto O’Rourke, Keith Morris, and Dave Grohl as it tells the story of how Keithley has transitioned from frontman to politician.
As The Stranglers said in the song of the same name:
“Something’s happening and it’s happening right nowYou’re too blind to see itSomething’s happening and it’s happening right nowAin’t got time to wait”
Joe didn’t want to wait for someone else to do the things he saw that weren’t happening. This shows the journey of someone who once went by Joey Shithead, from punk to a man concerned about his neighbors. Unlike many politicians, he talks about the actions he wants to take, not just running for power or popularity.
I encourage you to see this movie — check out the Facebook and Instagram pages — because it’s inspiring to see someone take action because they genuinely believe in it. It reaffirmed my faith that sometimes, good people do good things.
Something Better Change screens as part of the 2025 Calgary Underground Film Festival, which runs April 17–27. For more information, visit https://www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org/.
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