The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary
Watch on Roku or Tubi!
Now Streaming (free with ads)
Last updated: April 8, 2025
Now Available on Streaming & DVD!
- Stream on Roku or Tubi (free with ads)
- Order the DVD on Amazon
The Documentary (Synopsis)
Are you ready to experience what Lou Mansdorf at Rum Bar Records likes to call “Garage Rock 101”? See an intimate glimpse into the early 80s Boston music scene. “The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary” shares the untold story of the band that unwittingly pioneered and became emblematic of the genre.
This documentary is a four-year effort by family and friends, crafted as a tribute to The Dogmatics’ late co-founder and bassist Paul O’Halloran. It takes you back to the band’s origins, recorded on long-forgotten 8mm film reels. It gives you a glimpse into the dilapidated loft on Boston’s rundown South End, where the band lived with many other local musicians.
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. But somehow, success discovered them as they created music that fans of pop to hardcore could vibe with.
As their songs appealed to many audiences, they became known to many as “Boston’s House Band.” It’s not just a story of brothers (by blood and bond) but a rock and roll quartet that included identical twins with a shared passion for music and its rich history.
The Band (Bio)
Formed in 1981 and still writing and performing new music today, The Dogmatics is a Boston-based band known for their pioneering garage punk/rockabilly sound. They released two albums in the 1980s and toured with renowned acts such as The Bangles, The Fleshtones, The Replacements, and Beastie Boys. Multiple bands, including The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, have covered their songs.
After the tragic loss of bassist Paul O’Halloran in 1986, they disbanded for quite some time. They never lost their friendship or love for playing together and would occasionally regroup for charity events in the following years.
In 2019, they teamed up with Rum Bar Records to record their first new material in over 30 years with the release of their EP “She’s The One.” The new tracks delighted long-time fans and newcomers alike. Despite the disruption of the pandemic, they kept up their momentum and released their latest EP, “Drop That Needle,” in 2022.
From 2023 to the present, the band released three new singles, “I Can’t Get Over You,” “Library Girl,” and “With A Scarlet Letter.” They are recording material for other singles and plan a complete album release in 2025.
Additional Info.
- View our Press Kit
- Read the Film Credits
- Read the Band & Bandmate Bios
- Read an interview with the Director on BGN
- Listen to the Dogmatics recordings
- See the Dogmatics play live
- Something else? Contact Us
Success at Film Festivals & Events
The full-length documentary film played at various film festivals between 2023 & 2024:
- World Music & Independent Film Festival – Herndorn, VA (5/3/2024)
- True to Life Film Series – Washington, D.C. (4/19/2024)
- Ocean City Film Festival – Ocean City, MD (3/7/2024)
- LA Punk Film Festival – Los Angeles, CA (12/1/2023)
- Orlando Film Festival – Orlando, FL (10/26/2023)
- Albuquerque Film + Music Experience – Albuquerque, NM (9/27/2023)
- Manchester International Film Festival – Manchester, NH (8/10/2023)
- 9th Music Film Festival – Buenos Aires, Argentina (7/2/2023)
- Brighton Rocks International Film Festival – Brighton and Hove, England (6/20/2023)
- Vero Beach Film Festival – Vero Beach, FL (6/7/2023)
- Independent Film Festival Boston, IFFBoston – Cambridge, MA (4/26/23)
- Berkeley Springs Film Festival – Berkeley Springs, WV (3/31/23)
- Sound on Screen Music Film Festival – Cape Town, South Africa (3/31/23)
- Youngstown Film Festival – Youngstown, OH (2/26/23)
Film Festival Selections, Nominations, and Awards 2023-2024
Official Selections
Nominations
Awards
Reviews & Accolades
I am in the grip of having just watched the documentary about them but the Dogmatics really may have been the ne plus ultra of Boston garage band culture. They just walked that brilliant/stoopid line as well as just about anyone.
You can’t help but be a bit smitten by the charm of the film’s subjects, and a lot of that is thanks to Childs approach in how he brings us into this world.
An affectionate love letter to a band, a city, and a time when it all came together in the ultimate garage band punk lifestyle. If you know The Dogmatics, you will enjoy the nostalgia and good times remembered. If you don’t, then you’ll love getting to know them and what it was like in Boston when they appeared on the scene.
(IFFBoston 2023 screening) The film perfectly captures the joie de vivre of the early days of Boston punk rock, preserved by the band’s current members who continue to play live shows. It is also a bittersweet memorial to Paul O’Halloran who died suddenly in a motorcycle crash in 1986, ending an era and devastating the Boston music community.
A charmingly infectious local documentary about 80’s Boston cult garage rock band The Dogmatics.
The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary is a vibrant and alive blast filled to the brim with kick-ass garage rock, a rock n’ roll spirit, and an emotional core that keeps you rooting for these guys from beginning to end.
It’s a heartfelt story of brotherhood and a cool insight into the garage rock scene, based on the experiences of those directly involved and unique images of the band members growing up and performing. Highly recommended.
Dogmatics and local music fans alike are going to go bonkers for this. The film tells the band’s story from the very beginning and right up to their latest release… All bands would be lucky to have a career spanning documentary like this.
The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary has it all, the start of the band the middle and what’s still ongoing. It’ll make you laugh, shed a tear and mostly importantly appreciate the music created by the Dogmatics. A must see for any fan of the “Boston scene”!!
Music fans who recognize the longevity of this “quick-witted hometown band” will appreciate the group’s endurance and ability to adapt to varying music styles.
Film Festival Awards – The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary
The Dogmatics
Oct. 2024 Single
With A Scarlet Letter
New single "With A Scarlet Letter" was written and sung by Peter O'Halloran. This track may come off like a goofy garage/pub rocker on the surface. But at a deeper level, it examines our nation's puritanical heritage and warns of forces in America which seek to erode the separation church and state. So, yeah, it's a fun sing-along number that's also a political anthem. This band never disappoints.
The Dogmatics
Sep. 2024 Single
Library Girl
It steams ahead like the best Dogmatic material... The Dogs are in the same creative tear they were in the early eighties. It’s amazing to see and hear it happen. We have this on our Top Ten songs.
Library Girl is the kind of rock song any fan of this kind of music should get to know to draw The Dogmatics out of the Boston circuit. Yes, Library Girl is that good, believe me.
It's 100% vintage Dogmatics and vintage Jerry Lehane — a mid-tempo punk-pop banger straight out of the Boston garage rock textbook... And some of those lyrics made me laugh out loud!