Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted

Swamp Dogg is not the typical musician and this is not the typical documentary about a musician. The movie, directed by three people:  Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry, and written by four: Andrew Broder, Isaac Gale, Paul Lovelace, and Ryan Olson. The mosaic quality of film, messy, imaginative, zig-zaggy, fits the subject. The off-beat title — note the passive voice as well as the reference to an activity that we drop in on now and then as we meander through Swamp Dogg’s life and his past, which meanders now and then, too.

A pause for some non-meandering, linear background. Swamp Dogg is the stage name for a musician, songwriter, and producer named Jerry Williams. AllMusic writes: “Raunchy, satirical, political, and profane, Swamp Dogg is one of the great cult figures of American music.” His career spanned Southern soul, “eccentric” electronics, acoustic roots music, and rap (he was an early producer for Dr. Dre). His music was often provocative, with commentary on sensitive social and political issues. He now lives in the San Fernando Valley, sharing a house that has a pool with musicians Guitar Shorty and Moogstar and hanging out with performers and artists like Johnny Knoxville, SpongeBob’s Tom Kenny, and Mike Judge.

Swamp Dogg and his housemates and friends spent a lot of time sitting by the pool, casually chatting. These moments are surrounded by archival footage, including what looks like a bare-bones public access show hosted by a fan and some home movies made on one of the earliest videocameras. Those unfamiliar with Swamp Dogg will begin to understand his influence when we see him wander through a hallway in his home, passing a dozen or more gold records framed on the wall.

Those who then wonder why we are unfamiliar will get a sense of it when we see some of his work, like the album cover with him riding a giant rat. (One of the film’s highlights is when his friend, apparently not understanding how editing photography works or even that it exists, asks him where he found that giant rat.)

This movie is a pleasure on several levels, first as the discovery of a fascinating musician and his role in a remarkable variety of hit songs, second as a emblematically American version of a resolute original with a wildly generative and generous life, and third as a near idyllic story of a life of creation and support of others who want to create. It is also a story of loving family; Swamp Dogg’s neurologist daughter Jeri Williams’ love for her father is wonderfully touching.

And yes, that pool does get painted, and the final image is chef’s kiss.

Parents should know that this movie includes strong language and references to sex, drugs, and alcohol. There are references to sad deaths and family dysfunction.

Family discussion: Which of Swamp Dogg’s productions do you like the best and why? Would you like to live in a house of musicians?

If you like this, try: “Dolemite Is My Name” and “Muscle Shoals”