With Less Than a Month to Go, Crowd-Funded Load Documentary Still Needs Your Help

Hype has been slowly building for a new documentary film that promises to shed light on pioneering South Florida punk legends Load.

Made up of drummer Fausto Figueredo, guitarist Jeff Tucci, and singer Bobby "Load" Johnston, Load was "a wrecking ball disguised as a brakeless 18-wheeler handing out candy to unsuspecting children, playing loud, unforgiving, seemingly careless, always-honest punk rock." For the burgeoning South Florida punk scene of the early to mid-'90s, Load was a pivotal, freewheeling powerhouse not without its share of tragedy.

"We're making this film because we think it's an important story that should be seen about a band that should be heard," filmmaker Gary Ahmed explained of the project earlier this year. "None of this would've been possible if it wasn't for the fact that many of the people involved love Load and are passionate about telling this story."


Together with his brother and coproducer Rick, Ahmed set out to realize their vision for the documentary, compiling video footage and interviews with those close to the band. They also launched an IndieGoGo crowd-funding campaign to raise funds necessary for completing the project.

As of today, however, the campaign has reached only 41 percent of its $10,500 funding goal. With just 18 days left before the campaign's end, they need all the help they can get.

With a variety of "perks" up for grabs for those who donate — from an "ultra-rare first pressing of LOAD's first record, Does Dead Godflesh Smell?" for a $30 contribution to "Contributor credit plus Pastor's day patch, Vintage LOAD T-shirt, Limited DVD and a very rare original Pastor's day 7 inch on green vinyl" for a $500 contribution — there's plenty of incentive for fans and supporters of our local music scene to make their mark on this little gem of history.

The Whiskey on Beer documentary feature's IndieGoGo campaign closes April 19, with all funds going toward "logistics for remaining shoots, as well as post production fees, color correction, mixing, animations, and effects all the way up to film festival entrance fees." The Ahmed brothers anticipate a 2016 release for the film.

Donate here. Keep up with the film's progress on Facebook here.