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Just What I Needed is a documentary that could very well have been twisted into a bizarre fictional film with nothing holding it together but—God help them—Billy Idol and the Violent Femmes. Led by the freewheeling Chris Culotta (aka DJ Bird), each of the main characters populating the benevolent subculture that is Star 80 goes by an escapist alias. Mr. Fabulous, Star 80’s premier patron and glam dancer, and a foursome known as The T-Shirt Kids, who agonize over slogans and preen their homemade designs front-and-center on the Spanish Moon stage, are the movie’s leads. Even the doormen are only referred to as Tiny and Bourgeois.

After first introducing DJ Bird and his search for purpose and culture in Baton Rouge, the documentary takes its time getting to the big show, a high school-style prom for Star 80 regulars. Ambitiously, the film sprawls out beyond the college girls and scruffed-up hipsters the Moon teems with on Thursday nights, and reaches for—and occasionally grasps—the bigger picture of the passion and plight of a generation of young Baton Rougeans. While history lessons from Spanish Moon owner Shane Courrege are noted, it is the candid observations of Tiny and Bourgeois and the friendship of the T-Shirt kids that provides this straightforward documentary with a narrative heart.

“The ‘80s were the best part of my life,” Culotta admits on camera, before pausing. “I was kind of young.”

So maybe it is that all these 20- and 30-somethings are dancing their hearts out to songs that were first played on the radio when they were playing in Underoos because it feels safe. And all the sweat and head-bopping and holding closer the stranger next to you is still innocent and carefree because the soundtrack reminds them of home.

Regardless, Star 80 certainly has grown into a phenomenally successful event, and Just What I Needed offers insight into how it all began.

Local filmmakers Brady and Kyle Crane produced the documentary that features songs from Macrosick, The Pretentious, and Reception Is Suspected. DVD copies are available from Cranefilms.com.