Rogue Wave - Chicago x 12

What this video is

Released in 2008, this video exists at the intersection of two distinct cultural currents: the mid-2000s indie rock boom centered on Oakland and the Bay Area, and the post-Mr. Show alt-comedy ecosystem that Odenkirk helped define. Rogue Wave's Asleep at Heaven's Gate (2007, Brushfire Records) was the album backdrop, a record marked by emotional weight following band hardships. The decision to hand directorial…

Why it matters

Represents a rare documented example of a pre-Breaking Bad Bob Odenkirk directorial music video credit, and a notable instance of the mid-2000s indie-rock world engaging alt-comedy filmmakers. The mockumentary framing device and cardboard cutout craft aesthetic anticipate later lo-fi, meta-aware…

The director

Robert John Odenkirk (born October 22, 1962, Berwyn, IL) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He wrote for Saturday Night Live (1987–1991) and The Ben Stiller Show (1992), winning Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 1989 and…