Much of the appeal of the informative 1990 documentary Go-Go Swing — aside from the music — is the often down-to-earth personalities of the WETA public television special’s “stars,” beginning with the dearly departed legend Chuck Brown, who explains why it was important to him to give his signature shout outs to the audience as a show of appreciation. “If it [wasn't] for them, we wouldn’t be on that stage,” says Brown, who went from boxer and bricklayer to being christened the Godfather of Go-Go.

In addition to Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, the doc also features interviews with members of Ayre Rayde, The Pump Blenders, Total Control and Rare Essence as well as performances by the bands at venues like Celebrity Hall and Wilmer’s Park. It’s the latter group who provides insight to the essence of go-go, which seems to thrive on its hard-working, for-the-people, by-the-people roots. “Go-Go bands are strong,” says Andre Johnson. “We can perform for two or three hours at a time…. That’s why we call it Go-Go. Because it just goes on, and goes on, and goes on…” Mike “Funky Ned” Neal credits the music’s purity and honesty as part of its appeal. “[Go-Go is] true within ourselves. It’s what we live. And people relate to that a lot quicker than they will relate to some formulated song about love, which is not even reality — it’s fantasy on wax.” And as Donnell Floyd points out, the connection with fans is not just on a sonic level but on an actual real level as well: “We’re more down on our peers’ level. Before the show we’re in the crowd shaking hands. They’re our friends.”

Go-Go Swing manages to touch on D.C.’s problems with violence and drugs and also explores the crucial moment when the music was poised to go from a local scene to a national level, something which we now know didn’t fully take off as expected. And while for a moment that might cast a slight bit of sadness over things, it doesn’t last long as the joyous music breaks through. By the way, keep an eye out for quick cameos by Anwan “Big G” Glover of Backyard Band (and The Wire) fame and Fat Rodney (R.I.P.).