Everything has a shelf life. That's why it is so rare to see a punk label like Plan-It-X, based on such extreme ethics as $5 CDs, making it to its 10th birthday. What's even more uncanny is that throughout the past decade it has built a mass following, consistently released good records, and topped it off with one of the largest underground festivals since the original International Pop Underground or the last Yoyo a Go Go.

Plan-It-X began in the early '90s in Bloomington, Ind., as a label that released small pressings of cassette-only albums. Quickly Chris Clavin (then of Operation: Cliff Clavin) took it over and expanded the releases to CD and vinyl. A few years ago, the label took off when it released the first Against Me! record, which gained the imprint a cult following. Since then, Plan-It-X has topped off its roster with bands like This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb, the Carrie Nations, Ghost Mice, and Soophie Nun Squad.

It's no wonder that, when the summer of Plan-It-X's 10th anniversary approached, Clavin invited all the label's friends to come to Bloomington to play the birthday party. Serene Peterson of Milkcrate Rustlers decided to take the opportunity to document the weekend of festivities, and the outcome is one of the best-documented examples around of a punk community functioning healthily. This isn't about Toys R Us punk – it's the real deal, one giant network of a support system making things happen.

Plan-It-X Fest 2005 focuses mostly on the bands and features one song from each of the 35 performers at the event. The Bay Area's own Shotwell and Dave Dondero are highlights. A beautiful sing-along happens during the Carrie Nations' set, while a shirtless Japanther keeps the kids rocking. Florida's This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb, whose sets generally consist of more speeches than songs, start their set with a good one-liner: "Did anyone order a jaded old man from Florida?" (A reference to drummer Ted Hemlick.) "Well, your order is up!" The show is stolen, however, when One Reason gets onstage with what looks like all of Cleveland, Miss., on backup vocals. The documentary ends when a reunited Operation: Cliff Clavin gets pied in the face by some masked kids.

The weekend raised $6,000 for various Bloomington organizations. It's beautiful to see people work together for one common goal: making the world a better place. Hopefully this DVD will remain an inspiration for years to come. Plan-It-X Fest 2005 can be ordered from Plan-It-X, www.plan-it-x.com. (Vice Cooler)