Movie: Love Me Like You Should: The Brave and Bold Sylvester

Sylvester was not of my era, but I’ve become a huge fan. I don’t even remember how I discovered them, but it wasn’t long before I was collecting Sylvester’s music on vinyl and and playing it on jukeboxes.  I was thrilled to see this light shown on this amazing artist over at Amazon Music.  Check it out!

"In partnership with filmmaker Lauren Tabak and writer/consulting producer Barry Walters, we dive into the music career of Sylvester, starting from church choir in South Central LA to his early years in San Francisco. It follows his ascent to stardom through his evergreen, international hits 'Dance (Disco Heat)' and 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)'. Through his groundbreaking career, Sylvester blew open the doors for queer visibility and gender fluidity in mainstream music, leaving a legacy that continues to influence today's pop music. The documentary features candid interviews with Billy Porter, Martha Wash (The Weather Girls, Two Tons o’ Fun), Sylvester’s sister Bernadette Baldwin, biographer Josh Gamson, producer/songwriter James Wirrick, and more. Listen to Sylvester on our Pride History playlist: https://amzn.to/37D73XG"

(Via (100) Love Me Like You Should: The Brave and Bold Sylvester | Amazon Music - YouTube.)

Movie: Max Richter's Sleep

This looks fascinating.  I’ve always quietly fantasized about sleeping at a concert... i’m not really sure why - but maybe this movie will provide some insight.

Bonus:  Max Richter performing Vladimir’s Blues.

Movie: Beats

They banned rave culture??  I had no idea… Looks like a fun movie.

"Check out a new trailer for Beats, the upcoming Scottish coming-of-age film executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and directed by Brian Welsh (Black Mirror).

The film takes place in Scotland during the summer of 1994 and tells the story of two friends encountering illegal parties and rave culture for the first time.

Optimo’s JD Twitch has curated a killer soundtrack featuring Plastikman, Phantasia, The Prodigy, Hudson Mohawke, The Golden Filter, LFO, Outlander, Model 500 and more."

(Via Watch a trailer for Scottish coming-of-age rave film, Beats.)

Movie: Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story By Martin Scorsese

This looks great.. 

 

"‘Setting out across a 1975 America exhausted politically, economically and socially, a busload of musicians—assembled by Bob Dylan—hits the road in search of new creative horizons. The resulting tour, the Rolling Thunder Revue, would reveal a Dylan rarely seen: playful, mask-wearing, intense, expansive, rejuvenated,’ Netflix said of the film.

‘Masterfully capturing both an icon and a nation in transition, director Martin Scorsese tells the tale using footage that was abandoned for decades, now gorgeously restored, taking viewers into the heart of a freewheeling, electrifying musical gamble. Inspired by Dylan’s own restless spirit, Scorsese performs some breathtaking sleight of hand, summoning nostalgic fantasists, boxers, magicians, starlets and testifiers of all stripes, and exploding the boundaries of what makes a conventional documentary.’

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story also features some of the tour’s participants, including Joan Baez, Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter, Sam Shepard and Allen Ginsberg."

(Via Bob Dylan’s ‘Rolling Thunder Revue’ Trailer: Martin Scorsese’s Doc – Rolling Stone.)

Crystal Swan @ Cleveland International Film Festival #ciff43

I was fortunate enough to attend the Cleveland International Film Festival this year and saw a lot of great films.  One of my favorites was Crystal Swan.  It’s intriguing to be able to see what life was like in the 90’s in Belarus, a landlocked republic between Russian and Ukraine.  This film takes place just after independence from the USSR and shows the struggle of an aspiring DJ trying to get to America.  Chicago actually, as she’s in love with house music and wants to experience its birthplace.  Ultimately this is an intimate look at the struggles that existed in that country during this time of upheaval, and showing the lengths some would go to find a better life.  This film oscillated between humor, pain and incredibly touching moments, all underscored by a fun soundtrack.  Topping it off, the festival provided a chance to talk with the director after the film. Check out the trailer below.

Cleveland International Film Festival @ Beachland Ballroom

Sunday, March 23rd! This is going to be an amazing night.  Two great bands, in two great films, in a house of music.  Check these out:

Mistaken for Strangers: Music Documentary on The National / 6pm / $14

I have music from The National, but I can’t say I’m an intense fan.  But I love how this trailer takes a turn to be about family drama about the actual filming of the documentary.  Sold.

The Ballad of Shovels and Rope / 8pm / $14

I’ve seen Shovels and Rope before, and you can’t get much more genuine than these guys.  This trailer shows it.  Here’s a picture of them performing in the Beachland from 2012:

Hello Cleveland! Music Documentary

Great history of Cleveland music, focusing on the Agora and WMMS.  Fun stuff.

'Hello Cleveland!' Documentary Explores 70s Music Scene: UPDATE | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog

"'Hello Cleveland!' is making the rounds online, presenting a magical era of our city's past. The documentary highlights the unique elements of Cleveland's music scene in the 1970s. The Agora and WMMS both figure into the storyline heavily."

(Continued... 'Hello Cleveland!' Documentary Explores 70s Music Scene: UPDATE | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog)

Movie: Downloaded @ CIFF

Before you catch The Last Bison at the Beachland tonight, swing by the Cleveland International Film Festival at 4:35 for this little documentary on the revolution of the music industry.

Downloaded - Cleveland International Film Festival :: April 3 - April 14, 2013

"In the age of iTunes and Spotify, the heated controversy over Napster seems like ancient history. These days the internet is where many people discover and buy music. But, before Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning developed the program in 1999, that concept was unimaginable. Their peer-to-peer file sharing service allowed fans to share their music with the world, giving listeners access to an enormous library of songs with just a few clicks. However, there was one major problem: the service was free, therefore violating copyright laws and drawing ire from record labels and artists (Metallica and Dr. Dre famously opposed it, both filing lawsuits against the company). In 2000, Napster was sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which led to a complete shutdown. Director Alex Winter provides a fascinatingly intimate look at Napster from the inside, capturing Parker and Fanning as they bloomed from nerdy college students to technological revolutionaries. DOWNLOADED skillfully communicates the undeniable impact that Napster had on the music industry. – E.F."

(Continued... Downloaded - Cleveland International Film Festival :: April 3 - April 14, 2013)

We Came Home @ CIFF

I really hope you're aware that the Cleveland International Film Festival is currently underway…  If not, there are some amazing music related films worth seeing - as well as any other genre you can imagine (and there are a lot!).  I'm catching this film this afternoon, called We Came Home that profiles Ariana Delawari's trip back home to Afghanistan. She released an album on David Lynch's imprint back in 2009. Here's the description & trailer:

The Delawaris have always had a love affair with Afghanistan. It runs in the blood. Noor was born in Kabul and met his wife Satari there. They fell in love and Noor moved to America with her in the late 60s. In 1979, the year the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, they had Ariana, the director of WE CAME HOME. She grew up surrounded by a love for her roots. Noor worked as an international banker in the States but fought as an activist for his homeland, lobbying Congress and warning of the dangers of the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. After 9/11 he moved back to Kabul in an effort to help rebuild the crippled Afghan financial system. His safety became a constant concern for his family in America. WE CAME HOME documents Ariana's visits to the country during this period and her idea to record an album there. As she spends time in Afghanistan exploring its culture, she begins to understand her father's unwavering commitment to save it. (In English and Dari with subtitles) – E.F.

Movie Review: Sound City @ Cedar-Lee Theater

I wanted to post about going to see Sound City at the Cedar Lee theater, because it really was a GREAT film.  Even better than I was expecting.  What I also was (pleasantly) surprised about was the album he's releasing as well (out March 12th).  While it's not an artist list that would draw me to it, the making of definitely does.

Movie Review - 'Sound City': Music And Memories In An L.A. Landmark : NPR

"The first hour-plus of the film sticks close to a standard rockumentary template: a chronological history combining talking-head interviews with archival photos and video, with the addition of some slightly geeky audiophile technical discussions. Both of those could easily slip into dull mediocrity, but Grohl recognizes that filmmaking isn't so different from writing a good pop song: Take a familiar structure, throw in some nice hooks to keep things interesting and add plenty of personality and attitude, and a touch of indefinable artistic magic.

Grohl's jovial presence is the hook; playing interviewer and emcee as well as director, he's the catchy bit you welcome every time it returns. The star-studded interview list provides much of the personality and attitude, as does a fantastically tense behind-the-scenes video of Petty and his band laboring long hours to craft their breakthrough record.

The magical aspect is the alchemy created by Sound City's studio and its custom Neve mixing board; it's difficult to quantify, but you can hear it on every musical clip in the movie. That magical mixing board practically becomes the star of the movie."

(Continued... Movie Review - 'Sound City': Music And Memories In An L.A. Landmark : NPR)

Movie: Sound City movie by Dave Grohl

In this time of film awards, something like this definitely has my interest.  Original article below…

Dave Grohl Enlists Members of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, More for Sound City Band

Dave Grohl's directorial debut, Sound City, a documentary about the storied recording studio, is headed to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah later this month. As Consequence of Sound reports, Grohl has formed a band in support of the film, comprising artists featured in the movie, which will make its live debut January 18 at Park City Live during Sundance. The band features the surviving members of Nirvana (Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear), plus members of Foo Fighters (Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett), as well as Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Alain Johannes of Queens of the Stone Age, producer Chris Goss, Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Fear singer Lee Ving, Rage Against the Machine's Brad Wilk, the Geraldine Fibbers' Jessy Greene, and the Wallflowers' Rami Jaffee. Many of the artists appear on the the film's soundtrack, out March 12 via Grohl's label Roswell Records. Also appearing on the soundtrack (and in the film) are Paul McCartney, Trent Reznor, and Josh Homme. As previously reported, the Nirvana/McCartney track 'Cut Me Some Slack' that was debuted at the 12/12/12 concert was created for the film."

(Continued... Dave Grohl Enlists Members of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks, John Fogerty, More for Sound City Band | News | Pitchfork)

Tonight!: Big Easy Express Movie

 Should have posted this sooner… you still have 2 hours!

Neil Young Journeys Documentary Trailer

Seeing Neil Young on Monday night at the Wolstein Center!  Being the legend he is, he even has his own movie now - though I'm sure it's not the first - or the last.  Mark this one off my bucket list.

Great Lake Swimmers' Tony Dekker and the Canadian National Parks Project

Great Idea.  More details here: http://www.nationalparksproject.ca

Great Lake Swimmers' Tony Dekker Has 'Kitchen Party' for National Parks Project - Spinner

"The basic premise was to make a short film and soundtrack based on the experience of the landscape, as one of thirteen different groups traveling to a National Park in each of Canada's provinces and territories. There was also a parallel film crew documenting the creative process of the filmmakers and musicians, filming at all hours. Creatively, there was free reign to interpret the environment, and to use a collaborative spirit to weave the project into a cohesive whole."

(Continued... Great Lake Swimmers' Tony Dekker Has 'Kitchen Party' for National Parks Project - Spinner)

Reminder: An Island Screening This Thursday

Reminder, please join me for the ONLY OHIO SCREENING of An Island.  A film by Vincent Moon featuring the Danish band, Efterklang. Here are the registered showings around the globe:

Thursday at 8:00pm.  Sign up on the website, or at the FaceBook page.

Movie Showing: An Island

In between house concerts, I thought I would try something different...

In August 2010, French filmmaker Vincent Moon and Efterklang's 8 piece-live band met up on an island in the Danish country side. The objective was to shoot a film. A film with the same length as an album, and a film full of performances, experiments and collaborations.

Over an intense period of 4 days Efterklang collaborated with more than 200 local musicians, kids and parents, creating new performances and interpretations of songs from their Magic Chairs album. It was all filmed by Vincent Moon who same time conducted several filmic and musical experiments with Efterklang as his dedicated play mates.

I'm hosting a showing!  Thursday, February 24th.  Seating is extremely limited (it's my living room), so sign up soon!  (teasers below)

No One Knows about Persian Cats [Movie]

This looks like a great film... showing at CIA this weekend.

NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS

KASI AS GORBEHAYE IRANI KHABAR NADAREH

Iran, 2009, Bahman Ghobadi

Contemporary Tehran’s underground indie rock scene is the focus of the new film by the Iranian-Kurdish director known for his road movies and music films (A Time for Drunken Horses, Turtles Can Fly, Half Moon). Shot clandestinely without government consent, this defiant, eye-opening movie follows a young female singer and her musician boyfriend as they try to find potential band mates and then a way to leave Iran and tour Europe. Co-written by once-imprisoned Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi (Ghobadi’s fiancée). “An exhilarating examination of a leading Iranian criminal enterprise - music. More than 2,000 bands are said to operate clandestinely in the capital of Tehran, risking prison to play together.” –The Wall Street Journal. Cleveland premiere. Subtitles. 35mm. 106 min. www.ifcfilms.com/films/no-one-knows-about-persian-cats Show Times

Jul 24 (Sat) - 7:10PM

Jul 25 (Sun) - 8:00PM