Archive for the ‘Music’ CategoryFebruary 13th through the 22nd, The Wilma Theatre was overrun with filmakers, volunteers, and fans of the documentary film. I was one of the fans (and volunteers), and here I’ll be sharing with you thoughts from some of the almost fifty films I saw this year. The festival is growing and getting better every time, and I’m proud to have been a part of it once again. 
The Choir directed by
Michael Davie, 2007
Was very glad that this film won an award. To sum it up in three words: Music can heal. Poetry in Motion directed by Ron Mann 1982
 A standout section of the film for me was when Charles Bukowski compared writing poetry to taking a beer shit. Most poetry should be flushed away. There’s some good poetry out there, but I’ve found myself shying away from most poetry, and most poetry readings. A lot of it is too pedantic and overwrought. Bukowski provides the spine of the film with his anti-narrative ranting against poets. I enjoyed the film on many levels, especially because it covered so many different styles of poetry, featuring a variety of poets. Ron Mann introduced the film, telling us that he shot over 100 hours of footage. Anticipating the question of how he chose which poets to include from such a huge library of materiel, he said that some poets wrote great poetry and were poor performers, while others were great performers who wrote horrible poetry. Using that as a measuring stick, he was able to find a middle ground and create a great film. I’ve never been a fan of the over the top avant-garde jazz, preferring Coletrane and Davis to some of the other “weirder” musicians. This film was enjoyable, as it exposed me to music I would never had otherwise heard. Watch Cecil Taylor Bill Dixon – Imagine the sound on youTube. Coober: A Desert Speedway Story 
The description for the film alludes to a big race that promises a celebration by the community and lots of fun. The race never really happens, people just talk about how great it is. I think that is the success of the film. Promise never realized. This is a broken town full of tough, proud people, but it’s also a dying town. I Love Alaska directed by Lernert Engelberts & Sander Plug, 2008
 I was talking to one of the BSDFF staff members about this film. He said he didn’t like it. I told him that I’m fascinated with communication, and that I loved it. he said, “Yeah, but there was no communication”. I agree with him in that there was no communication between user #711391 and her husband, which is why the searches took place, and that if they had communicated better, their relationship may have been better, and the searches may hev been less interesting.
Because the movie was so intimate, it was at times difficult to watch. User # 711391 is lonely, desperate, paranoid, and not very aware of the world. The minimalism here is incredible, building a character around user #711391 that is fascinating. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this movie.
Thankfully, you can watch it online. Links below.
Jennifer directed by Stewart Copeland, 2008, WINNER Best MiniDoc 2009
 Growing up in a family of educators, watching this film for me was great. What an achievement for Jennifer to have been able to pull off what is probably the most memorable lesson ever in these students’ lives.
An interesting companion piece to the film would be to track down those kids today and get their memories of the day. The Oldest Tree directed by Dale Elrod, 1997
 The oldest tree in the world gets cut down by a scientist. That’s the film.
Beautifully shot, with a “gotcha” that isn’t terribly surprising if you have a cynical view of humanity. The problem was that Elrod tried too hard to be “poetic” in the film. The Bristlecone is a fascinating tree and the story of Prometheus (aka WPN-114) is one worth telling. This film only gets it part right.
Crude Independence directed by Noah Hutton, 2008
 Hutton does a good job telling the story of Stanley, ND with an objective eye. He first introduces us to the town and its people before the oil men show up and change the town forever. He portrays all sides equally, giving the point of view of the land owners, mineral rights owners, oil workers, company owners, townsfolk, all who have a slightly different take on what’s happening in and to Stanley.
The film, using many long shots of the North Dakota plains, allows the story to seep in and the viewer begin to ask his own questions about oil dependence and consumption in the United States. South: Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance Expedition directed by Frank Hurley 1919
 Incredible story about the ill-fated expedition. The silent film was accompanied by a live performance by the Alloy Orchestra, which made it one of the most amazing film going experiences I’ve ever had.
Goth Cruise directed by Jeanie Finlay, 2008
 Not sure what I expected from this film, but I didn’t get it. More about defining what a goth is than anything, just happened to be set on a cruise ship to frame that definition. I walked away knowing that goths are professionals, own homes, have families, not groundbreaking stuff. The film held my attention, though, and I enjoyed it for what it was.
I Think We’re Alone Now directed by Sean Donnelly 2008  Obsession can sometimes lead to delusion. Very interesting movie about a couple of very interesting people.
Mellodrama directed by Dianna Dilworth, 2009
 This film could have been amazing. The problem with “Mellodrama” is that there *was* no drama. Show me, don’t tell me, and there was a lot of showing going on. Had the people talking been illustrated with more examples and they talked less, this film may have been stronger. Not sure how that could be accomplished without some heavy editing.
BSDFF 2009 Review: Saturday February 14thFebruary 13th through the 22nd, The Wilma Theatre was overrun with filmakers, volunteers, and fans of the documentary film. I was one of the fans (and volunteers), and here I’ll be sharing with you thoughts from some of the almost fifty films I saw this year. The festival is growing and getting better every time, and I’m proud to have been a part of it once again. Even in poverty and chronic fatal illness, the people in this film are able to find snippets of happiness. The singing by the children was incredible, the cinematography amazing. It’s great to see that the gogos are trying to educate the young. It was also surprising to me that those doing the testing and processing of test samples did so without eye protection or gloves.
 Bonecrusher directed by Michael Fountain, 2008Lucas the father is Bonecrusher, and Lucas the son follows his father into the mines for a life fraught with the dangers of coal mining. The women behind the men were largely silent in the film, while Fountain focused upon the relationship between the father and the son in this compelling story where mining overshadows all aspects of life in this small West Virginian town.
There is a beautiful scene in Bonecrusher where Luke has just been honored at a little league softball game. He’s been a huge advocate of and volunteer for the softball program all of his life. The camera cuts away to a train pulling coal cars. As the whistle whines, we are reminded that mining permeates every aspect of the Dante, West Virginia people’s lives.
 In A Dream directed by Jeremiah Zagar 2008Heartbreakingly beautiful film. Isaiah Zagar, responsible, by his count, for over 100 murals, 7 buildings and 7 alleyways in Philly, opens himself, and his family, up to us intimately and without looking away. The film truly was a “mysterium tremendum”. Amazing.
Gogol Bordello Non Stop directed by Margarita Jimeno, 2009
Having heard of Gogol Bordello, and heard some of their music before, I was glad to be able to see what all of the fuss is about. The film is about what happens when you start following your dream and doing what you believe in.
It would seem that these guys must be seen to be believed, and I cannot wait to see them live. The film captured a lot of that energy, fun, love of life and good times.
 American Swing directed by Mathew Kaufman and Jon Hart, 2008Plato’s Retreat is the backdrop for a story that was really about the loneliness and egotism of Plato’s owner Larry Levenson. Kaufman and Hart have fashioned a compelling film using archival footage from Plato’s, talk show appearances by Levenson , and interviews with members and employees of Plato’s.
Sitting around the bar last night, the question arose: what is the best love song ever written? There were four of us sitting there. One had no answer. I said it was Springsteen’s Rosalita (Come Out Tonight). The only lover I’m ever gonna need’s your soft sweet little girl’s tongue Rosie you’re the one… J. said that all songs are love songs, so the question is really what is the best song? OG said that the best love song is John Lennon’s Imagine. You may say that I’m a dreamer
What say you? What’s the best love song?
Over @ Newwest.net, Alexia Beckerling is giving us a glimpse into the studios and performance venues of a handful of local artists and bringing back multimedia glimpses into their creative worlds. Today’s episode about Jason Bohman, an artist who paints on stage with the Miller Creek band really caught my eye. For the first multimedia profile in this series on Missoula photographer Marcy James, click here.
The performances by all bands were amazing. high energy, fantastic rock and roll. Why was the sound so muddy? Specifically the vocals. I was sitting about 3 rows back from the pit and the sound was terrible. Reports I got from folks who were right up near the stage were that the sound was better, but that’s because they could hear the monitors on the stage. Who’s fault is the terrible sound quality? Knitting Factory Entertainment? The Wilma? I know hope you guys can do better than that. Anyone else have a similar experience?
Joe Nickel wrote a great article today in The Missoulian about the state of the arts in Missoula. Joe points out that a recent survey of data released by the Natioanl Endowment for the Arts reported that Missoula ranks 44th in the nation in terms of the percentage of local workers who make their living through the arts”. “Artists in the Workforce 1990-2005″ is a 150-page survey of data compiled from census records. A portion of the article was reproduced over at Talk Missoula, and it ended with a question: What are the advantages and challenges of being an artist in Missoula? Name one project, resource or service that could be developed to promote and support Missoula’s professional artists, musicians and writers. The problem with the question is the word “professional”. There are many artists here in Missoula who cannot make a living at what they do here, not because they are not talented artists or they don’t produce a good body of work, but because their contemporary art is too edgy or risky for Missoula and the people who visit here. Missoula is on the cusp of coming into its own as a cultural destination for travelers across the world. One thing many of those travelers want when they think of visual arts is western themed or “outdoor” art. Because of that, much of the visual art produced by professional artists in Missoula is reflective of that need. Thinking of Missoula *only* in terms of this type of art is doing a disservice to the many very talented contemporary artists who live and work in this city, producing a huge body of work that might sell for thousands of dollars in a more urban city like Chicago, New York or Los Angeles, but here, if they sell at all, it’s for a pittance. And that is if the work is even seen. A resource I would like to see is a dedicated space *downtown* that includes a gallery and affordable studios for working artists. Missoula is lucky to have the Ceretana, and more recently, the Zootown Arts Community Center on the North side. Both of these facilities are beautiful and offer many opportunities for both artists and the Missoula community. I would like to see something similar downtown. A place for artists to show that is not a coffehouse, a restaurant, a computer store, a boutique. Somewhere that is for art and art alone, and a place for lesser known 8local* artists to display. I am not taking away from the Missoula Art Museum and what they have to offer our community. I’m suggesting something more, something different. Something that could help artists who *don’t* make a living as an artist work towards that goal by giving them the same treatment a professional artist might get. To view the full results of the NEA survey, “Artists in the Workforce 1990-2005,” visit www.NEA.gov and click on “News.”
2008-03-29 Springsteen Seattle 1091 Originally uploaded by albabe“Nils just played my pants off!” she said as the band launched into “She’s the One”. I could see why, as Nils’ scorching guitar work on “Because the Night” lived up to the hype its been getting during this tour. As a Springsteen fan since ‘84, and a longtime tour veteran, I was proud of my friend’s newfound love for the band. “I just fell in love with Nils,” she said, and I knew I had a new convert. Her first tour, Abby drove with me 8 hours to Seattle from Missoula for her Bruce baptism. She was not originally a fan, and I tried to prime her on the drive over with as many of my Bruce CDs as I could grab on the way out the door. She did me proud, rocking out, singingalong with some of the songs she recognized, and even calling out “Waiting on a Sunny Day” before I recognized it. When we arrived at the venue, ticketless and soaked from the rainy walk over from the hotel, I was skeptical she would have a good time, though. I had bought tickets in the parkinglot before,paying well below face value for them. (The last time I saw The Boss, in Jersey, back in 2002, I paid $15). She, however, had never arrived at a show without tickets before, and was getting nervous after we had turned down three different scalpers asking $100 a pop. On our second pass around the complex, she was nearing her last nerve, so when the scalper walked towards us I was ready to deal. “Got tickets? Need tickets?” he said. “What do they cost?” I asked. “Don’t waste my time. What’s your budget,” he said. “$60,” I said. He countered, I countered. We ended up paying $140 for a pair in section 211.Nosebleeds, I know, but factoring in the “convenience charge” Ticketmaster charges, we still paid below retail.We made it into the venue, and she waited for another friend from Missoula who had been to the Portland show while I went to check out the seats. When I returned to them, we eventually balked at the $7 beers that we couldn’t take to our seats, and headed up towards our seats around 8. The show, slated to begin at 7.30, was finally underway just a little after 8.30.And what a show.
I had been warned that it was different from any E Street show I had ever seen, and those reports were right. Absent was Dany Federici, recovering from melanoma treatment. In his stead was Charles Giordano, the Sessions Band keyboardist and accordionist. Patty was also thankfully absent as well, back in Jersey dealing with the teenagers who had “kegs of beer rolling up the driveway, and 100 pizzas were delivered. Pot cookies were coming out of the oven. Patty’ll take care of that. She’s got that shit down.” At least she’s got something down. Lord knows she hasn’t figured out how to be a part of the E Street Band. From the flubbed opening strains of Jimmy Cliff’s “Trapped”, of which Bruce said, “A little panic, good for the band,” Bruce Springsteen helped us celebrate “the final curtain on eight years of magic tricks” for a little over two hours. It was a politically charged show, with a heavy focus on the new stuff. The favorites, some coming from scrawled request signs in the crowd, (“Tenth Avenue Freeze Out”), some coming as audibles,others, as evidenced by the handwritten setlist posted on brucespringsteen.net, were planned out. But “Point Blank”? Amazing. Sandwiched between “Your Own Worst Enemy” and “Devil’s Arcade”, this gem hasn’t been played with the E Streeters since June 14, 2003 in Denmark. The re-working of”Reason to Believe”, for me, was the favorite. Bruce re-invented it as a driving, foot-stomping rollick, haunted by his opening imploration to “SSSSHHHHHHHHH” before the harmonica intro, and punctuated by the haunting treatment of his voice through some sort of effects pedal. Incredible. I talked to ‘ole Abby today, and she confessed that she couldn’t stop singing Bruce all day.”When are you going to let me borrow some CDs?” she wanted to know. Wait until I give her,thanks to the power of the Internet, the entire show at 203 kbps. Thanks Bruce, and thanks E Street Band.
Originally uploaded by Chris Lombardi The Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is coming to town next week. here’s a short primer for all of the filmmakers and filmwatchers who will be descending on the Garden City. HistoricalPeople interested in the historical buildings of Missoula should definitely check out the definitive list offered by The Missoula Downtown Association. It details 15 different buildings within walking distance of The Wilma Theater, as well as listing 20 other buildings close by. In addition, 4 distinct historical neighborhoods within walking distance of the theater are described, as well as a listing of another 4 neighborhoods, most within walking distance as well. Visit the Missoula Downtown Association [link]. If you’ve got access to wheels, you might be interested in Fort Missoula [link]. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula was established in 1975 to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Missoula County, Fort Missoula, and the timber products industry in western Montana. Dining in Missoula
When you get to town, you can pick up a copy of The Missoula Independent [link] (found in red drop-boxes around town) for a more definitive listing of restaurants. I’m going to list a few here according to the specials they have on specific days, and then list a couple of other favorites.
On days when there is no special in which I’m interested, I find myself splitting a healthy serving of pasta with a friend over at Sean Kelly’s [link], grabbing a cheap burrito at Taco del Sol [link], walking south across the bridge for some great Italian at Mambo Italiano [link] or, if it’s between the hours of 5.15 and 6.15 p.m., catching a burger at 515 [link]. Breakfast? It’s The Shack [link], Dauphine’s [link], The Hob Nob [link] (great lunches, too!), or, if it’s a late night after the bars, breakfast at The Oxford [link], the oldest bar in Missoula. Drinking Establishments
Speaking of bars, Missoula has many of them. I’ll let you discover them on your own, but wanted to list a few of note here.
The locals discuss their favorite bars over here [link]. Brew PubsMissoula is home to three great brewpubs, each wonderful in its own right. Check ‘em all out: Music and DancingYeah, but where can I DANCE? Ah. Glad you asked. The venues for hearing music in Missoula are shrinking, but two of my favorites are The Badlander [link], which has been through many different incarnations in Missoula’s history, and The Union Club [link], a Union bar that has live music on the weekends. More local discussion of best music venues here [link] (YRMV) You’ll also find dancing at AmVets [link], with live DJs spinning the tunes.
If you’re into local music, while the venues to see music may be shrinking, the music scene here in Missoula is blowing up. Locals discuss their favorites here. [link]. Someone asked me about where to shop in Missoula, but I typically find myself at the Goodwill or some other hidden away thrift shop, so I’m no good at answering that one. This is most certainly not a definitive list, but meant to be a jumping off point. Any other locals want to weigh in and list some of their favorites? Originally uploaded by ~Brix
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Today the Hawk Takes One Chick
