Category: movie review

Happy New Year – Enjoy “Lennon’s Poster” and Ernie Kovacs!

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A short film following the recreation of the Pablo Fanque circus poster that inspired John Lennon to write ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite’ for the Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. Using the traditional methods of wood engraving and letterpress printing, Peter Dean and his team of experts bring to life Lennon’s poster.
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If you’re looking for the definition of a “lost” classic – you’ll find it with the innovative Ernie Kovacs. Kovacs was an underrated genius whose influence can still be felt today. Check out this video of his famous Nairobi Trio — and a similar routine by Saturday Night Live over 40 years later! Get The Kovacs Collection Vol. 1 or Vol.2  for more.

I look forward to a great 2013, and I already have a HUGE pile of albums to review this month – so check this site often. Happy New Year everyone! 

Music Film Reviews: Beatles Stories, Live Vibes

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Beatles Stories
Power pop icon Seth Swirsky (The Red Button) got access to a ton of celebrities and musicians about their Beatle memories. As a documentary its very fast paced and full of rare photos and interviews you will not find anywhere else.

From Sir Ben Kingsley to Sir George Martin, Brian Wilson to Brian Skiff, all these people recollecting stories about meeting a Beatle, having lunch with a Beatle, and playing Monopoly with a Beatle (Jackie DeShannon) plus a touching meeting with long time Beatles sound man Norman “Hurricane” Smith (likely his last on camera interview before passing away in 2008). Seths like the investigative reporter here, always giving the spotlight to his subject, and the commentary is really insightful and honest. If you are even a casual Beatle fan this is a “must-buy.”

The Grip Weeds Live Libes
A great companion to the last album Speed of Life, it starts out as a peek behind the scenes with The Grip Weeds. At The House Of Vibes studio in Highland Park, New Jersey, there are interviews with members of the band (Rick Reil, Kurt Reil, Michael Kelly and Kristin Pinell), about the recording process and band history.

But most of the DVD is about the concert performances, live and in the studio. These sound great and are simply shot with a minimum of effects. If you’re not a big fan of the band I’d start with the albums first. However if you’d like the experience of The Grip Weeds playing live in your living room, this film gives you a good idea of the experience.

Buy it at Amazon

Broke* documentary trailer

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As a niche music genre, power pop musicians have been living the DIY life for many years now. So the fact that the major label model is dead is no longer news. But here it is documented with mainstream artist Will Gray through the recording and release of his debut album (featuring production by the Grammy-winning T Bone Burnett). Broke* chronicles the stories of artists and executives searching for ways to thrive in today’s music industry. The film digs beneath the clichés to reveal an industry struggling to find a new identity, and an artist who’s simply trying to establish one. My big problem is with the movie title. Too many documentaries have the same damn name! Like this and that! Anyway here is the real link.

Video Reviews: The Doughboys and John Wicks

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It’s a real rarity that I review concert DVDs, but I wanted to show my appreciation for these talented artists.

The Doughboys “Rock N Raw Live”
You thought you knew the New Jersey band, The Doughboys? Well I’m sure no one told you the history of a band that is over 40 years old and one of the best live rock bands in the east. It all started with Richard X. Heyman and Mike Scavone in the early sixties and how they formed a band, drifted apart and re-united. This documentary is very well done, similar to the Beatles Anthology with photos, radio clips and between each biographical segment is a live concert performance from the reunion at Arlene’s Grocery in NYC. Highly polished and beautifully filmed it will give the average viewer a special insight into how good the Doughboys really are.

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John Wicks “Lessons Learned (Live & Unplugged)”
This is a rare DVD release that captures an acoustic performance of John Wicks of The Records and guitarist Dennis Taylor at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, CA on August 20, 2010. It’s an intimate and simple setting, one camera and no frills here. Wicks and Taylor do a great job performing from John’s extensive catalog of material. For Wicks and Records fans it’s a must buy.

Only at Kool Kat Musik 

George Harrison Documentary due this October

powerpopaholic

Wow… I can’t wait for this one. The Quiet Beatle gets to speak up in this full length documentary by Martin Scorsese. Includes interviews with Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr and Jackie Stewart, the three-and-a-half hour documentary will examine Harrison’s life and career.