Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Film Fest music picks

The NZ International Film Festival recently announced its lineup for Auckland's film festival, kicking off July 18. You've already heard about the live performance by the band Goblin, performing the soundtrack for Dario Argento's classic horror film Supiria.

You can see the full list of music documentaries (on Big Star, The National, Ornette Coleman) at the Film Festival's site. Tickets go on sale this Friday.

Here's a few highlights.



A BAND CALLED DEATH
“Less about punk than family and brotherhood and believing in what you create enough to not compromise and never throw it away.” — Jay Seaver, eFilmCritic.com

Detroit black punk band from 1974. How freaking awesome does that sound?





TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM
NZIFF: A rousing music-filled portrait of some of the great backup singers of American pop, rock and R&B, with appreciations from Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Sting and more. “An unexpectedly moving, often joyous triumph.” — Indiewire





CHARLES BRADLEY: SOUL OF AMERICA
Intimate and rousing musical portrait of the R&B singer who went from James Brown impersonator to acclaimed Daptone/Dunham recording artist in his own right at age 62. “A Superfunky good time.” — Twitch

Yeah, I've posted this trailer before, but please go watch it again, cos Charles Bradley is the real deal. I have it on good authority that this film will move you to tears. Can't wait to see it.




SHEEN OF GOLD
Doco about incredible and hugely influential 90s NZ outfit The Skeptics. This is the band that influenced Shihad into evolving into a halfway interesting rock band. World premiere, 6pm at Skycity, Saturday August 3rd.

“All the good music is made by outsiders, whether they come from Liverpool, Seattle or… Palmerston North.” — Roger Shepherd
From the NZIFF: Director Simon Ogston continues his excavations of underground Kiwi rock, with a tribute to one of New Zealand's most influential and eclectic rock bands of the 80s: the incomparable Skeptics. Improbably originating from small-town, late-70s Palmerston North, they began as a cacophonous high school punk band. "

Bassist Nick Roughan admits their earliest recordings ‘should stay dead and buried’, but with charismatic frontman David D’Ath, Skeptics soon gained a cult following and outgrew their provincial roots. Wellington beckoned, as well as a new spare, electronic sound.

Ogston compiles interviews with all surviving band members and a wealth of rare archival footage, including Skeptics’ controversial ‘AFFCO’ video – which cut too close to the bone for TVNZ – and their remarkable, emotional final live performance at Auckland's Gluepot in July 1990.

D’Ath died just months later following a short battle with leukemia. His death signaled a premature end for the band but not their music, which will shortly see a long overdue re-release. — Michael McDonnell


Then there's Utu Redux. Greatest Maori western ever. Programs out now, or download the pdf from NZIFF

No comments: