Beyond The Lighted Stage

I am totally going to to go see this, like in a theater and everything. Although after my last experience watching Rush on the big screen, I might have a hard time convincing the wife to go with me.

Tonight Is The Ghost

Hurricane Bells - Tonight Is The Ghost

Hurricane Bells is the new solo project from Longwave singer/guitarist Steve Schiltz. And you weren't supposed to be hearing it yet. Schlitz originally envisioned it as something he'd release on his own. But then his song "Monsters" got included on the surprisingly stellar lineup for The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack and, well, plans change. His debut album is now being released by Vagrant Records, although the sped up schedule means that a digital release is preceding the actual physical release by three months.

So what does Tonight Is The Ghost sound like? Basically it's a stripped down version of Longwave. It has a similar atmospheric vibe, but much less dense. Schiltz wrote, played, recorded and mixed every note on the album himself, and some of the songs have the kind of laid back, late night quality you often expect from a home recorded solo project. Other songs, like "This Is A Test" or the instrumental closer "Tenterhooks" sound a lot like his main band with a few less layers of guitar, and a few more layers of vocals.

And what about this New Moon movie he's gotten himself involved with? For reasons that I still can't quite explain, I went to a midnight showing of it last night, and it's actually not bad. I thought Twilight was the chickiest chick flick I'd ever seen, but the sequel is a lot better. There's a lot more action, and the story, while still a bit corny, isn't nearly as cringe worthy as the first one. So if you're a guy getting dragged to it by your girlfriend this weekend (which is how I saw it), you can rest easy... it's definitely watchable, and maybe even slightly enjoyable.

Hurricane Bells - "This Year" (mp3)

I Was A Teenage Rush Geek

I've mentioned before that I used to be a huge Rush fan. Since I talked in that post about how they fell off my musical radar, this time I'll talk about how they got on it.

When I was about eleven, I was at summer camp talking about music with one of my friends. Moving Pictures has just come out, and "Tom Sawyer" was all over the radio. It was my first exposure to the holy trinity of Canadian power trios, so my friend lent me his Walkman and told me I had to listen to the first side of 2112. I laid in a dark tent on a cool eastern Washington evening and for the first time took in the dystopian art rock epic. I won't bother talking about the music... if you've heard it, you either get it or you don't, and if you haven't, you probably don't care to. But to this day it was one of the coolest listening experiences of my life.

So why the walk down memory lane? Because this weekend I saw I Love You, Man. I figured going in that I'd dig it, since it starred both my man crush (Paul Rudd) and one of my top five female crushes (Rashida Jones). And I know I said this about the last Paul Rudd flick I saw too, but seriously... it was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. And the scene where Rudd and Jason Seigel are jamming in the man cave to "Tom Sawyer" was definitely the hardest I've ever laughed in my life. The GF told me she was afraid people were going to start throwing popcorn at us because I was laughing so loud. I was actually in tears and borderline hyperventilating by the time the scene ended. But anyone who's ever been the slightest bit into Rush probably had the same reaction I did. The movie is as chalk full of Rush references as Role Models was full of KISS jokes... only this time it features a cameo by Geddy, Alex and Neil themselves. I really can't recommend this movie highly enough to everyone. And if you're a Rush fan, past or present, you absolutely NEED to see it.

And so on that note... prepare to be Rushified (note - not my joke).

Rush - "Limelight" (mp3) from Moving Pictures

Love Take Me Down To The Streets

Last weekend I went to see Role Models. I had a pretty good idea going into it that I'd like it, since it was directed by David Wain, and starred Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks (one of the few blondes to ever make my celebrity crush list), and nearly half the cast of The State. I didn't just like it though... it was one of the funniest movies I've ever seen.

So why am I writing about it on a music blog? Because it's chalk full of music jokes. There are so many Kiss references (this one is my favorite) that you'd almost think they paid for product placement (and given Gene Simmons' history I wouldn't be surprised if they did). But the one that really got me was a recurring joke about a Wings song that doesn't exist. During the movie, a couple of characters briefly sing the hook to the chorus of the madeup song. So I was a bit surprised when the credits rolled and I suddenly heard the voice of Paul McCartney, singing the imaginary Wings track. I started thinking that maybe they dug up some unreleased track, or got Sir Paul to record a new track for the movie. After sitting through the music credits, it turned out to be none of the above. The song was written by cast member A.D. Miles and Charles Gansa, who's written music for several of the the ex-State members movies, and sung by Joey Curatolo, who plays Paul in the Beatles tribute act Rain. And it's uncanny how much it sounds EXACTLY like Wings. They absolutely nailed the production, and Curatolo is a dead ringer for McCartney... he even nails that half assed scream that Macca does.

"Love Take Me Down (To The Streets)" (mp3) from the Role Models soundtrack

There is no soundtrack for the movie (NOTE: there is now), so it took some hunting to track down this MP3. The song can also be heard playing in the background of the website for the fictional Sturdy Wings organization.

Let's Get Lost

The other night I went to our local arthouse theater to catch Let's Get Lost, the 1988 Oscar nominated documentary on Chet Baker. Even having read Jim Ridley's review in the Scene beforehand, the film was not at all what I expected. Directed by noted fashion photographer Bruce Weber, it's more of an ultra-stylized personality profile than the typical kind of life story you'd see on PBS or the History Channel.

Although the film stars Chet himself, his story is mostly told by associates, ex-lovers, and his family. The interview portions that do feature Baker are captivating, although for dramatically different reasons from session to session. In some he's fairly lucid, and he displays a passion for music that is obvious in both his playing and singing. In others, he is so out of it that he practically nods off in front of the camera. He was in his late fifties at the time of filming, but he looks about 80, the result of a smack habit that was monumental even by jazz musician standards. But even though his matinee idol looks had been ravaged by the effects of junk and hard living, his performances are absolutely mesmerizing. There are several throughout the film, but the highlight is undoubtably his take on Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue" at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Shot just a year before his death, his voice still has the intimacy of his golden years in the 1950s, coupled with the gravity of life experience that few have ever known. As good as the movie is, if you compare this performance with his recordings from the early stages of his career, it tells you all you need to know about the life of Chet Baker.

Chet Baker - "But Not For Me" (mp3) from Chet Baker Sings

The movie was originally scheduled at the Belcourt for a week long engagement, but it's been held over, so you've still got a chance to see it. Check their website for showtimes, as they vary daily. It has never been released on DVD, but if you have money to burn, you can find a VHS copy.

Neon Heart, Dayglow Eyes

If we're honest with ourselves, no matter how much we like an artist, straight concert films are generally kind of boring. Unless there is some compelling backstage or tour footage to spice things up, it's hard to sit through an hour and a half of just a band performing on stage. I've bought a lot of concert videos of my favorites artists, but when it's pure concert footage, it usually takes me at least two viewings to get through it.

That said, U23D is an absolutely amazing film, and I'd be saying that even if U2 weren't one of my favorite bands. I've seen them four times, so I'm not going to try to sell you on the ridiculous "Even Better Than The Real Thing" angle, because it's simply not. But it is really effing good, and worth seeing even if you're not a fan of the band. Billed as the first all digital live action 3D movie, it's visually stunning. The shots put you above, behind, in front of and on the stage. You pretty quickly get over the gimmicky aspects of it being a 3D film, and just lose yourself in the experience. Add in the incredible sound in an IMAX theater and it's truly something to behold (the film is also showing in non-IMAX digital theaters, but it's definitely worth an extra four bucks to see it on the giant screen if you have the opportunity).

Apparently the footage was shot at seven concerts in South America during February and March of 2006, but it's edited to make it look like it took place at their stadium show in Bueno Aries, Argentina. They do a pretty good job of it, because it's pretty seemless. U2 fans will also appreciate the pacing of the songs, especially the way the politically minded songs flow together in the middle of the set. The biggest surprise of the movie comes during "Miss Sarajevo," when Bono sings the opera solo that was performed by Luciano Pavoratti on the original recording. Nobody is ever going to mistake Bono for one of the great tenors of our time, but it's impressive nonetheless (a snippet can be heard on the multimedia page of the movie's website).

U2 - "Beautiful Day (Live at Slane Castle)" (mp3) from U2 Go Home

The Beatles Walk Hard

I almost never go see movies on opening weeked, but I think I'm going to have to make an exception when Walk Hard comes out next week. I've been looking forward to seeing it ever since a friend showed me one of the first trailers a few months ago. After seeing this clip of the Beatles scene from the movie, it's jumped to number two on the list of things I'm looking forward to in the few weeks... above Christmas, but below meeting my new nephew. It is absolutely hilarious.

And since I'm now in a Beatles spoofing kind of mood...

The Rutles - "Love Life" (mp3) from The Rutles

Holiday Inn

For the last of my seasonal posts, I thought I'd feature one of my favorite old movies, Holiday Inn. Although it's often thought of as a Christmas movie (probably because it was the debut of "White Christmas"), it is actually a holiday movie in the truest sense of the word, with an Irving Berlin tune for almost every occasion. Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire have a great chemistry, and the object of their affections, Marjorie Reynolds, is one of the most gorgeous Hollywood starlets you've probably never heard of (unless you're a movie buff). I could describe the plot to you, but der Bingle does a pretty good job of that himself in this medley of songs from the film.

Bing Crosby - "Holiday Inn Medley (Let's Start The New Year Right/Abraham/Be Careful, It's My Heart/Easter Parade/White Christmas)" (mp3)

It was recorded on December 14, 1944 for the Kraft Music Hall program, and is available on the awkwardly titled WWII Radio Christmas Show CD.

Gimme Shelter

Last weekend I saw The Departed. It's an absolutely fantastic movie, probably Martin Scorsese's best since Goodfellas. My only beef with it regards the soundtrack. There is no doubt that Scorsese is a big Rolling Stones fan. He's used their music a lot over the years. But The Departed makes the third time that he has used "Gimme Shelter" in a mob flick (the first two being Goodfellas and Casino). Sure, the opening guitar riff suggests a kind of menace that is perfectly suited for overall atmosphere of the film. But it's been done. Repeatedly. By Scorsese himself. He even admits that he's repeating himself. At a certain point, you've gotta stop going to the same well. Imagine if Quentin Tarantino used "Stuck In The Middle With You" in every movie he ever did. It would kind of ruin the impact of its use in Resevoir Dogs. So I propose that "Gimme Shelter" should be forever off limits to any further use in films, especially films by Martin Scorsese. It's not like Mick and Keith need the royalty checks.

I guess I'm kind of nitpicking, but that's what music geeks are supposed to do. And it did inspire today's monday morning b-side...

The Sisters Of Mercy - "Gimme Shelter" (mp3)

The Sisters released their cover of the Stones classic on their 1983 "Temple Of Love" single. It was the final single on their own Merciful Release label before they signed with Warner Brothers, and its probably the best cover they've ever done. The song is perfectly suited for Andrew Eldritch's booming baritone. It's currently available on the import singles collection Some Girls Wander By Mistake.

I've Got A Miniature Secret Camera

Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out

Fans of The Police have been excited about Stewart Copeland's new documentary every since word got out about it's premiere at Sundance in January. Complied from Super 8 footage shot by Copeland during the band's rise to fame, it chronicles The Police from its first American tour promoting Outlandos D'Amour in 1978 through their appearance at the 1982 US Festival.

The film begins a little slowly, with Copeland narrating still shots from the bands days on the London punk scene, and finally takes off once Stewart buys his camera on the eve of their American tour. Live footage of the band alternates with various antics shot at in store appearances, backstage dressing rooms, press conferences, hotel rooms, and wherever else the band's travels brought them. The soundtrack is a mix of live and studio tracks, and what Copeland calls "derangements," clever reconstructions of Police songs that fall somewhere between a remix and a mashup.

It's interesting to see the live footage of the band shot from the side and back of the stage by roadies, and for what it was the audio quality is often surprisingly good. The bonus commentary track featuring Copeland and Andy Summers is enlighting, and on it Stewart explains some of the movies shortcomings. The film does suffer from having most of the performances focusing on songs from the band's first album, so there isnt a whole lot of variety. While hardcore fans will no doubt enjoy this DVD, it pales in comparison to The Police: Around The World, an excellent 1982 film with a similar vibe shot on the band's 1980-1981 world tours.

The Police - "Fall Out" (mp3)

"Fall Out" was The Police's first single, predating the arrival of Andy Summers. Released in 1977, when they were still pretending to be part of the punk scene, it features Henri Padovani on guitar. It, along with almost every other recording the Police ever released, is available on Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings (there are a couple of live b-sides and a remix of "Don't Stand So Close To Me '86" that were not included).

post title by Peter Murphy