The Filtered Excellence: April 2, 2015
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this weeks picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more:
WATCH THIS:
Lambert & Stamp. As a new rock scene was beginning to take shape in London, two aspiring filmmakers, Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp went to looking to find a young band that they could feature in their next film. They found it at The Railway Hotel with The High Numbers, a four piece band fronted by Roger Daltrey and featuring Pete Townshend on guitar, John Entwistle on bass and a madman on drums named Keith Moon. Blown away by their performance, Lambert and Stamp scrapped the film and decided to manage the group – despite have no experience in business management or in the music business. The band would change their name to The Who and under Lambert and Stamp’s guidance would go on make history. Director James D. Cooper takes a look at how two men from opposite sides of the tracks would go on to mentor one of the most iconic bands in rock history. Townshend and Daltrey are on board to give their side of the events along with tons of footage (most of which was shot by Lambert & Stamp) capturing The Who’s rise to stardom. It also captures one of the last interviews with Stamp, who passed away from cancer in 2012 and giving proper due to Lambert, a visionary manager/producer who also played a key role in the careers of Jimi Hendrix, Golden Earring, Thunderclap Newman and Labelle. A fitting tribute to two of rock’s unsung heroes. Lambert & Stamp opens this Friday.
You can go to www.lambertandstampmovie.com for more information.
Mad Men. It’s the end of an era as the final season of the Emmy Award winning series kicks off this weekend. The ad crew at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce – with Creative Director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) back in the office after a forced leave – are now a subsidiary of McCann-Erickson splitting time between Madison Avenue and L.A. Together and as individuals, they must deal with the seismic changes happening in their industry, the nation and in their personal lives as the 1960s draw to a close. There’s a reason why Mad Men has won 15 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes: It’s loaded with great acting (anchored by Hamm, Elizabeth Moss and John Slattery), outstanding writing (led by Matthew Weiner), humor and touches on the issues that affected the times then and now. The final season of Mad Men kicks off this Sunday night at 10 on AMC.
You can go to www.amctv.com for more info.
Frank Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All. This new four hour HBO documentary puts a new spin on one of the most iconic singers in pop music history. Director Alex Gibney – with full cooperation from the Sinatra estate – got exclusive full archive to present this new four hour HBO documentary on The Chairman Of The Board. Gibney uses Sinatra’s 1971 ‘Retirement Concert’ (which, in and of itself, has rarely been viewed) two ways: Each of the various ‘chapters’ are drawn directly from the set list, which Sinatra carefully selected to paint a musical portrait of his life. It also serves to show that even as Sinatra was walking away from the business that made him, he was, at the time, leaving at the full peak of his powers. What truly makes this documentary fascinating is that, save for his children, former wives, close associates and critics, Sinatra (culled from interviews, on stage banter and speaking engagements) narrates the story. No stone is left unturned either: His Jersey roots, making bobbysoxers faint at The Paramount; the fall from grace and the phoenix-like comeback; mob connections, JFK, The Rat Pack, Hollywood, personal and professional career peaks and valleys, It’s all there and tied together with the songs that defined him and a generation. Whether you know the story inside and out or if you’re looking to see what all of the hype was about, Gibney has put together the definitive look at the man who truly did it his way. A must see doc. Frank Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All airs April 5th and 6th at 8pm Eastern on HBO.
You can go to www.hbo.com for additional info.
The Final Four. The biggest event in college basketball takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. For two of the teams, it’s basketball powers looking to re-assert their places in history: Kentucky is not only looking to its 9th NCAA title (and its second in three years), it’s also looking to be the first team since the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers to have a perfect season. Duke, coached by the legendary Mike Kryzyzweski, is making its 12th Final Four appearance and looking to win its 5th NCAA Championship. For the remaining two teams, it’s about establishing themselves among the college basketball elite. Tom Izzo isn’t discussed in the same conversation as Kryzyzweski or Jim Boeheim, but he should be: Since taking over the team in 1995, Michigan State has won a National Championship and made 7 Final Four appearances. Their path to their 2nd straight Final Four included knocking off heavily favored teams such as Virginia, Oklahoma and Louisville in an OT thriller. Wisconsin is also making their 2nd straight Final Four appearance also looking to be recognized as an elite basketball program. They have the 2nd best record of any team in college basketball, but feel as though they don’t get the same measure of respect as the other teams remaining in the contest. Who will come out on top? Tune in this Saturday at 6pm Eastern on TBS.
Opening Day. The 2015 Major League Baseball Season kicks off Sunday night when the Chicago Cubs play their long time rivals The St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. For the first time since the days of Sosa, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, there’s a real buzz surrounding the Cubs: GM Theo Epstein made one of the biggest splashes of the off season signing highly sought after lefty Jon Lester to a 6 year, 155 million dollar deal. The team also has two potential Rookie Of The Year candidates in Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant, despite the fact that Bryant will, at least for now, start the season in the minors. Their south side rivals, the White Sox are also the talk of the AL, thanks in part by bolstering their offense by adding Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera to give some plate protection for their young slugger Jose Abreu. They also solidified their bullpen by signing top closer David Robertson away from the Yankees, then beefed up their starting pitching by trading for Jeff Samardzija. They are the favorites to win the AL Central, which between the White Sox, Detroit, Cleveland and the defending AL Champ Kansas City Royals, make up the best division in baseball. The AL West is just as strong with Oakland, L.A. Angels and the surging Seattle Mariners all looking to build on last year’s campaigns. For the first time in many years, the AL East is wide open with the Orioles looking to repeat as division champs, a healthy Toronto Blue Jays looking to make their first playoff appearance since 1993, and the Yankees and Red Sox look to regain their post season form. In the National League, the Washington Nationals are a strong pick to rep the league in the World Series – especially after adding Max Scherzer to the already formidable starting rotation that includes Stephen Strausberg, Jordan Zimmerman, Gio Gonzalez and Doug Fister. The two NL East teams that may challenge the Nats include a young and hungry Miami Marlins and the pitching heavy Mets, who feel that this is the year they make a return to the post season. In addition to the Cubs, the AL Central will feature perennial playoff favorites the St. Louis Cardinals and a revitalized Pittsburgh Pirates. The NL West will revisit one of the league’s best rivalries in the Dodgers and the defending champion San Francisco Giants, with a heavily re-tooled San Diego Padres looking to return to the post-season for the first time since 1998. Opening Day is the start of the journey to the Fall Classic. Who will be the one to complete the ride? It all begins Sunday at 8pm Eastern on ESPN 2.
Jake Shimabukuro: Life On Four Strings. In 2006, unbeknownst to Jake Shimabukuro, a video of him performing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on his ukulele in Central Park’s Strawberry Field was posted to a new web site called You Tube, becoming one of the first ever “viral” videos.” Although Jake had been signed to Sony records since 2002, it wasn’t until this video surfaced that his career really took off. Since then the video has had over 13 million views and Jake has inspired countless players to view the diminutive ukulele as a “serious” instrument. In the years since, Jake has received numerous awards, including two Grammy’s for his collaborations with Ziggy Marley and Yo-Yo Ma. “Jake Shimabukuro: Life On Four Strings” captures Jake as he brings the healing power of music to audiences worldwide. Streaming on Netflix.
Go to Netflix.com for more info.
Check out the video that launched the world-wide ukulele craze.<
LISTEN TO THIS:
The Ron & Fez Show Final Broadcast. After making us laugh for nearly two decades in Florida, New York, DC and across North America, The Ron & Fez Show will air its final show on Friday. Fez Whatley has decided to retire from radio to devote more time to his family in Florida as well as deal with several health issues that have hampered his ability to be one half of the greatest radio team in the history of the medium. Even as this extraordinary chapter closes, expect the last show to be as any other Ron & Fez show: Unique, informative, smart as hell, and laugh out loud funny. Don’t expect to be sure if you’re really witnessing the final episode or just being set up for a long con. But in case its legit, you won’t want to miss out on the last chance to hear the best thing going today. Wooooo! The final Ron & Fez Show airs tomorrow from noon to 3pm Eastern on SiriusXM’s Raw Dog Comedy Hits Channel 99.
Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens. The 7th album by the acclaimed multi-instrumentalist is also his most personal. Stevens goes back to his indie folk roots by stripping the sound down to vocals, guitar and light augmentation with material that focuses on the 2012 death of his mother and childhood trips that his family would take to Oregon. Despite the dark and often painful subject matter, Stevens nimble guitar style and straight forward, yet aching vocals manages to find the beauty in the melancholy. It’s a dark ride, but was rewarding one.
Carrie & Lowell is available Carrie & Lowell
You can also go to www.sufjan.com for tour dates and more information.
READ THIS:
Every Day I Fight by Stuart Scott. Stuart Scott finished this book shortly before losing his 7 year battle with cancer. It covers his struggles to beat the disease while still trying to maintain a busy TV schedule and how his two daughters helped fuel the fight of his life. Scott also talks about growing up as a football fan in North Carolina, breaking into television and his rise to become a prominent anchor on ESPN. As he did on SportsCenter, Scott covers all of his highs and low with humor, candor and never with self-pity. It’s an inspiring and fitting coda one of our most beloved sportscasters.
Every Day I Fight
DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: Hip Hop Revolution at The Museum Of The City Of New York. Today, hip hop is a global phenomenon, dominating everything from music to fashion. But hip hop’s roots were based at block parties, rec centers and underground clubs. While little video exists of these early shows, photographers Joe Conzo, Janette Beckman and Martha Cooper were there to capture the birth of a musical movement. More than 80 images of Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Run DMC, and other hip hop pioneers are part of a new exhibition at The Museum Of The City Of New York. It’s not only a celebration of the last major music movement to come out of New York City, it’s also a fantastic time capsule of the city at its most vibrant and energetic. One of the must see exhibitions to see this year. Hip Hop Revolution will be at The Museum Of The City Of New York through September 10th.
You can go www.mcny.org for tickets and more information.
NEW YORK CITY: Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks at The Brooklyn Museum. Jean-Michel Basquiat was a prolific street artist and painter, but he also wrote constantly, outlining broader pieces and musing on everything from street life, race, politics, class and world history. Now for the first time, you can view 160 pages of his documentations alongside related works on a larger scale. Its one of the rare Basquiat exhibitions that really gets inside his head and the thought process that he took to make some of his greatest work. It works for both longtime and new fans. Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks will be at The Brooklyn Museum April 3rd through August 23rd.
You can go to www.brooklynmuseum.org for tickets, directions and additional info.
NEW YORK CITY: Pillow Fight NYC at Washington Square Park. As part of International Pillow Fight Day, the New York City portion of the event will take place in Washington Square Park. The rules are simple: Bring a soft, feather-free pillow. Swing lightly and don’t swing at anyone without a pillow or with cameras. Remove your glasses beforehand to prevent injury and have fun! Pajamas are optional and participants are urged to donate a new or barely used pillow at designated donation trucks that will be situated in the park. All of the donated pillows will go to shelters for the homeless, LGBT youth and a non-denominational church. A fun event that helps those in need.
Go to www.pillowfightday.com for more information and for a complete list of host cities.
LOS ANGELES: The Concert For Social Justice. The Grammy Museum teams up with The Robert Kennedy Human Rights to present The Concert For Social Justice at The Fonda Theatre. Graham Nash, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Tom Morello, Melissa Etheridge and more will join actors Dennis Haysbert, Chad Lowe, Martin Sheen, and Alfre Woodard to perform songs covering the past 50 years that helped spark and/or represented social change movements around the world. All proceeds from the event will go to the Speak Up Sing Out: Songs of Conscience. program, which invites middle-school and high-school students to write songs about social justice issues using materials from the RFK’s Speak Truth To Power human rights curriculum and the GRAMMY Museum’s Civil Rights curriculum. It promises to be a powerful night of music that will move and inspire.
Go to www.fondatheatre.com for tickets and additional info.
LOS ANGELES: System Of A Down at The Forum. The reformed and renown hard rock band will bring their Wake Up The Souls Tour to the Forum. As with every project System puts together, this tour has significant importance to them: To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, in which roughly 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915. While there’s no forthcoming news of a new album, here’s a great chance to see one of the seminal hard rock bands tear it up in their home turf.
Go to www.fabulousforum.com for tickets and more information.
CHICAGO: Patti Smith at The Old Town School Of Folk Music. Punk’s poet and princess will be appearing at The Old Town School Of Folk Music for three shows. Dubbed a ‘Spring Awakening (For Poetry And Song), Smith will be joined by long time Patti Smith Group member Tony Shanahan and her children Jackson and Jesse for readings of her own work, poets who influenced her, and of course, amazing songs from her 40 year career. Smith’s shows are eventful and with family involved, this should be one of the ages.
Go to www.oldtownschool.org for tickets.
CHICAGO: Allen Toussaint at Space. New Orleans funk and R&B legend Allen Toussaint will be bring his band to the Windy City for two shows. While his roots are steeped in R&B, the list of songs that Toussaint has written has transcended genres, making their mark on the rock, country, blues, funk charts for artists ranging from Lee Dorsey, Glen Campbell, Bonnie Raitt, Labelle, Elvis Costello and The Band, among many others. Toussaint is also one of the music’s greatest ambassadors, spearheading the movement to keep New Orleans-based musicians working (and in turn, bringing the city’s rich cultural heritage back into the national consciousness) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In concert, Toussaint puts on a musical clinic, walking you through over 50 years of American R&B. Come out and watch a master give a master class in songwriting and musicianship.
Go to www.evanstonspace.com for tickets and complete information.
WOODSTOCK, NY: Open House at Levon Helm Studios. In honor of the third anniversary of Levon’s passing, Sandy and Amy Helm will host an open house at the studio from noon until 3PM on April 19th. You will be welcome you to tour the property and studio, take photos, share memories & honor Levon’s amazing legacy. There is no music planned, but in typical Levon Helm Studio tradition ‘ya never know who will show up.’ Bring your children, bring your lunch, but they respectfully ask that you leave pets at home.
Visit http://www.levonhelm.com for more info.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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