The Filtered Excellence: June 28, 2012
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Here are this weeks picks of what to WATCH, what to DO what to TRY what to READ what to LISTEN TO and more:
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WATCH THIS:
Louie Season 3. We shouldn’t even have to tell you that you should be watching one of the best shows on television. Season 3 of Louie, starring Louis CK started tonight but if you missed it, it airs again Saturday at 11:30pm eastern time on FX. After that catch it every Thursday night at 10:30pm. While we’re on the subject you can find lots of great extras on the official website including Louie’s New York, an interactive map guide to all the places visited on the show. If you’re REALLY behind, good news for you. You can watch Seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix instant or on Amazon Instant.
- You can find everything you need to know on the official FX site.
- Also check out Louis CK’s website for info on touring and more.
- Rent Episode 1 of Season 1
- Buy Louie on Amazon
Neil Young Journeys directed by Jonathan Demme. For their third film collaboration, Demme films Young as they travel around northern Ontario in a 1956 Crown Victoria, visit some old haunts, tells stories about his famous father, growing up in Canada and his overall philosophy on life. It all culminates with a solo show at Toronto’s Massey Hall, with an emphasis on material from his Grammy Award winning album Le Noise (produced by fellow Canadian Daniel Lanois). Demme – who has quietly become one of the best concert filmmakers – scores another winner, delivering a three dimensional performance of one of rock’s most mysterious, yet prolific artists. Neil Young Journeys opens in New York and Los Angeles tomorrow.
Take This Waltz In Theaters June 29th. Right off the bat, we love that the title was taken from a Leonard Cohen song. And Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman would be draw enough to make most people interested. But then there’s also Seth Rogan and this intriguing storyline that uniquely and humorously leads us through the story of how Margot’s (Michelle Williams) confidence about her marriage is shaken one sweltering Toronto Summer, after she makes the chance and instantly-intense aquaintence of her neighbor Daniel.
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LISTEN TO THIS:
The Cherry Thing by Neneh Cherry and The Thing. Scandinavian free jazz trio, The Thing, formed initially to perform the songs of jazz legend Don Cherry and named themselves after a Cherry track. That they would decide to collaborate with Cherry’s step-daughter Neneh Cherry seems obvious as a sign of respect. That the album, in blending The Thing’s raw discordant power with Neneh Cherry’s soulful vocals, would work as well as it does is a revelation. There are some originals, but the eight songs on the album are made up mostly of covers from a group of disparate sources, including The Stooges, MF Doom, Suicide, Ornette Coleman, and Don Cherry himself. Their cover of Suicide’s Dream Baby Dream reinvents the original and is one of the most gripping and essential tracks of the year.
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READ THIS:
Canada by Richard Ford. If you love Jonathan Franzen, if you’ve loved Philip Roth, then you should be reading Richard Ford. If you already have been reading the past great works by this Pulitzer winning, and Pen Faulkner award winning author then you don’t need us to sell this to you. If you’ve missed him, you have a lot of great books ahead of you after you read Canada. Known for writing stark and sweeping articles about American Life, like The Sportswriter, Independence Day and The Lay of the Land. Canada grabs you from the opening lines– “First, I’ll tell about the robbery our parents committed. Then about the murders, which happened later.” It’s a page turner with depth and substance. Perfect for summer readers who want something new and thoughtful.
Hot Wire Guitar: The Life Of Jeff Beck by Martin Power (Omnibus). British journalist Martin Power takes an exhaustive look at one of the most innovative and respected guitarists of all time. Everything aspect of his career is covered: His stint in The Yardbirds, the various incarnations of The Jeff Beck Group, landmark guest appearances, his love of hot rods, and, of course, his stellar solo work. Featuring new interviews with former Yardbirds Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty, former manager Simon Napier-Bell and collaborators such as Max Middleton, Stanley Clarke, Simon Phillips, and Doug Wimbish, Hot Wire Guitar is THE definitive biography.
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BROWSE THIS:
NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, this week, Reggie Watts. For the past five years, NPR has recorded sets from artists like Wilco, Steve Earle, Mavis Staples, Iron & Wine, Adele, Daniel Johnston and Booker T. Jones at the cramped desk of All Things Considered host Bob Boilenin the NPR Music Office. The results are revealing and intimate, showing artists in a light you’ve likely never seen before. The latest Tiny Desk Concert comes from the great Reggie Watts.
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DO THIS:
New York: CBGB Festival – From July 5th to July 8th, the CBGB Festival will present 300 bands at 30 different venues. Artists include Guided by Voices, David Johanson, Superchunk, Fishbone, Reggie Watts, Redd Cross, Richard LLoyd, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and many more.
New York City: Jim Marshall: The Rolling Stones And Beyond It’s all happening at The Steven Kasher Gallery. In the pantheon of great rock photographers, Jim Marshall is the standard by which all is measured. He also lived a life that was as colorful as the musicians he photographed. Marshall passed away in 2010, but left behind a vast body of work that is yet to be seen by the public. To coincide with The Rolling Stones’ 50th Anniversary, The Steven Kasher Gallery will be displaying over 60 photographs that Marshall took for Life Magazine during their 1972 tour. The exhibit will also be the launch for the book The Rolling Stones 1972, which features a forward by Keith Richards and text by Joel Selvin. The Rolling Stones And Beyond will run from July 5th through September 8th. The Rolling Stones 1972 will be available in August, but you can pre-order it through Amazon.
- You can go to www.jimmarshallphotographyllc.com for more information.
- Preorder the book at amazon.com.
New York City: Kicking And Screaming at BAM. Noah Baumbach has quietly built up quite a film resume: In addition to writing and directing critically acclaimed films such as The Squid And The Whale, Margot At The Wedding and Greenberg, he’s also co-written The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou and Fantastic Mr. Fox with Wes Anderson. On Saturday, The Brooklyn Academy Of Music will screen his first film, Kicking And Screaming, which stars Josh Hamilton, Eric Stoltz, Elliot Gould and Parker Posey. There will also be a post screening panel featuring Baumbach, co-writer Oliver Berkman and moderated by Chuck Klosterman. A rare chance to get up and close and personal with an indie film world great. Go to www.bam.org for more information.
Los Angeles: Who Shot Rock n Roll at The Annenberg Space For Photography. Before MTV, rock n roll was best captured through photographs. Many of the shots ended up being as much of a definitive statement on an artist as their music. Who Shot Rock n Roll is a sprawling exhibit featuring over 100 photographers and some of the most enduring images ever created. Some of the best in the business are featured: Bob Greun, Mark Seliger, Henry Diltz, Lynn Goldsmith, Guy Webster and the late Linda McCartney, among others. Just about every major rock act of the last 50 plus years is covered and every shot is a winner. Who Shot Rock n Roll runs through October 7th.
Nashville: Nashville Hot Chicken Festival. Brings together the best hot chicken restaurants in town for a big outdoor party in the park. There’s also an amateur hot chicken contest to see who can cook up the best batch in their home kitchens.Add in the local Yazoo Brewery Beer Tent and the festival is a huge hit. Awesome time, awesome food, and totally unique to Nashville.
- California: Pirate Invasion of Belmont Pier, June 30th-July 1st Ahoy Maties, head to the Pirate Invasion in Long Beach California to participate in all pirate related festivities! Including a pirate food court (all food washed down by rum), sword fights and a costume contest.
- Illinois: Old Time Farm Show, June 29th- July 1st in Borbonnaise, Illinois. Take a look back through America’s history by looking at old parts of America’s oldest industry- farming. You can enjoy exhibits and crafts, or participate in activities such as a tractor pull or a weed whacker pull.
- Texas: Volleyball Festival, June 26th- July 1st One of America’s favorite summertime sports now has its own festival to celebrate it- Volleyball. The Festival could not be complete without a competitive tournament to go along with it, and for this tournament no qualification is required! Even if you don’t want to compete you can still always go to watch some great sports. Come down to Sugarland Texas and watch!
- New Mexico, UFO Festival, June 29th- July 1st in Roswell, New Mexico. Is it a bird, Is it a plane, No- It’s a UFO! For years some people have believed in UFO’s and aliens coming to take over planet earth and now they have somewhere to go- a festival created just for them! Be sure to dress in your best alien attire because this Festival comes complete with a costume contest.
- Washington: Seafair Torchlight Parade, June 28th. One of the most beloved parades on the West Coast is the torchlight parade in Seattle going on it’s 63rd year. People young and old can head down town early in the day to participate in activities while waiting for a seat, and at night the parade comes alive with light up floats, balloons, and some great music.
- Pennsylvania: Groundhog Festival, July 1st- July 6th. People may think the groundhog is an animal that just comes out in February to help tell us how much more of winter we have, but the people of Punxsutawney, PA with the legendary groundhog- Punxsutawny Phil like to celebrate the groundhog all year round by holding a week long festival for him in the summer too!
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