The Filtered Excellence: June 23, 2016

king of comedy

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 week’s 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:

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa In His Own Words.    The life of the highly outspoken and prolific composer, and musician is the subject of a new documentary by Thorsten Schutte.  Made with cooperation with his estate, Schutte mixes archival footage and interviews – many of which have rarely, if ever, been seen – to provide the most comprehensive look at Frank Zappa to date.  As the title implies, Zappa’s thoughts on everything from politics, religion and, of course, music, drives a narrative that’s anchored by compositions that balance from remarkably complex and intricate, to silly and profane.   What’s even more remarkable is how remarkably accurate a lot of Zappa’s comments were back then – especially given the political climate now.  It makes you wonder just how disarming and lethal he would be making the rounds on today’s news talk shows.  This is the ultimate salute to one of the most original, and iconic musicians – and free thinkers – of the 20th Century.  Eat That Question opens in select theaters on Friday.  You can also go to http://www.sonyclassics.com/ for more information.

Breaking A Monster.   The rapid rise of teen metal band Unlocking The Truth drives this new documentary by Luke Meyer.  Malcolm Brickhouse, Jarad Dawkins and Alec Atkins were three Black metal loving middle schoolers from Brooklyn who went from busking in Times Square, to becoming a YouTube sensation.  Alan Sacks – an industry veteran who co-created Welcome Back Kotter, and helped helm The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato to platinum status – is blown away and quickly becomes their manager.  After parlaying their YouTube success into opening slots at Coachella, SXSW and for Metallica, Marilyn Manson and Motorhead, Sony Music signed them to a multi-album deal worth nearly 2 million dollars.  What follows is a series of meetings and appearances that threaten to alter the group’s musical and personal dynamics forever.  Meyer gets unprecedented access to the inner workings of today’s music business, which places more emphasis on developing ‘the brand’ as it is does the music.  There is a fair share of cringe-inducing scenes where Sacks and the Sony marketing, promotional and musical machine attempt to mold the band into something they are clearly not comfortable with.  Personal sacrifices have to be made:  When Malcolm is told that he would have to give up his other love – skateboarding – out of fear that a long term injury can threaten their deal will break your heart.  The film isn’t all somber:  We also get to see these young men, being, well, young men:  Bike riding, obsessing over video games, and of course, talking about and dealing with girls.  They are funny, insightful young men wiser than their years.  There’s a strong representation of the band’s parents – especially Malcolm’s no-nonsense mother Annette – who are strongly supportive of the boys’ musical pursuits, but are also concerned about their short and long term goals. Candid, honest and blunt to the core, this is a must see film for anyone who is looking to break into the ever evolving world of show business.  Breaking The Monster opens in select theaters on Friday.  You can also go to www.seethink.com for more information.

Roadies.  This highly anticipated new Showtime series from Cameron Crowe and J.J. Abrams premieres this weekend.  It’s a look inside at the people who truly makes concerts happen: The production manager, lighting and sound crews, those who transport the bands and  gear, and of course, those who are the first to arrive and the last to leave long after the final chords are played. In addition to making the magic happen on stage, they also must manage backstage dramas large and small, and somehow try to maintain their lives away from the job.  Anchored by a cast that includes by Luke Wilson, Carla Gugino, Imogen Poots and Luis Guzman and powered by great music, Crowe and Abrams have put together a fresh spin on life on a rock n roll tour.  Roadies premieres Sunday, June 26th at 10pm Eastern on Showtime.  You can also go to http://www.sho.com/ to watch the first episode online (though highly edited), and get extras and more information.

LISTEN TO THIS

Totally Stripped by The Rolling Stones.  Following the Voodoo Lounge tour, The Stones did a series of shows and studio sessions that pared down the huge stadium trappings and put the emphasis back on the songs and the band.  Released in 1995, Stripped featured re-worked versions of Stones classics and covers that reflected the band’s roots and influences in a stripped down, no frills format.  The Stones revisit this period with Totally Stripped, a deluxe package which includes the complete Amsterdam, Paris and London shows on CD and DVD, a 60 page book and a documentary covering the studio sessions.  If there was any question why the Stones are called ‘The Greatest Rock n Roll Band In The World’ this collection strongly makes the case.  Totally Stripped by The Rolling Stones is available now through Amazon, iTunes and all major music retailers.  You can also go to http://www.rollingstones.com/ for more information.

Americana by J.D. Allen.  The genre ‘Americana’ was given to artists who blurred the lines between country, rock, gospel, jazz and blues so much that you really couldn’t classify them in any of those specific categories.  Veteran tenor saxophonist J.D. Allen – who was mentored by the late jazz great Betty Carter and has drawn considerable comparisons to John Coltrane – makes the case on his new album that all of these genres – including Americana – are all rooted in the blues and jazz.  Joined by the killer rhythm section of Rudy Royston (drums) and Gregg August (bass), Allen takes the traditional blues forms, stretches them out and  takes sonic explorations to show how it’s all connected.  The Coltrane connection is real:  Allen’s tone is mournful, soulful and uplifting – sometimes all at the same time. He’s the real deal. Those who keep insisting that ‘jazz is dead’ or ‘no longer a major musical force’ need to hear this album and start apologizing. One of the year’s best and a straight up classic. Americana by J.D. Allen is available now through Amazon, iTunes and all major music retailers.  You can also go tohttp://www.jdallentenorsaxophonist.com for more info.

READ THIS

Delta Lady by Rita Coolidge.  For an extended period in the 1970s, Rita Coolidge was THE rock n roll muse.  She was a featured vocalist on Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour and Leon Russell and Steven Stills wrote songs about her (‘Delta Lady’,’ Cherokee’). She was also involved in the love triangle that broke up CSN.  But she was more than fawned upon by rock stars. She was also a formidable vocalist, musician and songwriter.  She composed the piano piece that served as the coda to ‘Layla’, had several hit albums as a solo artist and won two Grammys. Now Coolidge looks back at her extraordinary life and career in this new memoir.  She tells about her rich Native American roots, the highs and lows with some of the biggest names in rock and her turbulent marriage to Kris Kristofferson.  Told with candor, warmth and unflinching honesty, Coolidge has put together a memoir that recalls a vibrant and crucial period in the annals of rock. Delta Lady by Rita Coolidge is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers.  You can also go to http://www.ritacoolidge.net/for more information.

DO THIS

New York City: The King Of Comedy at Film Forum.  Martin Scorsese’s biting dark comedy received a somewhat muted reception when it was released in 1982. Perhaps it was because the assassination of John Lennon and an attempt on then-President Reagan by deranged fans were still fresh on everyone’s mind. But Scorsese’s tale of a delusional would be comic’s obsession with a popular late night TV show host (Jerry Lewis) that results in a kidnapping, has quietly emerged as one of the director’s best films. Digitally restored in 4K, The King of Comedy will have a one week run at Film Forum. As an added bonus, Gilbert Gottfried, Mario Cantone and Aparna Nancherla and other comics will be on hand at select screenings to introduce the movie.  A wonderful opportunity to see Scorsese, Robert DeNiro, Jerry Lewis, and in a show stopping performance, Sandra Bernhard at their best. The King of Comedy will run at Film Forum June 24th through the 30th.  You can go to http://www.filmforum.org/ for tickets and more information.


Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends

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Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.
Earl Douglas
Earl Douglas
Earl Douglas is a writer/photographer based in New York City. A frequent contributor to The Interrobang, Earl is also Executive Director for the New York chapter of The Black Rock Coalition. Earl worked in radio for nearly two decades at WNEW-FM and XM Satellite Radio, which included being the on-air producer for Carol Miller, Scott Muni and Ron & Fez, and a contributor to Opie & Anthony. Earl has also independently published a number of books including Black Rock Volume 1, Urban Abyss, Mobile Uploads, and For Shimmy. His latest project is the photojournalism magazine PRAXIS, which is available exclusively through Blurb.com.