The Filtered Excellence: August 30, 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:
Lawless. In theaters Friday August 29th. We haven’t seen this one yet, and honestly, reviews of the upcoming gangster film have been mixed after it played at Cannes earlier this year… BUT… based on the fact that Lawless is the second collaboration between musician/writer Nick Cave and director John Hillcoat, we’re ready to recommend this one. Their first film together, The Proposition, an excellent “Australian Western” historically based and extremely brutal, all the while remaining hauntingly beautiful. (See that too if you haven’t!) Lawless is based on the memoir The Wettest County in the World by Matt Bondurant, and explores the world of moonshine and bootlegging, set in Prohibition-era Franklin County, Virginia. The bootleggers are the Bondurant brothers who are played by Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, and Jason Clarke who meet the fierce opposition of a merciless lawman, played by Guy Pearce, and a ruthless Tommy gun toting gangster played by Gary Oldman. Sounds like a good strong concoction, to us.
NFL 2012 Kickoff. Wednesday September 5, 2012. The NFL Opens it 93rd season with the superbowl champs, The New York Giants taking on their long time rival the Dallas Cowboys at 8:30pm in the east. And while you’re at it, make sure you’ve joined up The Interrobang ESPN Pickem League and the ESPN Elimination League for a chance to win great prizes.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Centipede Hz. Super psychedelia, experimental rockin noise-pop and more Animal Collective style goodness shows up on the band’s 9th album. This is rock that is spiked with samples and spews electronic sounds while steady rumbling and convulsing in vibrant, energetic cacophony. A sneak-hear of Animal Collective’s new album, Centipede Hz is available now, before its official release Tuesday September 4th!
ELEW – Rockjazz, Vol 2. With his brand of what he calls ‘rockjazz’, ELEW shook up the rock and jazz world with his radical piano re-workings of rock classics and alternative hits. For the follow-up, ELEW (aka Eric Lewis) reinterpreting works by such artists Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, U2, Linkin Park, and The Cranberries to astonishing, sometimes haunting effect. It also features two originals that stand up quite well with the covers. This isn’t just a vanity project either: Its a continuation of jazz artists turning popular songs into something unique and exciting. Rockjazz, Vol 2 is available now.
Sun, by Cat Power. On her 9th studio album (and first in six years), Chan Marshall aka Cat Power mixes the traditional organic instruments she has leaned on throughout her career with loops and electronic sounds. The effect works, and works extremely well, but this may be more due to Marshall’s voice, songwriting and raw emotion. Expect this one to be on the top of many year end best of lists.
READ THIS:
You’ll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock And The Mwandishi Band by Bob Gluck. There was a series of recordings that Hancock made from 1969 until the breakthrough success of Headhunters LP that shocked and confounded long time fans and of course, jazz critics. Sales were spotty (only Fat Albert Rotunda, the de facto soundtrack to the TV show Fat Albert And The Cosby Kids sold well), but it laid the groundwork to everything we hear today as a matter of course. With You’ll Know When You Get There, jazz historian Bob Gluck breaks down Hancock’s days with the Mwandishi band as it blurred the lines between jazz, rock, classical and electronic music. It’s expertly researched and it features interviews with Hancock, close associates and all of the members of Mwandishi band. It’s a perfect primer to what turned out to be the most experimental and innovative phases of Hancock’s career. You should also check out Mwandishi: The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings, which features all of the material from that period. You’ll Know When You Get There is available September 1st through all major retailers.
BROWSE THIS:
Uncle Sloppy’s Zooted Lay-Up Mixtape by DJ Smoke L.E.S. and Ricky Powell. In addition to being a world class photographer, Ricky Powell also has an amazing taste in music. Now he’s teamed up TheGoodLife and DJ Smoke L.E.S. to present Uncle Sloppy’s Zooted Lay-Up Mixtape, an hour plus of funky jazz, R&B, classic hip-hop and everything in between. There’s also so great Ricky-isms and classic Knick clips thrown in as well. A perfect soundtrack for a late summer stroll or if you’re taking easy at home.
DO THIS:
New York City: Ornette: Made In America @ The IFC Center. Shirley Clark’s unique look at the life and career of jazz iconoclast Ornette Coleman has a short run at the IFC Center. The film traces his Fort Worth, Texas upbringing to legendary performances from the States and even Morocco. It also features interviews with family, fans and long time friends such as the late, great William S. Burroughs. It’s a wild, full range look at one of America’s most revered artists. Ornette: Made In America opens this Friday.
New York City: All Star Levon Helm Tribute Tickets On Sale Now. A tribute has been planned to honor Levon Helm called “Love For Levon” and will be held on October 3 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ. The legendary musician and singer/songwriter died earlier this year from throat cancer at the age of 71. Among the artists scheduled to perform: Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, The Levon Helm Band, Mavis Staples, Joe Walsh, Robert Randolph, Patty Griffin, Bruce Hornsby, Jorma Kaukonen, John Mayer, My Morning Jacket, Eric Church, and more performers to be announced. All of the proceeds of the benefit will go towards his estate so that “his estate may keep the ownership of his home, barn and studio, and to continue The Midnight Ramble Sessions.” Tickets went on sale Wednesday, August 29.
Sedona, Arizona: Red Rock Music Festival. The Red Rocks Music Festival educates, engages and challenges audiences through a unique collaboration of musicians from leading Arizona performing arts organizations and world acclaimed artists. An integral part of the Festival’s mission is education. The Red Rocks Music Festival educates and challenges it’s patrons to the point that it’s considered unique. Actually, an integral of the festival message is education. It enables young musicians to learn new skills from accredited professionals.
Seattle Washington: Bumbershoot(Seattle, WA) September 1st to 3rd, Bumbershoot®:
Seattle’s nationally acclaimed Music and Arts Festival. It is on its 42nd year and features comedy, spoken word, dance, theatre, performance and visual arts. Over 100,000 people show up for the Bumbershoot weekend. Tony Bennett, Skrillex and Gotye will all be there.
SUMMER FESTIVALS AND OTHER THINGS TO DO ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS WEEKEND
- New York Renaissance Faire (Tuxedo, NY), Every Weekend in September, Enjoy the sounds of Larksong for this exclusive engagement! Baltimore-based madrigal group has performed at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, and the National Museum for Women in the Arts.
- Captain Redbeard’s Feast (Honeoye Lake, NY), September 2nd – 4th, Captain Redbeard and his hungry rouge pirates will return Labor Day weekend of 2012 on Honeoye Lake. They have traveled for centuries looking for Pirate Cove and once found, they have charted its location as a port of call when sailing these seas. He and his crew will enjoy live music with a reggae/Caribbean and folk music flair, a market place where starving pirates and vendors sell and trade their wares, services, vittles, and grog. Pirates! They’re hungry and ready to exchange their services for money. Arrrrrr you going to go!?
- Fungus Fair (Girdwood, Alaska) All things Fungus and Mushroom related. Featuring scientist, teachers and jokes! A mushroom walks into a bar. The bartender says “Hey no mushrooms in here”. The mushroom says, “Hey, I’m a fun guy!”
- World Sheep & Fiber Arts Festival (Bethel, MO) September 1st and 2nd Lamb, lamb and more lamb! No better way to end the summer if you’re in the Bethel, MO area.
- Boomsday (Knoxville, TN), September 2nd. It’s all in the title. This is the largest Labor Day Fireworks show in the nation. Great food, games, entertainment is offered for the low low price of – free! Over 400,000 people tend to attend every year.
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