The Filtered Excellence: June 7, 2012

at
Share This Post

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:
*****************

WATCH THIS:

Paul Williams Still Alive. Singer-songwriter Paul Williams is only 5’2, but in the 70’s, he was huge. He was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and wrote seminal hits for The Carpenters (‘We’ve Only Just Begun’, ‘Rainy Days & Mondays’), Three Dog Night (‘An Old Fashioned Love Song’, ‘Family Of Man’ and ‘Out In The Country’), and Helen Reddy (‘You And Me Against The World’). Williams also wrote the Academy Award winning song ‘Evergreen’ (from A Star Is Born and received an Oscar nomination for The Muppet Movie classic, ‘The Rainbow Connection’. Then he all but disappeared from the scene. So much so that everyone began to assume that he was dead. Director Stephen Kessler’s new documentary looks back on Paul Williams’ legendary career and puts together what happened in the intervening years. It’s a unique look at one of our most celebrated songwriters. Paul Williams Still Alive this Friday at the Angelika Film Center and Village East Cinema. As an added bonus, there will be a Q&A sessions with Kessler and Williams Friday and Saturday.

Dark Horse. The films of Todd Solondz are not for the squeamish. They all take place in suburbia and the themes include heavy does of alienation, rape, pedophilia, racism, suicide, murder, bullying, anxiety and depression. Dark Horse follows a lot of the same path, this time through the eyes of a 35 year old (Jordan Gelber) still living at home with his parents (played by Mia Farrow and Christopher Walken) as he attempts to win the affections of highly medicated Selma Blair.  If you’re looking for a change of pace from the summer popcorn super hero fest, Dark Horse is definitely a look down a very dark rabbit hole. It opens at The Angelika Film Center this weekend. Todd Solondz and the cast will be doing Q&A after the 7:30 screenings on Friday and Saturday.

Euro 2012.  Miss the World Cup? There are lots of great soccer action to be had in June starting on Friday June 8 when the Euro 2012 begins.  Watch out particularly for the Group of Death matches like Spain v Italy (Sunday  ), England v France (Monday) and Germany v The Netherlands (Saturday).

 

*****************

READ THIS:

When I Left Home: My Story by Buddy Guy. Buddy Guy is one of our greatest living guitarists. Not only is he an amazing guitar player, but he has also  played with and has stories about all the greats. John Lee Hooker, Howlin Wolf, B.B. King and the list goes on. All the British Invasion guys have shown up to Chicago to pay homage to the Blues and those stories are there as well. It’ an amazing tale of being born a sharecroppers son and ending up as one of the greatest Guitar Players the world has known. The Blues is America’s music and its history is rich with great characters and stories. We highly recommend picking this one up.

*****************

LISTEN TO THIS:

Banga by Patti Smith. (Available everywhere, released 6/5/12) “All is art! All is future! Oh lord let me die on the back of adventure with a brush and an eye full of light!” Patti bellows on the epic length track, Constantine’s Dream. In her style, at her best, this is poetry with punk emotion spoken and sung over driving guitar. It’s pure Patti Smith. If you’re already a fan, (and we are) it’s a given that your going to need to hear Banga, her first album of original songs in eight years, an album whose songs exhibit raw energy interwoven with exposed sensitivity. Again, this is pure Patti Smith. It’s her words, her delivery, her rough impassioned stirring voice… It’s a good one.  Banga was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and produced by Patti Smith and her band; longtime band-mate Lenny Kaye, Tom Verlaine of Television, and her kids, Jackson and Jesse.

Spectrum Road by Jack Bruce. (Palmetto Records) Jack Bruce from Cream, Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid, drummer Cindy Blackman-Santana (best known for her work with Lenny Kravitz) and keyboardist John Medeski of Medeski, Martin & Wood – started off a one off supergroup put together to pay tribute to jazz great Tony Williams. Williams is best known for his seminal work with Miles Davis, but he was also a jazz fusion pioneer with his group Lifetime. Their classic debut album Emergency! was released a year before Miles’ Bitches Brew. The shows went off so well here in the States and in Japan, they decided to record an album of Lifetime material. The self-titled debut CD serves as both a fitting retrospective for one of jazz’s most underappreciated groups and also an opportunity for four outstanding musicians to flex some musical muscles. It’s great to see Jack Bruce – who was in Lifetime for two albums – get a chance to make a much deserved victory lap. In fact, this is a victory lap for all involved. Everyone soars to new heights.

Heaven by The Walkmen. 10 years ago, The Walkmen were a brash young band just starting their recording career. Along the way, the released seven albums, grew up, and became dads. Their latest, Heaven, along with their last two You & Me and Lisbon, have embraced their more grown up world view. For some bands, this is the death knell for a career. Not for the Walkmen though. They’ve taken their fatherly influences and made a contemplative and interesting album that updates but retains their signature jangly rock sound. Recommended tracks: We Can’t be Beat and Song for Leigh.

*****************

FOLLOW THIS:

Neko Case on Twitter. Neko Case is a triple threat. She writes exceptional songs in any genre, she can cover a song like nobody’s business and she’s not bad on the eyes either. Whether solo or with The New Pornographers, Neko Case is the real deal. She also has the most brutally honest Twitter page this side of Ellen Barkin.

*****************

DO THIS:

NEW YORK CITY : Tamar-Kali at Harlem Stage. June 7-9 Tamar-Kali has been a darling of the New York underground punk rock scene for the better part of a decade. She’s also made quite a splash overseas with her unique blend of punk, soul, orchestral and, of course, rock. She begins a three night run at Harlem Stage and each night will feature different sides of the singer. Night 1 will feature with her with The Psychochamber Ensemble (strings); Night 2 will be a stripped down acoustic set and the final night will be a full on band performance. Expect a healthy dose of material from her killer debut album Black Bottom as well as a choice covers as only she can interpret them. Come see an exceptional artist now before she totally blows up. A few tickets are still available now.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  The Source Festival.  The Source Festival has been called the Playwright’s version of Second City, and features The festival features never-before-seen shorts, full-length plays and “blind dates,” in which pair artists from different disciplines collaborate together to create a new work.  It’s a world class event in a unique discipline.  It starts June 8 and will run through July 1st so there’s plenty of time to check it all out.  Bonus– one of our readers will be there directing Qualities of Starlight– about life, science, babies and crystal meth.  Check it out and report back.

DETROIT: Patti Smith  ‘Camera Solo’ at The Detroit Institute Of The Arts.  Through September 2nd. We all know that Patti Smith is an exceptional writer, but she also shows off her photography skills with a new exhibition at The Detroit Institute Of The Arts. Shot with a vintage Polaroid land camera, you’ll get intimate glimpses of her family, friends and influences. Going old school with the Polaroid gives each shot a haunting, yet timeless look. This exhibit reveals a new side and dimension to one of our greatest artists. ‘Camera Solo’ runs through September 2nd.

ALBERTA:  Edmonton Alberta’s Gay Pride Parade.  The event will take place this Saturday and this year, not only are the Edmonton School Trustees officiating the parade (how amazing is that!?), but for the first time ever, a sitting Alberta premier (that’s the Canadian version of a Governor) will be in participating.  Keep in mind, Alberta is known as the Texas of Canada and has been under conservative governments for the past 41 years.  So this is a Progressive Conservative premier participating in a Pride event!  If you’re in the area show up and support!

SUMMER FESTIVAL ROUND UP:  WHAT TO CHECK OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS WEEKEND:

..

***

 

Need more excellence?  Visit other editions of Filtered Excellence for more great recommendations!

Interrobang Staff

Interrobang Staff