Echotone, a documentary film shot here in Austin will finally see it’s theatrical debut later this month at The Alamo Ritz Downtown (finally!). Tickets are now available, and the film is only showing for a few days, so you might want to get on it..now. I’ll be there on Monday night if you want to rub elbows with the Itch. I’ll gladly share my Twizzlers with you.

A bit about the film from the filmmakers:

Internationally known as ‘The Live Music Capital of the World,’ Austin’s music culture has led it to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations. As nearly two dozen high-rises pop up throughout the city amidst economic downfall, how does the working musician get along?

Directed by Nathan Christ and photographed by Robert Garza, Echotone is a cultural portrait of the modern American city examined through the lyrics and lens of its creative class.

Get tickets HERE

You can download the soundtrack to the film for free as well, right over here at the Paste website.

I’ve showed it once before, but for those who missed first time around, the trailer…

I’ve been in a bit of a mood lately in regards to the music that I have been listening to, and if you have been reading much over the past few months, you understand my yearning for rock. Plain and simple, I want more rock. Guitars, drums, pain, sex, blood, heartache, grit, celebration, more guitars, and more drums… rock as it once dominated the scene.

Constantines have been addressing that need, much to my delight. The band has been around since 1999, and as some of you may already be familiar with their work including the band’s live performances, I am a Constantines newbie. A newbie that is slowly becoming more and more interested in what these band is doing, and a guy that is absolutely aching to see this band live. Get your asses down to Texas for crying out loud! Living in Austin, once rarely has to wait too long to see a band of interest come through town, but these guys are avoiding me. For the time being though, I will sustain myself on the music. The music of this band that just seems to be gettting better and better the more I listen.

Check it for yourself:

MP3> Constantines ‘Shine A Light’

(Thanks Nathaniel)

While I wait, Baeblemusic feeds my desire with a live concert film of Constantines in action. It’s nothing fancy, just 5 guys on stage making some great music. The taping is of the band’s performance @ The Music Hall of Williamsburg back in December. You can find it @ Baeblemusic.com of course, and here’s a little sample.

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

The Flaming Lips have always possesed a penchant for the wacky and weird and that’s why we love them so. Here in Austin @ the coolest movie venue in town, The Alamo Drafthouse, The Flaming Lips Wayne Coyne brings you his latest in weird and wacky and does so in person. Wayne Coyne will be presenting the film Christmas On Mars this Saturday @ The Alamo Downtown, and chances are tickets will go quick for this unique experience.

Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips present CHRISTMAS ON MARS: A FANTASTICAL FILM FREAKOUT FEATURING THE FLAMING LIPS, a glorious science fiction film that marks the directorial debut of the Lips’ visionary frontman Wayne Coyne.

It’s Christmastime, and the colonization of Mars is underway. When an oxygen generator and a gravity control pod malfunction, Major Syrtis (the Lips’ Steven Drozd) and his team (including the Lips’ Michael Ivins) fear the worst. Syrtis also hallucinates about the birth of a baby, and many other strange things. Meanwhile, a compassionate alien superbeing (Coyne) arrives, inspiring and helping the isolated astronauts.

Seven years in the making, CHRISTMAS ON MARS features original music by the Flaming Lips (“The greatest US band today” – The Guardian), with acting performances by all band members, and many others from their Oklahoma City-based team. Comedian Fred Armisen (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE) and actor Adam Goldberg (DAZED AND CONFUSED) also appear, as do Isaac Brock of band Modest Mouse, and performer Steve Burns of the band Steve Burns and the Struggle (who had also appeared in children’s television show BLUE’S CLUES). George Salisbury and Austin’s own Bradley Beesley co-directed the movie with Coyne.

Screenings (click on a show time to buy tickets):

• Saturday, October 11, 2008
  • 7:00p
  • 9:40p
  • 11:59p

Here at Sonic Itch, we realize that live music doesn’t just happen in Austin. That is why I decided to make the most of my recent trip to Los Angeles and write about an amazing show I was able to see.

Anyone ever heard of Daniel Lanois?

Since the music industry is full of Danity Kane’s and Avril Lavignes where the producers write majority of the tracks, it’s nice to know that someone like Lanois can pack a theater for a show featuring himself. The legendary lap-steel guitar player/producer has worked with artists like Bob Dylan (1989′s Oh Mercy and 1997′s Time Out of Mind, which won a Grammy) and U2 (1982′s The Unforgettable Fire and 1987′s The Joshua Tree, which also won a Grammy). He’s also worked with Emmylou Harris, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel and has written scores for films like Sling Blade and The Last of the Mohicans.
This show however, was for Lanois’ new movie, Here Is What Is, a music documentary about his recording-studio trips to Ireland, Morocco and Los Angeles working with artists like Billy Bob Thornton, Brian Eno, Sinead O’Connor and U2. I was able to see the LA premier at the prestigious Vista Theater, right on Sunset Blvd (along with Keifer Sutherland who sat right behind us, “Is that Jack Bauer?!”)

Before the movie, there was a live performance from Lanois and his band, which included drummer, Brian Blade (who was in the film) as well as others. Brian Blade’s father, Brady Blade Sr. even came up during the set and sang with the song, “This May Be The Last Time” which heard like an old, blues traditional tune (the Blades are from New Orleans). Lanois then played a few other tracks like the popular, “The Maker” and his eccentric guitar playing kept my eyes interested the whole time.

Then it became really dark except for the dim, red lights on stage and a strange, yet familiar voice began speaking to softly played music.

I turned to the person next to me and said, “That’s Billy Bob,” and knew I was right.

His voice, which was the same one from the character Karl from the movie, sounded just as country and husky as it did from the movie. Thornton, who quietly came out wearing and suit with a skinny, black tie, still played the part perfectly. The dramatic level was even more enhanced with the low hues and hushed audience. His monologue, which was the part from the movie that talked about murdering his mother, was the best way to end the live show. Thornton then stated his gratitude for Lanois (along with hilarious anecdotes) and properly introduced the movie.

The movie itself was another artistic treat to a very eventful evening. The chromatic images and melodic songs defined Lanois presence to an unknown, like me. The interviews are climatic amongst the surrealist nature of the movie and the amazing scene with Sinead O’Connor left me hopeful about music again. If a man who has been in the business for more than thirty years can still produce something this inspiring, then there is definitely hope for the rest of us cynics.

You can now purchase the film online here as well as hear tracks from the movie.

-Sonya Gonzales

I finally checked out the Ian Curtis biopic Control the other night and was completely thrilled and moved by the film. The examination of Curtis’s life dealing with relationships and fronting a band on the rise to fame, was in-depth, visually appropriate, and what one could only believe to be quite accurate. The live performances by the actors who portray Joy Division have me wishing that I may have had an opportunity to see the band perform live if only for once. Check out this video mash-up I found on Stereogum that compares the film version to the original BBC viewing of “Transmission”.

Joy Division “Leaders of Men”

For those who aren’t aware, I’m a big fan of music documentary films and any film about music. Musicals don’t count. Being such a fan, right now is a pretty exciting time with 3 of the more interesting films released this year just coming available or soon to be available for viewing. I know that there is a Dylan biopic as well, but these three look really interesting to me.

Control is the Anton Corbijn directed Ian Curtis biopic that details his struggle with his personal life, relationships, illness, and being leader of Joy Division that eventually ended up with him committing suicide. Sam Riley’s performance as Curtis is reported to be an incredibly accurate portrayal, and the film’s black and white imagery captures the mood of that time in Manchester.

Control is currently playing at The Dobie in Austin and other select cities around the country.

Iceland’s Sigur Ros make strange beautiful music which is an appropriate soundtrack for the land from which they hail. The band recently documented travels around their country in which they performed in a variety of venues for the people of Iceland, to be released in DVD format under the title Heima. Screenings of the film have been taking place in various cities around the country and will continue up until the film’s official release date. Austinites can catch a screening here in town at End Of An Ear Records Tuesday Dec 4th.

I wish this were of higher quality as the film looks amazingly beautiful.

About A Son is filled with the words of the late Kurt Cobain, but don’t expect Kurt to appear in the film. About A Son is visual journey through the world which Curt once knew with the words of the man laying down the audio backdrop. The never before heard interviews with Kurt are the basis of the film, and give in-site into the man and his life. The film is slowing opening around the country and will make it’s way to Austin Nov 30th at the Dobie.

Interesting trailer for the upcoming film “At War” by Scott Kesterson that features the music of one my local favs The Black Angels. I like the documentary film stuff, and this looks like an interesting in-site into our current situation in Afghanistan. Details about film follow video.

At War – Trailer 1

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At War is a documentary film shot and directed by Scott Kesterson, who spent a year embedded with US forces in Afghanistan. The film is produced by David Leeson, Pulitzer Prize recipient and currently Senior Producer of Video for The Dallas Morning News. The film is subject-driven storytelling, allowing the truth of the moment to speak in the tradition of ethical still photojournalism. At War explores the timeless nature of war and conflict, and ultimately challenges us to look at ourselves as beings filled with love and hate, fear and courage, passion and chaos.

About A Son is set to open in New York on October 3rd, and what I have read and what little I have seen, peaks some serious in me about this film. A brief description of the film from the official website, and if you click the photo, you’ll arrive to the trailer spot. Beautifully shot, with the voice of Kurt serving as your guide into the mind of one of the greatest artists of our time. It’s going to be moving I’m sure.

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

An intimate and moving meditation on the late musician and artist Kurt Cobain, based on more than 25 hours of previously unheard audiotaped interviews conducted with Cobain by noted music journalist Michael Azerrad for his book “Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana.” In the film, Kurt Cobain recounts his own life – from his childhood and adolescence to his days of musical discovery and later dealings with explosive fame – and offers often piercing insights into his life, music, and times. The conversations heard in the film have never before been made public and they reveal a highly personal portrait of an artist much discussed but not particularly well understood.