Filmmaker and Kalamazoo native Kevin Park will be premiering his film, "Shaken Daddy Syndrome" tonight, soundtrack of which is comprised exclusively of selections by local bands. With songs by MESA, Nobody's Favorite, Chris Voss, Blue Dahlia, Ghosts of the Great Lakes, REA, Aaron Young and his Night Jars, and more, this film show cases some great music from the Kalamazoo scene's past and present.
In an interview, writer/ director Park, who has been filming area bands for years, described the film to me as "a father/son Odd Couple." The story is about Wayne and Tristan Banks, an estranged father and son. "After years of not caring, [Wayne and Tristan] finally come to amends when the father, Wayne, disowns Tristan, hoping to never see him again. Within days, Wayne is kicked out by his wife and is forced to move in with Tristan and his roommates," Park explained.
With the hilarious and bizarre premise, a "deadbeat sister" and "overly religious mother" thrown into the mix, and considering Park's admiration of classic comedic genius (he cites Mel Brooks, Bobcat Goldthwait, and John Candy as influences) you're sure to get plenty of laughs. But, you'll get a good dose of great local music, hand-picked by someone who really knows his stuff: Park has been active in the Kalamazoo scene for long enough to know exactly who's who on the scene, both then and now. "When I turned 21," he says, "I would say [my friend] Chad Houts and I were at the old Harvey's six nights out of the week seeing live shows. Most of the music in the movie is of older bands that may not exist anymore, but their albums are always near the player and I never grow tired of them." Classics from now-defunct bands like MESA, Nobody's Favorite and others, aside more current tunes from Ghosts of the Great Lakes' first album "The Death of the Party," and others exhibit Parks' eclectic taste. Park also digs King Tammy, Lint, Lo Fi Scorpio, Their Teeth Will Be of Lions and Fiona Dickinson.
The film was partially shot in Kalamazoo, but the music selections were about more than just local color. "The music in the movie is half the movie. You take away these songs and you're left with a shell." Park says. "The movie is still good, but the music is the soul of the film.
It's premiering tonight (5/22/10) at the Riviera Theatre in Three Rivers, and will begin playing tomorrow night at the Rave in downtown Kalamazoo (visit the Official Press Page, or ShakenDaddySyndrome.com for more info) but expect to see Park around the scene in the future: "I would love to do music videos. That would be a dream job. There's so much talent around here, not just with the bands, but with artists and designers that could go into making killer videos."
But Park is about more than just filmmaking; his history in the scene gives him valuable insight that I think we can all learn from: "We could be doing a lot more for the artists and arts in town if we were working together more. When I say that I mean the artists working with other artists, not this humdrum Art Hop and events like that where the city makes it look like we're doing more than what we really are. We should have Art Hop crowds for all arts all the time, not just one day a month."
Well, you heard the man.
See you out there this weekend.
* * * *
Shaken Daddy Syndrome is presented by Campaign Pictures, LLC.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Can't Make It To Your Favorite Band's Show This Summer?
Well, my friends, all you need is a new favorite.
Stuck in Kalamazoo for another summer? Looking at all the killer festivals and shows for the summer, but can't quite cut it on part-time minimum wage and milking the last few leftover student loan dollars? With declining revenue from album sales, EVERYONE is hiking up ticket prices (even DMB's lawn tickets are $40 and up this season... it seems like just yesterday I paid $24 to sit in the rain and jam out to "One Sweet World..." Oh, to be young.)
No worries! As we all know by now, there are plenty of outrageously good bands right here in K Town. Just because you didn't make it to Coachella and are "trying" to get your tix to Bonnaroo (c'mon) doesn't mean you can't rock out and have a really spectacular night.
[Dying to see...] [You should check out...]
Phish? DMB? The Ragbirds. This chick-fronted folk band plays a funky
repertoire of roots-folk and world music. The MI natives
have carved out a significant place in the regional folk scene
and are embarking on a summer tour that will take them all
over the Midwest... including right here in Kzoo. With a
wide range of sounds for a beautiful-- and fun, if you wanna
get your dance on-- and always-changing sound, The
Ragbirds offer up a sound that will surely leave you wanting
more. With artful and clever lyrics ("Honesty is following
your demons/ to the place that they reside/ and then you
pot some plants outside their windowsill/ to let you crawl
inside") as well as sounds from the Carribbean, Romania,
and beyond, this is one "hippie jam band" that definitely
breaks the mold.
Jay Z? Gorillaz? M.E.D. Just because you're in Kalamazoo doesn't mean
you can't get your hip-hop fix. M.E.D. (Mental Elastic
Dynasty) mixes infectious beats with a wide range of verses:
the three MCs of MED-- the "level-headed and serious"
Anagram; the stylistic chameleon Philosophy; and token
wiseguy L-C.I.D.-- blend together to create a multi-faceted
feel, with rhymes that would appeal to even the most
seasoned hip-hop aficionado (check out "There They Go"
and "Money;" both available on MySpace).
Weezer? Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers? Vampire
Weekend? Dead Scene Radio. Known for their pop sensibilities and
choruses so sweet you just might get a toothache, these
Kzoo-scene bigwigs are the first word in pop-rock (be on
the lookout for a full-length from them this summer!).
The Black Keys? Kings of
Leon? The Raconteurs? Elm Street Riot. After blowing the roof off a show at
Corner Bar last weekend with A Friend Called Fire, and
rocking out Kalamazoo Noise Convention this Thursday,
Elm Street Riot have been pretty busy dudes lately... and,
lucky for us, there's no end in sight. With their bluesy
garage-rock, ESR just might be on their way to ruling the
Kalamazoo Scene.
Jeff Beck? Robby Haas Trio. While Robby Haas Trio might not quite
stack up to The Loner himself, they do just fine at
embodying the freewheeling blues style to get you grooving
this summer. While they currently do not appear to have
any shows scheduled, keep your eye out for these dudes
this summer if you're into a good crunchy blues jam every
now and again (and who isn't).
Steve Martin and the
Steep Canyon Rangers?
The String Cheese Incident? Rootstand. Summer is, indeed, the very best time to check
out one of my very favorite bands in Kalamazoo...
Rootstand! With a unique, "swashbucklin'" style of
bluegrass, Rootstand is sure to get you steppin' in the very
best way. Their hypnotizing, roots-oriented jams are
enough to convert even the most staunch naysayers into
bluegrass junkies... and, hey, what goes better with a
delicious Oberon than a sweaty hippie dancefest?
Welcome to Michigan, ya'll (check out the absurdly-good
"River Blues" on their MySpace). Oh, and of course,
don't forget about Greensky Bluegrass, who require neither
introduction nor explanation.
John Mayer or JM3? Four Finger Five. Those active in the jam scene in
southwest Michigan are probably already familiar with
FF5. Known for killer shows and facemelting blues
jams, FF5 epitomizes the perfect summer gig. Their
smooth funk/ jazz/ blues, polished by buttah-smooth vocals
reminiscent of the J-man himself, is sure to induce
involuntary booty-shaking all over the state... and
beyond... this summer (check out their groove "Giving It
All Away;" be careful, it's known to be habit-forming). If
you read this TODAY (5/1/10) they will be playing a set at
Bell's... what better way to kick off the summer?
Jason Mraz? Jack
Johnson? We Know Jackson. Ok, admit it. You loooove acoustic/
piano driven melodies, girl-I'll-be-your-best-boy-ever
motifs and catchy choruses aplenty (complete with "la-da-
da"s). Hey, I'm not telling. This jazz-pop trio, fronted by
boyband-ready Chris Janowiak, has been around in
southwest Michigan for several years, leaving no schoolgirl
uncrushed ("crush" figuratively, natch). With impressive
musical chops that set them apart from much of the "pop"
crowd, We Know Jackson prove they're more than just
pretty faces (check out "The Way,"available on MySpace).
Hot Chip? Imogen Heap? Juliana Stein. Did you think you weren't going to get your
electro-pop on? Relax; don't get your American Apparel
pants in a bunch. Juliana Stein-- a newcomer on the
scene-- weaves cool electronic tunes and remixes that will
either get you on the dance floor, or reignite your creative
fires... up to you. With her artfulness and indie aesthetic,
Stein stays grounded by a sense of humor with her music
and would likely put on a show this town wouldn't soon
forget. If you like Juliana Stein, check out DUDE aTOMic!
The Flaming Lips? Crash City Saints. These artisans of ambient guitar-rock
have been on the Kalamazoo scene for years, taking
listeners on a sonic journey with every release and every
show (most recently, they rocked the Strutt for Noise
Convention!). With their signature guitar sound
(heavily-distorted, layered and ambient for a lush, unique
feel) set off by haunting, mysterious-sounding vocals and
relentless but subtle percussion, Crash City Saints is like
the soundtrack to a daydream.Striking the perfect balance
between raw alt-rock and fuzzy swirls of ambient sound,
Crash City Saints is the perfect band to check out
when you need a vacation, but only have an hour or two...
hey, it's ok to space out and just enjoy the show. So go
ahead... close your eyes and lose yourself in the swirls of
beautiful chaos and enjoy your journey down the rabbit
hole.
Stuck in Kalamazoo for another summer? Looking at all the killer festivals and shows for the summer, but can't quite cut it on part-time minimum wage and milking the last few leftover student loan dollars? With declining revenue from album sales, EVERYONE is hiking up ticket prices (even DMB's lawn tickets are $40 and up this season... it seems like just yesterday I paid $24 to sit in the rain and jam out to "One Sweet World..." Oh, to be young.)
No worries! As we all know by now, there are plenty of outrageously good bands right here in K Town. Just because you didn't make it to Coachella and are "trying" to get your tix to Bonnaroo (c'mon) doesn't mean you can't rock out and have a really spectacular night.
[Dying to see...] [You should check out...]
Phish? DMB? The Ragbirds. This chick-fronted folk band plays a funky
repertoire of roots-folk and world music. The MI natives
have carved out a significant place in the regional folk scene
and are embarking on a summer tour that will take them all
over the Midwest... including right here in Kzoo. With a
wide range of sounds for a beautiful-- and fun, if you wanna
get your dance on-- and always-changing sound, The
Ragbirds offer up a sound that will surely leave you wanting
more. With artful and clever lyrics ("Honesty is following
your demons/ to the place that they reside/ and then you
pot some plants outside their windowsill/ to let you crawl
inside") as well as sounds from the Carribbean, Romania,
and beyond, this is one "hippie jam band" that definitely
breaks the mold.
Jay Z? Gorillaz? M.E.D. Just because you're in Kalamazoo doesn't mean
you can't get your hip-hop fix. M.E.D. (Mental Elastic
Dynasty) mixes infectious beats with a wide range of verses:
the three MCs of MED-- the "level-headed and serious"
Anagram; the stylistic chameleon Philosophy; and token
wiseguy L-C.I.D.-- blend together to create a multi-faceted
feel, with rhymes that would appeal to even the most
seasoned hip-hop aficionado (check out "There They Go"
and "Money;" both available on MySpace).
Weezer? Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers? Vampire
Weekend? Dead Scene Radio. Known for their pop sensibilities and
choruses so sweet you just might get a toothache, these
Kzoo-scene bigwigs are the first word in pop-rock (be on
the lookout for a full-length from them this summer!).
The Black Keys? Kings of
Leon? The Raconteurs? Elm Street Riot. After blowing the roof off a show at
Corner Bar last weekend with A Friend Called Fire, and
rocking out Kalamazoo Noise Convention this Thursday,
Elm Street Riot have been pretty busy dudes lately... and,
lucky for us, there's no end in sight. With their bluesy
garage-rock, ESR just might be on their way to ruling the
Kalamazoo Scene.
Jeff Beck? Robby Haas Trio. While Robby Haas Trio might not quite
stack up to The Loner himself, they do just fine at
embodying the freewheeling blues style to get you grooving
this summer. While they currently do not appear to have
any shows scheduled, keep your eye out for these dudes
this summer if you're into a good crunchy blues jam every
now and again (and who isn't).
Steve Martin and the
Steep Canyon Rangers?
The String Cheese Incident? Rootstand. Summer is, indeed, the very best time to check
out one of my very favorite bands in Kalamazoo...
Rootstand! With a unique, "swashbucklin'" style of
bluegrass, Rootstand is sure to get you steppin' in the very
best way. Their hypnotizing, roots-oriented jams are
enough to convert even the most staunch naysayers into
bluegrass junkies... and, hey, what goes better with a
delicious Oberon than a sweaty hippie dancefest?
Welcome to Michigan, ya'll (check out the absurdly-good
"River Blues" on their MySpace). Oh, and of course,
don't forget about Greensky Bluegrass, who require neither
introduction nor explanation.
John Mayer or JM3? Four Finger Five. Those active in the jam scene in
southwest Michigan are probably already familiar with
FF5. Known for killer shows and facemelting blues
jams, FF5 epitomizes the perfect summer gig. Their
smooth funk/ jazz/ blues, polished by buttah-smooth vocals
reminiscent of the J-man himself, is sure to induce
involuntary booty-shaking all over the state... and
beyond... this summer (check out their groove "Giving It
All Away;" be careful, it's known to be habit-forming). If
you read this TODAY (5/1/10) they will be playing a set at
Bell's... what better way to kick off the summer?
Jason Mraz? Jack
Johnson? We Know Jackson. Ok, admit it. You loooove acoustic/
piano driven melodies, girl-I'll-be-your-best-boy-ever
motifs and catchy choruses aplenty (complete with "la-da-
da"s). Hey, I'm not telling. This jazz-pop trio, fronted by
boyband-ready Chris Janowiak, has been around in
southwest Michigan for several years, leaving no schoolgirl
uncrushed ("crush" figuratively, natch). With impressive
musical chops that set them apart from much of the "pop"
crowd, We Know Jackson prove they're more than just
pretty faces (check out "The Way,"available on MySpace).
Hot Chip? Imogen Heap? Juliana Stein. Did you think you weren't going to get your
electro-pop on? Relax; don't get your American Apparel
pants in a bunch. Juliana Stein-- a newcomer on the
scene-- weaves cool electronic tunes and remixes that will
either get you on the dance floor, or reignite your creative
fires... up to you. With her artfulness and indie aesthetic,
Stein stays grounded by a sense of humor with her music
and would likely put on a show this town wouldn't soon
forget. If you like Juliana Stein, check out DUDE aTOMic!
The Flaming Lips? Crash City Saints. These artisans of ambient guitar-rock
have been on the Kalamazoo scene for years, taking
listeners on a sonic journey with every release and every
show (most recently, they rocked the Strutt for Noise
Convention!). With their signature guitar sound
(heavily-distorted, layered and ambient for a lush, unique
feel) set off by haunting, mysterious-sounding vocals and
relentless but subtle percussion, Crash City Saints is like
the soundtrack to a daydream.Striking the perfect balance
between raw alt-rock and fuzzy swirls of ambient sound,
Crash City Saints is the perfect band to check out
when you need a vacation, but only have an hour or two...
hey, it's ok to space out and just enjoy the show. So go
ahead... close your eyes and lose yourself in the swirls of
beautiful chaos and enjoy your journey down the rabbit
hole.
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