Bradley’s Almanac

[Here It Comes!] 10th Annual Independent Film Festival Boston: The Music Docs

Posted on April 19, 2012 at 7:48 pm | No Comments

In less than a week, on Wednesday, April 25th, the 10th annual Independent Film Festival Boston kicks off with an opening night screening of Mike Birbiglia’s “Sleepwalk With Me” (and a post-film Q&A from producer and This American Life host Ira Glass), wrapping up 8 long days later with Lauren Greenfield’s riches-to-way-less-riches documentary “The Queen of Versailles” on Wednesday, May 2nd. In between, over 130 carefully-curated films will roll on projectors at the Somerville Theatre, The Brattle in Harvard Square, and Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theatre.

As with previous years’ lineups, the 2012 edition has a healthy handful of music-related documentaries. The staff, who spend endless (volunteered) hours screening hundreds of submitted films, has always made a point of including music docs in their varied schedule, and that’s one of the many reasons I’ve never missed a single IFFBoston. Hard for me to believe it’s been a decade, maybe even harder for the tireless (actually, probably very tired) crew.

So here’s a quick rundown of the seven music-related documentaries screening at this year’s IFFB, most of which will have their directors in attendance for post-film Q&As. Make sure you pick up individual advance tickets for the ones that strike you, or better yet, grab a full festival pass and make the most of it. Many screenings sell out early, so unless you’re up for waiting in risky rush lines, play it safe…

Independent Film Fest Boston: The Music Docs


All Ages: The Boston Hardcore Film
Directed by Drew Stone, who will attend for a post-film Q&A

Boston. Hardcore. Those words carry a lot of history, a lot of weight. This documentary has been in the works for awhile now, so I’m pretty psyched it’s finally ready to roll. Even more psyched that it’s the IFFBoston that scored the premiere. Given the deep local ties this film has, I’m not at all surprised it sold out quickly, so if you got caught off guard, you’ll either have to pick up a festival pass or show up at least an hour before showtime and cross your fingers in the rush line.

[ Tickets / Facebook / Brattle page / IMDB ]

Screening at 7:30pm on Friday, April 27th at the Brattle Theatre


Andrew Bird: Fever Year
Directed by Xan Aranda, who will attend for a post-film Q&A

As with past years, I was asked to screen a couple IFFB films early and write synopses for their program guide. “Fever Year” was one of them, and here’s what I had to say…

“I’m either sweating bullets or I’m freezing all the time…
but it seems like a worthy thing to do with your life.”

—Andrew Bird

In director Xan Aranda’s new documentary, which covers the final months of singer/songwriter/master whistler Andrew Bird’s nonstop 2009 tour, Aranda’s subject truly embodies the old adage of “suffering for your art.” Wrestling with a low-grade fever throughout and a foot injury in the last stretch, Bird never lets his afflictions get between him, his songs, and the audiences that come to hear them. The film deftly balances biography and live footage (mostly from a two-night stand at Milwaukee’s Pabst Theatre), offering real insight into Bird’s creative process, artistic motivations, and evolution as a music maker. It’s a fascinatingly in-depth portrait of a true artist—one who is driven by a pure, singular compulsion, maladies be damned.

Highlights include early performances of songs from his just-released album, Break It Yourself (including a gorgeous duet with Annie Clark of St. Vincent), as well as fan favorites “Fake Palindromes,” “Fitz and the Dizzyspells,” and “Opposite Day.”

[ Tickets / Website / Facebook / Twitter / IMDB ]

Screening at 7:45pm on Thursday, April 26th at the Somerville Theatre


Beware of Mr. Baker
Directed by Jay Bulger, who will attend for a post-film Q&A

Peter Edward Baker – aka “Ginger”. Legendary drummer for Cream, Blind Faith, and many, many others. Incorporating percussion elements of rock, metal, jazz, and African rhythms into his varied career, he’s a madman behind the kit, and as those familiar with him know, not just when he’s playing. His colorful, sometimes sordid past is told here in his own words, and his influence is measured by the likes of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana, Neal Peart, and Marky Ramone, who all make appearances in the film.

[ Tickets / Website / Facebook / Twitter / IMDB ]

Screening at 9:15pm on Monday, April 30th at the Somerville Theatre


Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet
Directed by Jesse Vile

Can’t recommend this one highly enough. It’s another film I was fortunate enough to screen early, so here’s my write-up for the IFFBoston program guide…

Outside certain circles, only a handful of virtuoso metal guitarists have achieved the mainstream name recognition of an Eddie Van Halen, a Steve Vai, or an Yngwie Malmsteen. And, in a just world, Jason Becker would be among them. The guy couldn’t just play, he could shred—and, like most late-’80s metalheads, he did it with huge hair, tight pants, and some all-pro guitar faces. Unlike his peers, though, Jason was just as likely to toss off a Bach fugue as a vintage Clapton solo. Fans and fellow players called him a prodigy, and they weren’t wrong.

So what happened? Where did he go? Why speak of his talent in the past tense? Therein lies a tale compassionately told in director Jesse Vile’s JASON BECKER: NOT DEAD YET. At once tragic and uplifting—the title itself is a spoiler—it will melt your heart as it breaks it in two. It tackles big questions: What would you do if you lost everything? How much of yourself would you sacrifice for a loved one? Can pure willpower overcome physical limitation? Jason’s story is uniquely powerful, truly moving, and deeply inspirational—something many biopics strive for, but few achieve.

[ Tickets / Website / Twitter / IMDB ]

Screening at 9:15pm on Saturday, April 28th at the Brattle Theatre


Just Like Being There
Directed by Scout Shannon, who will attend for a post-film Q&A along with subject/artist Daniel Danger

No, not technically a music doc, but one that’ll strike a chord in many music fans: Gig posters and the artists behind them.

From the official website: “In the gig poster community, artists such as Daniel Danger and Jay Ryan prove that creating this artwork is a way of life, more than just a career. These artists are at the forefront of an expansion of the gig poster genre. MONDO’s reinvigoration of “the film poster as an art form,” and Gallery 1988’s theme based exhibits are only two ways in which this artwork is reaching a greater public. In a community with strong roots, dating back to the 1960s, this expansion is controversial- refreshing to some, sacrilegious to others.”

The soundtrack sounds killer, too, with tracks from Okkervil River, Tokyo Police Club and Spoon.

[ Tickets / Website / Facebook / Twitter / IMDB ]

Screening at 7:30pm on Sunday, April 29th at the Somerville Theatre


Paul Williams Still Alive
Directed by Stephen Kessler, who will attend for a post-film Q&A

If you grew up in the 70s, and paid any particular attention to pop culture, you knew about Paul Williams. The diminutive songwriter and performer was seemingly everywhere for awhile there, and if you couldn’t see him, you were hearing his songs sung by the likes of Karen Carpenter, Barbara Streisand, and yes, a certain frog named Kermit. Eventually, though, Williams just sort of… disappeared. Off the radar. Well, as the director of this documentary discovered, he’s very much still alive, and the film exploration of his past and present is getting raves all around.

Bonus: Watch a clip of Williams performing “The Rainbow Connection” with a cast of many Muppets, just last week at Carnegie Hall during a tribute show called “Jim Henson’s Musical World”.

[ Tickets / Website / IMDB ]

Screening at 7:00pm on Tuesday, May 1st at the Coolidge Corner Theatre


Under African Skies
Directed by Joe Berlinger, who will attend for a post-film Q&A

An in-depth look at the recording of, controversy surrounding, and influence of Paul Simon’s renowned 1986 “Graceland” album on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. Features interviews with Simon’s collaborators (and detractors), footage of Simon’s recent return to Africa, and clips of the original Graceland live performances. Director Berlinger was the man behind the camera for acclaimed documentaries “Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster” and the West Memphis Three “Paradise Lost” films.

[ Tickets / Website / Twitter / IMDB ]

Screening at 8:00pm on Sunday, April 29th at the Somerville Theatre

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    Tuesday, August 12th
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    Wednesday, August 13th
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    Nilüfer Yanya
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    9million
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    Supergrass
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    Greg Hawkes with Eddie Japan
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    Molly Tuttle
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    The Bouncing Souls
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    Jer
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    Drew & Finley Do O'Doherty
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    in Woods Hole, MA

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    Garbage
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    @ Roadrunner

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    Soccer Mommy
    Dummy
    @ House of Blues

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    George Thorogood
    & the Destroyers
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    Turnstile
    Mannequin Pussy
    SPEED
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    Morrissey
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    Saturday, September 20th
    Wolf Alice
    @ House of Blues

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    Sebadoh
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    Laura Stevenson
    @ the Sinclair

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    Marina
    Mallrat
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    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Sunday, September 21st
    Nation of Language
    Greet Death
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    Shonen Knife
    @ Sonia

    Monday, September 22nd
    Elvis Costello & the Imposters
    "Radio Soul!" tour
    with Charlie Sexton
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, September 23rd
    The Minus 5
    The Baseball Project
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Tuesday, September 23rd
    Viagra Boys
    @ Roadrunner

    Wednesday, September 24th
    The Beaches
    Debbii Dawson
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, September 25th
    Cowboy Junkies
    @ the Shubert Theatre

    Thursday, September 25th
    Junior Varsity
    @ the Rockwell

    Thursday, September 25th
    Iggy Pop
    Sex Pistols
    The Molotovs
    @ Suffolk Downs

    Thursday through Sunday
    Sept. 25th, 26th, 27th, & 28th
    John Mulaney
    "Mister Whatever" tour
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Friday, September 26th
    The Front Bottoms
    Sincere Engineer
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, September 26th
    Lorde
    Blood Orange
    The Japanese House
    @ TD Garden

    Friday, September 26th
    Stereolab
    The Memorials
    @ the Royale

    Saturday, September 27th
    Car Seat Headrest
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, September 27th
    Rolo Tomassi
    @ the Rockwell

    Saturday, September 27th
    X
    Los Lobos
    @ the Shubert Theatre

    Sunday, September 28th
    An Evening with author
    Samin Nosrat discussing
    her cookbook "Good Things"
    with Hrishikesh Hirway
    @ Emerson Colonial Theatre

    Sunday, September 28th
    The Tubs
    @ Deep Cuts

    Monday, September 29th
    Melvins
    Red Kross
    @ Fete in Providence

    Tuesday, September 30th
    Murray Hill
    @ City Winery

    Wednesday, October 1st
    Tropical F*ck Storm
    Mark Robinson
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Wednesday, October 1st
    Bad Suns
    Yot Club
    @ the Royale

    Thursday, October 2nd
    Amy Millan (Stars/BSS)
    @ the Middle East

    Thursday, October 2nd
    DEVO
    The B-52s
    Lene Lovich Band
    @ the Xfinity Center

    Thursday, October 2nd
    Elbow
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, October 3rd
    Home Is Where
    Forests
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
    October 2nd, 3rd, & 4th
    David Byrne
    @ the Wang

    Saturday & Sunday
    October 4th & 5th
    An Inconceivable Evening
    with Cary Elwes
    & a screening of
    The Princess Bride
    @ the Wilbur

    Monday, October 6th
    Swans
    Little Annie
    Paul Wallfisch
    @ the Paradise

    Monday, October 6th
    Yusuf/Cat Stevens
    "An Evening Of Tales,
    Tunes And Other Mysteries"
    Book Tour show
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, October 8th
    Anamanaguchi
    Ovlov
    @ the Royale

    Wednesday, October 8th
    Queens of the Stone Age
    (acoustic show)
    @ the Wang

    Wednesday, October 8th
    Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
    'Howl' 20th Anniversary Tour
    with Humanist
    @ House of Blues

    Wednesday, October 8th
    Water From Your Eyes
    Her New Knife
    Editrix
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, October 8th
    The Murder Capital
    @ Sonia

    Thursday, October 9th
    Team Dresch
    Vitapup
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Thursday, October 9th
    The Rapture
    @ House of Blues

    Thursday, October 9th
    Violent Femmes
    @ the Chevalier Theatre

    Friday, October 10th
    AFI
    TR/ST @ the House of Blues

    Friday, October 10th
    Jukebox the Ghost
    Boys Go To Jupiter
    @ the Royale

    Friday, October 10th
    Destroyer
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, October 11th
    Pile
    Nnamdï
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, October 11th
    Kneecap
    @ the House of Blues

    Sunday, October 12th
    The Miki Berenyi Trio
    (that's Miki from Lush)
    Gina Birch
    The Unreasonables
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, October 13th
    My Morning Jacket
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, October 14th
    Grandaddy
    celebrating the 25th anniversary
    of "The Sophtware Slump"
    with Greg Freeman
    @ the Royale

    Wednesday, October 15th
    Modest Mouse
    Built to Spill
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Wednesday, October 15th
    Disclosure (Live)
    Fcukers
    Villager
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, October 16th
    Moving Targets
    Billy Batts & the Made Men
    Spiller
    @ Faces Brewing

    Friday, October 17th
    The Psychedelic Furs
    Gary Numan
    @ MGM Musis Hall

    Saturday, October 18th
    Patty Griffin &
    Rickie Lee Jones
    @ the Chevalier

    Sunday, October 19th
    Guerilla Toss
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Sunday, October 19th
    Ruston Kelly
    Sam MacPherson
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, October 20th
    Leisure
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday, October 21st
    Big Thief
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, October 21st
    Everclear
    Local H
    Sponge
    @ Big Night Live

    Thursday, October 23rd
    Neko Case
    Des Demonas
    @ The Wilbur

    Thursday, October 23rd
    Belly
    "King" 30th Anniversary Tour!
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday & Friday
    October 23rd & 24th
    Ali McGuirk
    "Watertop" Release Shows
    @ the Lizard Lounge

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    October 24th, 25th, & 26th
    Jonathan Richman
    with Tommy Larkins
    @ the Somerville Theatre

    Saturday, October 25th
    Rufus Wainwright
    @ City Winery

    Saturday, October 25th
    Ezra Furman
    The Golden Dregs
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, October 25th
    Minus The Bear
    @ the House of Blues

    Monday, October 27th
    Laufey
    Suki Waterhouse
    @ TD Garden

    Monday, October 27th
    Autechre
    Mark Broom
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Wednesday, October 29th
    Herbie Hancock
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, October 29th
    The Beta Band
    @ the Royale

    Thursday, October 30th
    Cage the Elephant
    Hey, Nothing
    Common People
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Friday, October 31st
    Fleshwater
    Chat Pile
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, November 1st
    Andy Bell (of Erasure)
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, November 2nd
    Fruit Bats (solo)
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, November 5th
    Boris
    "Pink" 20th Anniversary Tour
    with Uniform
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, November 6th
    Colin Hay (Men at Work)
    @ the Chevalier Theatre

    Thursday & Friday
    November 6th & 7th
    The Lone Bellow
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
    November 6th, 7th, & 8th
    Buffalo Tom's 2nd annual
    "Please Come to Boston" fest
    with special live performances
    & guests each night
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday & Saturday
    November 7th & 8th
    Steve Martin & Martin Short
    three shows @ the Wang

    Saturday, November 8th
    Cracker
    with special guests
    @ Abbot Hall, Marblehead

    Saturday, November 8th
    The Mars Volta
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, November 9th
    The Samples
    @ City Winery

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 11th & 12th
    Micky Dolenz (the Monkees)
    Songs & Stories
    @ City Winery

    Thursday, November 13th
    Janeane Garofalo
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, November 14th
    Geese
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, November 14th
    Spiller
    The Long Wait
    @ the Middle East

    Saturday, November 15th
    Beach Fossils
    @ the Paradise

    Sunday, November 16th
    The Faint
    Hercules & Love Affair
    @ the Royale

    Wednesday, November 19th
    Author Joe Hill
    presenting 'King Sorrow'
    @ Brookline Booksmith

    Thursday, November 20th
    Weakened Friends
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, November 21st
    Queensrÿche
    Accept
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Saturday, November 22nd
    Couch
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, November 24th
    Bar Italia
    @ the Paradise

    Monday, November 24th
    Patti Smith
    Horses 50th Anniversary Tour
    @ the Orpheum

    Wednesday, November 26th
    The Lemonheads
    @ The Wilbur

    Saturday, November 29th
    Portugal. The Man
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, December 1st
    (second show added)
    The Beths
    Phoebe Rings
    @ the Royale

    Saturday, December 13th
    A John Waters Christmas
    @ Berklee Performance Center

    Thursday, January 15th, 2026
    Cate Le Bon
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, January 19th, 2026
    Shame
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Wednesday, June 26th, 2026
    The Church
    The Singles Tour
    (rescheduled from 8/1/25)
    @ Somerville Theatre