The Power Pop Movie

 What is Power Pop? End the debate and just donate to The Power Pop Movie! The film will hit the circuits in 2020. Stay in the know here.



Interviews already in the can:

• 20/20 (Ron Flynt)
• The Andersons! (Derrick Anderson, Robbie Rist)
• The Archies (Ron Dante)
• Argent (Rod Argent)
• Baby Lemonade (Jim Laspesa, Mike Randle, Rusty Squeezebox)
• Badfinger (Joey Molland)
• The Balancing Act (Willie Aron)
• Ballzy Tomorrow (Robbie Rist)
• The Bangles (Derrick Anderson, Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson)
• Barnes & Barnes (Bill Mumy)
• The Barracudas (Robin Wills, Chris Wilson)
• The Baseball Project (Mike Mills)
• The Bayonets (Brian Ray)
• The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson Band (Tony Asher, Scott Bennett, Jeffrey Foskett, Probyn Gregory)
• The Beat (Paul Collins)
• Big Big Train (Dave Gregory)
• Big Hello (Brad Elvis)
• Big Star / Big Star’s Third (Mitch Easter, Mike Mills, Jody Stephens, Ken Stringfellow)
• Blondie (Clem Burke)
• Blue Ash (Frank Secich)
• Blue Cartoon (Lee Elliott, Dave Loren)
• Bob Cowsill Band (Jim Laspesa)
• The Buckinghams (Carl Giammarese)
• Burning Sensations (Morley Bartnoff)
• Cheap Trick (Bun E. Carlos)
• The Choir (Jim Bonfanti)
• Choo Choo Train (Ric Menck)
• The Click Five (Joseph Guese, Ethan Mentzer, Ben Romans)
• Continental Drifters (Peter Holsapple, Vicki Peterson)
• Cosmo Topper (Morley Bartnoff)
• Cotton Mather (Robert Harrison)
• The Cuff Links (Ron Dante)
• Cyrus Erie (Eric Carmen)
• The Davenports (Scott Klass)
• Dave Davies band (Derrick Anderson, David Jenkins, Jim Laspesa)
• The dB’s (Peter Holsapple)
• Deadbeat Poets (Frank Secich)
• Dirty Diamond (Fernando Perdomo)
• Double Naught Spies (Rick Hromadka)
• Dramarama (Morley Bartnoff, Chris Carter)
• Dreaming in Stereo (Fernando Perdomo)
• The Dwight Twilley Band (Dwight Twilley)
• Ednaswap (Rusty Anderson)
• Eels (Probyn Gregory)
• The Elvis Brothers (Brad Elvis)
• Elvyn (Joel Beerman, Ryan Beerman, Jeremy Knibbs)
• The Empty Hearts (Clem Burke, Elliot Easton)
• Enuff Z’Nuff (Chip Z’Nuff)
• The Everly Set (Sean Altman)
• The Explorers Club (Wyatt Funderburk)
• Falling Wallendas (Scott Bennett)
• Fastball (Miles Zuniga)
• Figures on a Beach (Anthony Kaczynski)
• Fireking (Anthony Kaczynski)
• Flamin’ Groovies (Cyril Jordan, Chris Wilson)
• The Flashcubes (Tommy Allen, Paul Armstrong, Gary Frenay)
• The Floor Models (Steve Simels)
• Fountains of Wayne (Chris Collingwood, Jody Porter, Adam Schlesinger)
• A Fragile Tomorrow (Brendan, Dominic, and Sean Kelly)
• Future Clouds and Radar (Robert Harrison)
• Gigolo Aunts (David Gibbs, Stephen Hurley)
• The Gravelberrys (Paul Myers)
• The Grays (Jason Falkner)
• Green Jello (Jim Laspesa)
• The Grip Weeds (Kristin Pinell Reil, Kurt Reil, Rick Reil)
• The Handcuffs (Brad Elvis)
• The Hudson Brothers (Mark Hudson)
• Imperial Drag (Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.)
• International Swingers (Clem Burke)
• Jellyfish (Jason Falkner, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.)
• The Jets (Mike Isenberg)
• Jewmongous (Sean Altman)
• John Powhida International Airport (John Powhida)
• Kaliyo (Andrea Perry)
• The Kennedys (Maura Kennedy, Pete Kennedy)
• Klaatu (Terry Draper, John Woloschuk)
• The Knack (Berton Averre, Prescott Niles)
• Kurt Baker Band/Combo (Kurt Baker)
• L.E.O. (Bleu)
• The Leopards (Ross Inden, Dennis Pash)
• Let’s Active (Mitch Easter)
• Linus of Hollywood (Linus Dotson)
• Lisa Mychols 3 (Lisa Mychols)
• The Major Labels (Bleu, Ducky Carlisle)
• Maple Mars (Rick Hromadka)
• Martin Luther Lennon (Anthony Douglas Perkins)
• The Masticators (Lisa Mychols)
• Material Issue (Ted Ansani, Mike Zelenko)
• The Merry-Go-Round (Emitt Rhodes)
• The Merrymakers (David Myhr)
• Ming Tea (Matthew Sweat)
• The Moog Cookbook (Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.)
• The Motion (David Jenkins)
• The Muffs (Ronnie Barnett, Jim Laspesa, Kim Shattuck)
• Mystery Pop (Willie Aron)
• Nazz (Todd Rundgren)
• The Nerves (Peter Case, Paul Collins)
• The New Mendicants (Norman Blake)
• The New Pornographers (Joseph Seiders)
• The Nines (Steve Eggers)
• Nushu (Lisa Mychols)
• Off Broadway (Cliff Johnson)
• The Paley Brothers (Andy Paley, Jonathan Paley)
• The Pandoras (Kim Shattuck)
• The Paul and John (Paul Myers)
• Paul McCartney’s band (Brian Ray)
• The Pengwins (Lannie Flowers, Wade Johnson, Alan Petsche, Delbert Raines, Danny Wilkerson)
• Pezband (Mimi Betinis, Cliff Johnson)
• The Pills (Corin Ashley)
• The Plimsouls (Clem Burke, Peter Case)
• Pop 4 (Andrea Perry)
• Popdudes (John Borack)
• The Posies (Ken Stringfellow)
• Powder (Alec Palao)
• Pugwash (Thomas Walsh)
• The Pursuit of Happiness (Moe Berg)
• The Quick (Danny Benair)
• Raspberries (Jim Bonfanti, Eric Carmen, Scott McCarl)
• Ray Paul & RPM (Ray Paul)
• The Records (John Wicks)
• The Red Button (Seth Swirsky)
• Reggie Knighton Band (Brian Ray)
• REM (Mike Mills)
• Rockapella (Sean Altman)
• The Romantics (Brad Elvis)
• The Rooks (Kristin Pinell Reil)
• Rooney (Taylor Locke)
• The Rubinoos (Jon Rubin)
• Ruby Free (Rick Hromadka)
• The Rudds (John Powhida)
• Rusty Anderson Afternoon (Rusty Anderson)
• Screams (Brad Elvis)
• Secret Powers (Ryan Maynes)
• Second Saturday (Wyatt Funderburk)
• Shoes (Gary Klebe, Jeff Murphy, John Murphy)
• The Skies Of America (Rob Bonfiglio)
• Sloan (Jay Ferguson, Chris Murphy)
• Smash (Tony Valenziano)
• The Smithereens (Jim Babjak, Dennis Diken)Sneetches (Alec Palao)
• sparkle*jets U.K. (Michael Simmons)
• Sparks (Earle Mankey)
• The Stand (Tony Valenziano)
• Stew & The Negro Problem (Morley Bartnoff, Probyn Gregory)
• The Stingrays (John Ferriter)
• Stiv Bators Band (Frank Secich)
• The Super Fuzz (Fernando Perdomo)
• Susanna Hoffs band (Jim Laspesa)
• Taylor Locke and the Roughs (Taylor Locke, Chris Price)
• The Tearaways (John Ferriter)
• Teenage Fanclub (Norman Blake)
• Teenage Head (Dave Rave)
• The Thorns (Matthew Sweet)
• Those Pretty Wrongs (Jody Stephens)
• The Three O’Clock (Danny Benair, Jason Falkner)
• Tin Spirits (Dave Gregory)
• Tinted Windows (Bun E. Carlos, Adam Schlesinger)
• The Toms (Tom Marolda)
• Transcendence (Fernando Perdomo)
• Translator (Steve Barton)
• Tsar (Jeff Whalen)
• TV Eyes (Jason Falkner, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.)
• The Ultra Suede (Tony Valenziano)
• Utopia (Todd Rundgren)
• Velvet Crush (Ric Menck)
• Wanderlust (Rob Bonfiglio)
• Wild Honey Orchestra (Willie Aron, David Jenkins)
• The Wind (Lane Steinberg)
• Wondermints (Probyn Gregory)
• XTC (Dave Gregory)
• Yorktown Lads (Michael Simmons)
• The Zombies (Rod Argent, Colin Blunstone, Chris White)

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Women and girls have to fight in many subtle as well as overt ways to own and take ownership of their own bodies. I'm hoping this film tackles a few of those (uncomfortable to discuss or difficult to vocalize) issues.  At a time when women find themselves in fear of losing or already not having rights over their own fucking bodies,  this film deserves a chance.



NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES ALWAYS
Focus Features
Release Date: March 13, 2020

Written and Directed by: Eliza Hittman
Starring: Talia Ryder, Sidney Flanigan, Théodore Pellerin, Ryan Eggold, Sharon Van Etten

Written and directed by Eliza Hittman, the film is an intimate portrayal of two teenage girls in rural Pennsylvania. Faced with an unintended pregnancy and a lack of local support, Autumn (Sidney Flanigan) and her cousin Skylar (Talia Ryder) embark across state lines to New York City on a fraught journey of friendship, bravery and compassion.

Promising Young Woman

This one looks twisted and interesting and has me written all over it. Full disclosure, I've not yet received a screener.  Based on the trailer and what I've read,  it might be comparable to, but far more extreme than Hard Candy.*  Some people think  Hard Candy was already extreme.  I'm not one of those people.  So bring it on - I'm here for it.


PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
Focus Features
Release Date: April 17, 2020
Written and Directed by: Emerald Fennell
Produced by: Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Connie Britton, Adam Brody, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, Max Greenfield, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chris Lowell, Sam Richardson, Molly Shannon, Clancy Brown

From visionary director Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) comes a delicious new take on revenge. Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman ... until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future.  But nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be: she’s wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she’s living a secret double life by night.  Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs of the past in this thrilling and wildly entertaining story.  


*If you haven't yet seen Hard Candy I recommend it.  It was polarizing upon release in 2005.  Almost the entire film consists of interactions between co-stars Ellen page and Patrick Wilson who play a 14 year old girl and 32 year old man respectively. The pair chat online then meet in real life. I'll leave it there and don't go googling.

Devendra Banhart's 'Other Flowers' Pop Up Experience

Devendra Banhart To Present Other Flowers

Devendra Banhart, is set to present Other Flowers, a multi-medium pop-up retail experience at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles as part of the gallery’s third annual Holiday Market, a two-day marketplace featuring more than 40 local artists, performers, and nonprofits.

Over the course of the Holiday Market weekend, Banhart’s Other Flowers will transform the gallery’s Education Loft into a specially designed environment conceived by architect and designer Chau Truong. Here, Banhart will offer visitors access to his work in art, song, curation, and magic: in addition to exclusive merchandise items created for ‘Other Flowers,’ the pop-up will have collaboratively-made apparel, books, personalized vinyl, photography, and paintings. ‘Other Flowers’ will also be the site of live performances ranging from song and dance, to pantomime and magic. The line-up includes Banhart, who will perform rare solo set, as well as White Fence, Rodrigo Amarante, Nao Bustamante, Jasmine Albuquerque and Friends, and Invisible Women, among others.

On Saturday, artist Claire Hungerford and Leaves and Flowers have partnered to present a chai cart in the gallery’s courtyard as part of the Holiday Market project.

Other Flowers will be open throughout the course of the Hauser & Wirth Holiday Market, from Saturday through Sunday, 14 – 15 December 2019, 11 am – 6 pm.

This event is free to the the public at 901 E 3rd Street, Los Angeles CA 90013. 

 

Program of Performances for Other Flowers

Saturday 14 December

4 pm: Rodrigo Amarante

5 pm: White Fence

6 pm: Ticketed solo performance by Devendra Banhart. Tickets are $35. Buy tickets here.

 

Sunday 15 December

2 pm: Invisible Women

3 pm: Jasmine Albuquerque and Friends

4 pm: Nao Bustamante

About The Holiday Market

Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles’s third annual Holiday Market will include more than 40 local makers, artists, and performers. The festive two-day marketplace of hand-crafted and locally-made products will take place in the gallery’s Downtown LA Arts District complex from 14 – 15 December 2019. The Market will also feature family workshops led by educators; specialty foods by the gallery’s acclaimed onsite restaurant, Manuela; and a robust program of performances throughout the weekend.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Tiny Desk Concert

 Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Tiny Desk Concert

Admittedly not a big fan of a lot of current rap (or superfluous use of either the "n word" or "uh" mid flow),  I have to say there are some serious grooves here in this collaborative effort for the Freddie Gibbs and Madlib NPR Tiny Desk Concert.  Leon Michels and members of the (always cool) Dap Kings and El Michels Affair: Marco Benevento, Nick Movshon and Homer Steinweiss largely contribute to my thumbs up opinion.

Eliza & The Delusionals Catchy "Just Exist" & 2020 Tour Dates

Eliza & The Delusionals Catchy Single "Just Exist"& 2020 Tour Dates

TOUR DATES

w/ Silversun Pickups

2/4/20 Ventura Theater (Ventura, CA)

2/5/20 Observatory (Santa Ana, CA)

2/7/20 Wiltern (Los Angeles, CA)

2/8/20 Fox Theater (Oakland, CA)

2/10/20 House of Blues (Las Vegas, NV)

2/12/20 The Union Event Center (Salt Lake City, UT)

2/13/20 Belly Up (Aspen, CO)

2/14/20 Ogden Theatre (Denver, CO)

2/16/20 Cain's Ballroom (Tulsa, OK)

2/18/20 House of Blues (Houston, TX)

2/19/20 Stubb's BBQ (Austin, TX)

2/20/20 House of Blues (Dallas, TX)

2/22/20 The Fillmore (New Orleans, LA

Invisible Life In Select Theaters December 20

Amazon Studios Presents Invisible Life
Written and Directed by Karim Aïnouz
Starring Carol Duarte, Julia Stockler and Fernanda Montenegro

Rio de Janeiro, 1950. Eurídice, 18, and Guida, 20, are two inseparable sisters living at home with their conservative parents. Although immersed in a traditional life, each one nourishes a dream: Eurídice of becoming a renowned pianist, Guida of finding true love. In a dramatic turn, they are separated by their father and forced to live apart. They take control of their separate destinies, while never giving up hope of finding each other. A tropical melodrama from the director of Madame Satã.

Brazil's Official Submission for International Feature Film for the 92nd Academy Awards®
In Select Theaters December 20
 

The Black Madonna Issues Statement Re: Amazon Backed Festival

THE BLACK MADONNA ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING AMAZON-BACKED FESTIVAL

I will not be performing at Intersect Festival due to their relationship with Amazon Web Services who have business ties with ICE and Homeland Security.

The event proposed to me initially was framed as and arts and technology weekender with other artists I deeply respected and with well known and respected production teams. It presented no cause for concern. I was not approached by employees of Amazon. I was never formally or informally advised of any Amazon branding. The offer I accepted did not propose any kind of brand partnership. I am profoundly disappointed that anyone, at any level, in the long chain of people between the offer I saw and the eventual promotion of this event presumed I would. My contract intentionally prohibits that my name or likeness be connected in any way with any form of sponsorship endorsement of any kind including but not limited to commercial and/or political endorsements, without the prior written agreement of myself.

Clearly, I was shocked and hurt when press and promotional materials appeared with my name on an event presented by AWS yesterday. Many of you expressed your disappointment too and you were right to do so. I share it completely and amplify it.

This issue is not just ideological for me, it is a moral and ethical transgression against my work, my faith and most importantly the people I stand with. As a global ambassador for the Help Refugees organization, I raise awareness and donate 100% of my merchandise sales to refugee assistance and personally provide grants to undocumented families fleeing persecution in their home countries.

I am in total solidarity with the demonstrators, workers, other tech laborers, and immigrants and all people of conscience in calling for and end to corporate digital collaboration with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security.

In our personal and professional lives we all navigate contradictions and unclear lines in a world that makes it very hard to do the right thing. This is especially true in the arts, where independent workers often depend on relationships with brands to pay the bills. I am in a position to say that I will not agree to perform at an AWS branded event. I know that position isn't an option for all artists. Respect to all of you, in any case.

I was looking forward to the show and I am sorry that I won't be able to be with all of you for this one. But we will meet again on a dancefloor soon. And in the meanwhile I encourage each one of you reading this to visit the following organizations and learn more about how you can help people living without documents and seeking asylum and human rights around the world.

https://helprefugees.org

https://www.raicestexas.org/

https://www.amnesty.org

Redd Kross Kickstarter Trailer #2

Redd Kross are one of my favorite bands.  They're my favorite band currently recording or touring.  As a major music geek that's (as Bananarama once said), "really saying something." Jeff and Steve McDonald and director Andrew Reich are raising funds to create a Redd Kross documentary. I don't have a pot to piss in but do have a window to throw it from - if you like that sort of thing.  But should you have $10.00 or 100 or more bucks lying around to help make this happen* you should check out the Kickstarter page (here) for the goodies offered for contributors to the cause. There's everything from autographs to your very own backyard concert. The funding period is down to the wire.  Make it happen.  HIT IT!

 

In 1978, in the Southern California beach suburb of Hawthorne, the
same town that was home to The Beach Boys, two brothers Jeff and Steven
McDonald aged 15 and 11 respectively, started a band called The
Tourists. The first time The Tourists played in front of anyone was at
Black Flag's legendary rehearsal space, The Church in Hermosa Beach. The
older band gave The Tourists not only their seal of approval but a new
name - Red Cross. The spelling was later changed to Redd Kross after the high school-age brothers received a cease and desist order from the International Red Cross. Jeff's response was to change their name to "Redd Kross" in an homage to comedian Redd Foxx.

Born Innocent is directed by Andrew Reich an Emmy Award-winning television comedy writer/showrunner, best known as an Executive Producer on Friends. And the film's producer is Emmy Award winning Julian Cautherley. The documentary has already filmed interviews with Jeff and Steve and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Buzz Osbourne and Dale Crover (The Melvins) and original Red Cross member Greg Hetson (Bad Religion, Circle Jerks). With the help of the Kickstarter campaign the filmmakers will interview many other musicians and artists influenced by the seminal Redd Kross.
 

Redd Kross has long been a cult band, a band's band, a secret code word among music fans

that signifies taste and cool. But unlike many cult bands, their music

is eminently accessible. If you like The Beatles or The Ramones or Cheap

Trick, basically if you're a rock and roll fan, you'll like Redd Kross. 

INTERVIEWS WILL INCLUDE

They already have hours of interviews filmed with Jeff and Steve McDonald.

We have also interviewed Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) Buzz Osbourne and

Dale Crover (The Melvins) and original Red Cross member Greg Hetson (Bad

Religion, Circle Jerks). With your support we hope to film additional

interviews with most if not all of the following fans of the band and

key figures in the Redd Kross story:

• Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Off!)
• Charlotte Caffey (The Go-Go's)
• Rodney Bingenheimer (KROQ)
• Mike Watt (The Minutemen)
• Chuck Dukowski (Black Flag)
• Pat Smear (The Germs, Nirvana)
• Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go's)
• Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
• Jonathan Poneman (Sub Pop Records)
• Mark Arm (Mudhoney)
• Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
• Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
• A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers)
• Anna Waronker (That Dog)
• Dave Markey (Director, Desperate Teenage Lovedolls and The Year That Punk Broke)
• Jordan Schwartz (We Got Power fanzine)
• John Doe (X)
• Milo Aukerman (The Descendents)
• Lee Burger (Burger Records)
• Anthony Keidis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
• Mac McCaughan (Superchunk, Merge Records)
• Raymond Pettibon (artist)
• Jack White (White Stripes)
• Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers)
• Steven Malkmus (Pavement)
• J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
• Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs)
• Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees)
• Jack Antonoff (fun.)
• Ron and Russell Mael (Sparks)

They will also film interviews with current or former Redd Kross
band members: Brian Reitzell, Robert Hecker, Gere Fennelly, Dez Cadena,
Janet Housden, Roy McDonald, Ron Reyes, Jack Irons, Jason Shapiro, and
Dale Crover.

                     

*Update 9/30/2019 The goal has been reached & the film will be made.