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The “Socalled” Movie

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There are a ton of movies coming out in 2010 that I know I want to see.  Many of them will be blockbusters and will be the cause of my wallet feeling a little thin but it is always worth it.  I love being visually entertained almost as much as I love listening to music.

I recently was given a heads up about a movie, rather a documentary, about a guy who goes by the name of Socalled.

Socalled?  Yes.  I even have a picture of him…

So who is Socalled?  Well looking at him he looks just like a normal Joe (ok, maybe not completely) but if you read the below synopsis you will find out he is far from just a regular guy.

Meet Socalled. He’s unstoppable. A pianist, singer, arranger, rapper, producer and composer (and also a magician, filmmaker, and visual artist), he’s blasting through the boundaries that separate music from different cultures, eras, and generations.

Socalled is a musical alchemist, always looking for the next old thing to make new again. The “socalled” Movie shows him introducing funk trombone legend Fred Wesley (of James Brown fame) to klezmer music, while wowing Wesley with his knowledge of funk. When Dolgin comes across LP’s from the 1950’s by lounge pianist Irving Fields, he looks up 94-year-old Fields and inspires him to pen a new hit song.

Shot in Socalled’s Montreal neighbourhood where Hasidic Jews and hipsters crowd the sidewalks, and in New York, France and the Ukraine, The “Socalled” Movie is a cinematic multi-faceted depiction of inspiration, collaboration and transformation.

Socalled defies category and refuses limitations. The “Socalled” Movie examines his energy from all angles and transmits the urgent creative spark to everyone watching: now’s your chance – go out there and make something!

Here is a trailer for the video that will be available for rent (??? rent ???) on YouTube thanks to the National Film Board of Canada:

Some of the guest musicians this guy has gotten to play with him is just insane!  I can not wait to see the whole documentary.

For more info check out:

http://www.nfb.ca/socalled
http://www.youtube.com/socalledmovie
http://www.myspace.com/socalled

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Jay Reatard Homicide?

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In a recent blog, I posted the news about Jay Reatard‘s death.  At the time it was undetermined about how he died but apparently his death is now being investigated as a homicide.  According to The L.A. Record Memphis Police are looking for a possible suspect in the musician’s death.

Hearing this I decided to so some internet surfing and found out some interesting info…

It appears as if Jay Reatard had some hate towards someone according to Exclaim.ca.  Reading though the article it stated that Reatard had beef with New Jersey band Liquor Store.The garage punk outfit allegedly slashed the tires on Reatard’s tour van recently and Reatard did not take it lightly.

What is crazier is I read the last Twitter posted by Jay Reatard on 01/11/2010 at 3:24PM:

@jayreatard – “I will give anyone a hundred bucks per tire that they pop on the band liquor stores van ! Yes I’m serious”

So who is this Liquor Store band and why did they slash Reatard’s tires in the first place?  Not trying to be CSI BHP here but looking at their MySpace page I noticed they just so happened to be in Tennessee for a couple of shows…right around the time Reatard was discovered dead.

Coincidence?  Only time will tell…

Regardless the world lost a good artist who may not have been well known but really made in impact with his style.

UPDATE:
According to a post on the Terminal Boredom message board, Reatard threatened members of Liquor Store with a chainsaw and hit a band member in the face with a disco ball.

Wait… did you say a chainsaw and a disco ball?  Well no wonder they slashed his tires!  Still the cause on the initial brawl is still unknown at this time as well as there is no proof that foul play has been involved.

Nashville Scene posted funeral information as well as supplied a Fox News cache to a story that was pulled off the internet.

Matador Records posted funeral information as well as well a personal entry from Matador co-owner/Matablog blogger Gerard Cosloy:

I was on a flight to NY this afternoon and when I landed there were about two dozen text messages about Jay Reatard’s passing. It is the height of understatement to say I’m upset, confused and deeply saddened by the loss of one of the more amazing people I’ve been fortunate to know.  In record company parlance, yeah, we’ve lost (let’s go down the checklist) a phenomenal performer, songwriter, and insatiable music lover.  But we’ve lost a great friend as well, and that’s the part that hurts the most.

We’re not the only ones feeling that way right now, obviously. Jay’s friends all over the country, heck, all over the world are dealing with this. I know his various scrapes over the years have made for cheap internet fodder, but the people who cared about him are gonna remember a real person that mattered to them.  Our thoughts are with that very large group of people this evening.

Check out this well done short documentary on Jay Reatard:

Waiting For Something – a short documentary about Jay Reatard

Jay Reatard | MySpace Music Videos