Kevin Fullam writesReflections on “Almost Famous” (Screening This Saturday at the CHIRP Music Film Festival)

by Kevin Fullam

"The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool." -- Lester Bangs

"Famous people are just more interesting." -- Lady Goodman, aka Penny Lane

Hmm. Is Penny right? Famous people might be fascinating for what they do -- but that doesn't mean they'll be able to wax philosophical about it afterwards.

At the conclusion of Almost Famous, journalist/teenage wunderkind William Miller (Patrick Fugit) finally gets his sit-down interview with Stillwater guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup) for Rolling Stone and leads with, "What do you love about music?" 

Er... how does one begin to tackle a question that broad? And are musicians themselves going to be the ones to offer up the most eloquent treatises on the medium?

Keep Reading…

CHIRP Radio writesCOMING SOON: “Out of Time: The Material Issue Story” at the CHIRP Music Film Festival

Out of Time: The Material Issue Story (2021)
Sunday, September 17th 7:00pm

The first CHIRP Music Film Festival concludes with Balin Schneider's examination of Chicago band Material Issue. Formed in 1985, the trio released four albums before their time was tragically cut short by the death of frontman/song-writer Jim Ellison. But the band's influence and legacy remains in the International Pop Overthrow (the band's debut album, as of 2010 an annual multi-city music festival) and the sounds of other bands who attempt to capture power pop magic.

Out of Time will be followed by an array of Chicago bands paying tribute to Material Issue by each covering a pair of the band's songs.

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesCOMING SOON: “Fanny: The Right to Rock” at the CHIRP Music Film Festival

Fanny: The Right to Rock (2021)
Sunday, September 17th 4:15pm

The fact that '70s rock band Fanny isn't in regular rotation on your local "classic oldies" station is very much a testiment to the limits of a music industry with a narrow vision of who should be allowed to rip on stage. As the first all-woman rock band to sign with a major label, the group also had to put up with predjudices of skin color and sexuality. Despite that, the band made their mark on the music world with five albums and a permanent reputation as ground-breakers.

Bobbi Jo Krals documents the band's story and their modern-day reunion as they share stories and look back on what went before. It can be argued that until one has seen and heard the story of Fanny, one's knowlege of Rock and Roll cannot be complete.

"The movie serves as an eye-opening look into one of the most important bands of whom too few people have heard...Heavily punctuated with performance clips, the film gives the kind of visual and aural testimony that mere history books cannot." --Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle

"A little-known story that deserves to be heard, and this documentary is a blast for music lovers old and new." --Louisa Moore, Screen Zealots

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

CHIRP Radio writesCOMING SOON: “Wattstax” at the CHIRP Music Film Festival

Wattstax (1973)
Sunday, September 17th 2:15pm

Wattstax was a benefit concert organized by Stax Records to commemorate the anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots. The label presented its biggest acts, including the Bar-Kays, Albert King, Carla Thomas, and Chicago's own Staple Singers. Isaac Hayes, in all his '70s Hot Buttered Soul glory, was the headline performance.

Mel Stuart's documentary of the event, which also features appearances by Black icons like Richard Pryor, captures the vitality of the performances and audience while also preserving a window to a part American culture that often doesn't get it tell it's own story.

"Just when you figure that the film industry has exhausted every possible avenue of exploration in the quest to present still another music festival documentary, along comes something with a nice, fresh twist. Such is the case with Wattstax." --Jack Lloyd, Philadelphia Inquirer

"It’s a memorable display of African-American pride—and extravagant 1970s sartorial style—that also makes room for such leading Black cultural figures of the moment as Richard Pryor, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee and Melvin Van Peeble..." --Dennis Harvey, 48 Hills

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

CHIRP Radio writesCOMING SOON: “Amazing Grace” at the CHIRP Music Festival

Amazing Grace (2018)
Sunday, September 17th 12:00pm

Aretha Franklin's 1972 double album Amazing Grace is conidered a crowing achievement in her massive career. Recorded at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, it remains the best-selling Gospel music recording of all time.

Unlike many live recordings, Franklin's performance was also extensively and crefully filmed in preparation for a documentary release. But technical issues and lawsuits against the producers by Franklin herself delayed the release of anything until 46 years later. Since 2018, Alan Elliott and Sydney Pollack's poduction has been making the rounds, thrilling audiences with the sights and sounds of a monumental achievement by the Queen of Soul.

"In Amazing Grace, Aretha Franklin transcends the blues by saying a little prayer - or singing one - for all of us." --Owen Gleiberman, Variety

"87 minutes of pure joy." --Nell Minow, Movie Mom

The CHIRP Music Film Festival takes place at the historic Davis Theater in Chicago September 14th-17th. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.