Sound Unseen film/music festival returns - vita.mn

TONY LIBERA | Updated 45 minutes ago The film fest for musicheads is back for its 15th run.

A still from 'Salad Days' Provided

Since its inception, Sound Unseen has expanded from a niche film festival to a year-round cavalcade of screenings, music, social events and 'cinefeasts.' What separates SU from its film-fest peers is not just its immersion in the local scene, but its dedication to living in the spirit of independent film. This is a showcase not only of cinematic darlings but also outliers and unknowns, home-brewed ventures and goofy long shots.

The 15th annual festival - which began Wednesday with the Elliott Smith documentary ' Heaven Adores You' - presents more short films, features and rock docs. The centerpiece event is ' Flood Tide,' featuring local band Dark Dark Dark (9:30 p.m. Fri., $10-$12, Amsterdam Bar & Hall, St. Paul). And the fest culminates with a power-ballad sing­-along and live-band karaoke (7 p.m. Sun., $5, Bedlam Lowertown, St. Paul). This is what all film festivals should aspire to be: less pomp and circumstance and more chances for the community to party.

Here's a roundup of films that were screened for the press. Most screenings are at McNally Smith College of Music (19 E. Exchange St., St. Paul) and Trylon Microcinema (3258 Minnehaha Av., Mpls.).

When a music genre - like proto-punk - is defined by what came after it, there are bound to be some stories lost. The New York Dolls' Johnny Thunders never attracted quite the same idolatry of your Lou Reeds and Iggy Pops, but 'Looking for Johnny' (9:15 p.m. Thu., Trylon) should earn Thunders a few new fans. Who can resist the rock 'n' roll heroin fairy tale of a kid following a dream and refusing, for good or bad, to compromise?

' Salad Days ' (9 p.m. Fri., McNally Smith) chronicles D.C.'s highly influential hardcore punk scene, told largely by its central figure, Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi). The music and archival footage teem with life. The sheer improbability of the scene's history - of teenage Henry Rollins rising from Häagen-Dazs employee to punk-rock hero - does enough to whet our appetite for more.

The Grateful Dead has been documented so thoroughly it's hard to believe any stone is left unturned. Enter ' The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir ' (7 p.m. Sat., McNally Smith), whose focus on founding member Weir unearths some novelty for both Deadheads and those who haven't drunk the Kool-Aid. While many hoist up Jerry Garcia as the star, 'The Other One' positions Weir as the band's most innovative member, and one of music's great rhythm guitarists.

Bennett Jones' absurdist DIY narrative project ' I Am a Knife With Legs ' (9 p.m. Sat., McNally Smith) wanders through the mind and madness of Bené (played by Jones), a pop superstar in hiding after a fatwa is issued against him. Jones employs all manner of seizure-inducing typography, jump cuts, manic illustration, postmodern song breaks and plain ol' stupidity to leave us wondering how much of this is camp and how much is shoestring budget constraints.

' Legends of Ska ' (3 p.m. Sun., McNally Smith) makes the not-so-bold statement: Without ska, there is no reggae. It's an undeniable thesis, so while first-time Twin Cities director Brad Klein offers sincere insights into the history of the genre, it's a shame the doc doesn't stand on its own, instead nudging audiences on the premise of, 'Hey, without these guys, there'd be no Bob Marley.'

Sound Unseen 15

When: Through Sun.

Where: McNally Smith College of Music, Trylon Microcinema, Amsterdam Bar & Hall and Bedlam Lowertown.

Tickets: Most screenings $10-$12. Festival badge $50-$75.

Info: http://ift.tt/1wp3eu1.

Entities 0 Name: McNally Smith Count: 4 1 Name: St. Paul Count: 3 2 Name: McNally Smith College of Music Count: 2 3 Name: Weir Count: 2 4 Name: Jones Count: 2 5 Name: Amsterdam Bar & Hall Count: 2 6 Name: Trylon Microcinema Count: 2 7 Name: Minnehaha Av. Count: 1 8 Name: Lou Reeds Count: 1 9 Name: Bob Weir Count: 1 10 Name: Bob Marley Count: 1 11 Name: Ian MacKaye Count: 1 12 Name: D.C. Count: 1 13 Name: Bedlam Lowertown Count: 1 14 Name: Henry Rollins Count: 1 15 Name: Elliott Smith Count: 1 16 Name: Häagen-Dazs Count: 1 17 Name: Fugazi Count: 1 18 Name: New York Dolls Count: 1 19 Name: Bennett Jones Count: 1 20 Name: Iggy Pops Count: 1 21 Name: E. Exchange St. Count: 1 22 Name: Jerry Garcia Count: 1 23 Name: Brad Klein Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1tFt7nf Title: Aldon Smith seeks fresh start after suspension return Description: NEW ORLEANS - Aldon Smith is not a monster. He is not a menace to society, unless you belong to the society of NFL offensive tackles. Smith can be a lot of things, those close to him say: Emotional. Gentle. Intellectual. Artistic. Still somewhat immature and perhaps a little naive, in the same way many 25-year-olds are.