NYC Premiere of the Holy Modal Rounders documentary “Bound to Lose”
Above: The first 5 minutes of Bound to Lose.
Normally I only write ”The Selector” on Sundays but I am so freakin’ excited about the new documentary Bound to Lose that I had to shoehorn in another post. The Holy Modal Rounders were the most godwonderful skull fuck to crawl out of the NYC folk scene in the early 60’s. Their first two albums, unimaginatively titled The Holy Modal Rounders and The Holy Modal Rounders 2, stand to this day as first-rate alterna-folk treasures and have thankfully been re-released by Fantasy as a jam-packed two-fer that is one of the best deals you can find on a single CD today.
I had the pleasure and displeasure of seeing the reunited Rounders twice in the late 90’s in NYC. The first show at the now extinct Bottom Line was a real treat, an ear-to-ear smile-athon ... just way too much fun. So much fun, in fact, that a totally inebriated Steve Weber (is there any other?) had to, quite literally, be dragged off stage. The second show I witnessed at the also extinct Tonic was a contentious mess, Weber and Peter Stampfel clearly not enjoying being in the same room together, let alone sharing the same planet. Bound to Lose appears to cover all of the love and all of the loathing and it has finally crawled (probably on its belly) to NYC for a seven day run (12/7-12/13) at the Anthology Film Archives. The first and last nights will feature performances by Stampfel (with Jeffrey Lewis & the Jitters--and an open bar--and Gary Lucas, respectively) and they’ve tucked all sorts of goodies into the length of the run (including playwrite and ex-Rounder Sam Shepard rejoining Stampfel for a performance at Pianos following the 12/9 showing).
For more information, check out the film’s MySpace page (you can see the trailer and an outtake there, as well) or look below the fold for the info I lovingly cut n’ pasted for your edification.
THE HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS…BOUND TO LOSE
by Sam Wainwright Douglas & Paul Lovelace
NEW YORK THEATRICAL PREMIERE RUN!
12/7 thru 12/13
Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10001
(212) 505-5181
When fiddler Peter Stampfel collided with guitarist Steve Weber during the ‘Great Folk Scare’ of the early-sixties in New York, the two musicians formed a powerful bond based on their shared fascination with American roots music and early psychedelia. Dubbing themselves THE HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS, these eccentric outsiders have been playing their unique brand of psychedelic folk for over four decades, barely surviving on the fringes of the music industry while drawing a dedicated following of luminaries and lunatics.
From their origins in New York’s Greenwich Village folk scene and their involvement in the EASY RIDER soundtrack, to the lost years of constant drugging, endless touring and a final shot at redemption, BOUND TO LOSE recounts the unique forty-year history of these true American originals. With startling intimacy, BOUND TO LOSE also documents the band’s arduous, amusing, and sometimes heartbreaking struggle to capitalize on their recent resurgence in popularity, culminating in an unpredictable 40th anniversary concert in Portland, Oregon. More than just a chronicle of an obscure band, BOUND TO LOSE is a raucous celebration of a lost American outlaw subculture as it draws its final rebellious breaths.
BOUND TO LOSE features endearing and hilarious appearances by playwright (and former ROUNDERS drummer) Sam Shepard, Dennis Hopper, John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful, Peter Tork of the Monkees, Ed Sanders and Tuli Kupferberg of the Fugs, Loudon Wainwright III, Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, music editor Robert Christgau of the VILLAGE VOICE, Wavy Gravy and many more.
DEC. 7 – 13 at ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVES
NIGHTLY @ 7:30PM
LIVE MUSIC, RARE SHORT FILMS & SPECIAL GUESTS
FRIDAY 12/7
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORED BY SIXPOINT BREWERY
Musical Introduction: Jeffrey Lewis and The Jitters
with Short Film: “The Godz” directed by Jud Yalkut
(special intro by Paul Thornton of The Godz)
After Screening: Live Music at Anthology Film Archives with
Peter Stampfel & Jeffrey Lewis and The Jitters (featuring special guest Paul Thornton)
Performance $8
Open Bar with Music Ticket. 21 & over.
SATURDAY 12/8
Introduction by John Cohen (New Lost City Ramblers, photographer)
with Short Film: “End of an Old Song” directed by John Cohen
After Screening: Live Music at Anthology Film Archives
The End of the World Banjo Band (featuring Peter Stampfel, John Cohen and friends)
Performance $8
SUNDAY 12/9
Before Screening: Short films by William Ferris
Live Music at Pianos - 158 Ludlow St
The Velocity Ramblers (featuring Peter Stampfel, John Cohen, Sam Shepard, Walker Shepard, Pat Conte and Betty Berkin)
4PM & 10PM
MONDAY 12/10
Introduction: Robert Christgau (legendary music writer)
with Short Film: “Robert Christgau: Rock n’ Roll Animal” directed by Paul Lovelace
TUESDAY 12/11
Introduction: Lenny Kaye (Patty Smith band)
with Short Films: “The Fugs” directed by Ed English and “Mirror Abstractions” directed by Harry Smith
WEDNESDAY 12/12
Introduction: Nick Tosches
with Short Film: “President Nixon’s Inaugural Address 1969” directed by Kevin Rafferty
After Screening: Live Music at Parkside Lounge - 317 E. Houston St
Muscular Christians
10PM
Free!
THURSDAY 12/13
Introduction: Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders & Gary Lucas
with rare Holy Modal music videos
After Screening: Closing Night Live Music at Bowery Poetry Club – 308 Bowery
Rare performance by the legendary Du-Tels (Peter Stampfel/Gary Lucas)
10PM
$15
Posted by Kevin K. on 11/25/07 at 10:21 AM • Permalink
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Categories: Movies • Movie News • Music • New York City • Manhattan •
