Joy Division Film
From BBC NEWS:
“A British film about the life and death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, starring a first-time actor, has earned a rapturous reception in Cannes.
Unknown Sam Riley said he was “working in a warehouse in Leeds folding shirts” when he was cast to star in Control.
Debut film director Anton Corbijn said the newcomer had brought “an innocence and freshness that I was hoping for but never thought I would find”.
The movie opened the 60th Cannes Film Festival’s Director’s Fortnight.
“This is a very hard role for anybody to play, because it is very hard to fit in somebody’s shoes who has become an icon in many people’s eyes,” said the Dutch director.
“I can’t think of the movie without Sam, to be very honest – I think he gave everything to that role. “It was his first film, it was my first film – in a way we had nothing to lose.”
Control, which also stars Samantha Morton as Curtis’s wife, follows the singer’s rise with Joy Division until his suicide in 1980, aged 23.
The singer battles epilepsy and is torn between his love for his wife and a Belgian girlfriend he meets while on tour.
Riley said his research involved studying the effects of epilepsy, as well as viewing surviving footage of Curtis’s performances.
“I spent a lot of time in the mirror doing dance moves,” he said.
“I tried to play him as fairly normal bloke, with an exceptional talent.
“He was an incredibly enigmatic performer – unusual, and uncomfortable in a way. And a fantastic lyricist for his age, for any age.”
The surviving members of Joy Division, who became New Order, have seen the finished film, Corbijn said.
“They hardly ever agree on anything together, but they have agreed that they all love the film.”
Stamen & Pistils on Tour
I play drums in the band Stamen & Pistils, and we are embarking on a short tour in a week so to promote our new CD — I thought I’d post the dates:
May 20, 2007 // Spazzatorium // Greenville, NC
w/ Deleted Scenes
May 22, 2007 // ISP // Atlanta, GA
w/ Deleted Scenes
May 23, 2007 // Bread & Bagel // Bowling Green, KY
w/ Deleted Scenes
May 24, 2007 // Lisa’s Oak St. Lounge // Louisville, KY
w/ Keenan Lawler & Pinatame
May 27, 2007 // Ronny’s Bar // Chicago, IL
w/ The Armor Class & Prairie Primitives
May 28, 2007 // House Show // Columbus, OH
w/ Kyle Sowashes, Mirandasound, Joe Anderl, Lee Keller
May 30, 2007 // Black Cat // Washington, DC
CD Release Show w/ Carol Bui & Mikal Evans
June 2, 2007 // The Khyber // Philadelphia, PA
w/ A Study In Her, City State, & Inner System Party
June 3, 2007 // Cake Shop // New York, NY
w/ Mossyrock, A Study In Her, Brown Wing Overdrive (w/ mbrs Measles Mumps Rubella)
Current Listening Post
Bonde Do Role – With Lasers (Domino)
Chromeo – Fancy Footwork (Vice)
Cornelius – Sensuous (Everloving)
Dungen – Tio Bitar (Kemado)
Elk City – New Believers (Friendly Fire)
Fridge – The Sun (Temporary Residence)
Melt-Banana – Bambi’s Dilemma (A-Zap)
Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Sustain Decay Release (Wichita)
Spank Rock – Fabriclive33
The Clientele – God Save the Clientele (Merge)
Simpsons Movie Posters
Several Simpsons Movie Posters have leaked onto the net by way of this (I think) Russian website. I’m a sucker for anything Simpsons, especially anything related to the upcoming film, so I had to give this a mention.
To make this post even more all inclusive, here are a few additional Simpsons stories I’m excited about: