DOCUMENTARY: The story of making a band and living with a band are these things you see played out. Asking the question “Is Everybody Happy?“(Amazon) might not dawn on a band mid-until they are deep in a tour. At that point it’s too fucking late so you might as well make the best of it. If band is asking that question then they should just break-up. Nobody really understands or least usually 3/4 of people in bands themselves understand the effort to make things work. There is always somebody driving and then there are passengers who don’t do anything except just freaking show-up. The day in and day out of booking and playing low attended gigs would deflate the air right out of anybody’s aspirations or relationships unless there was something to look forward to besides another low attended show. Without some sort of radio push or pr buzz going on tour as an independent band will only promise you failure and frustration unless you have a good attitude. Well at least the first few times unless you make it your business to play with “friends” or bands you think might have a local draw and forget about ever making money. Something to give you that sense of purpose is important. While you won’t be able to make everybody happy all the time ever. It’s a tricky thing to think you can conquer fans just like that. First of all you need to be good and not just in your mind. The second trick is making sure there are at least a couple bodies where-ever a your band ends up playing.
First rule of touring or playing gigs Is always make friends with the bartender and sound man. If they are not having fun then nobody is. Director Tim Marklevitz tells the story thru his lens in documentary about his friends. He was the defacto documentarian and paints a pretty honest picture of what it’s like to try and forge things on your own. Playing in front of your local draw is much different when you try and replicate the experience in towns you don’t know anybody in. This film which Mr. Marklevitz edited in between his reality TV job is really well cut. The band in this documentary were called Bless You Boys. They’re now just another defunct indie rock band from Grand Rapids, MI. I’m one of many from Anytown USA. They only played together for 3 or 4 years then split-up. This Documentary chronicles their first and last tour. They recorded demo’s for their third album and never end up releasing it but point is they gave it a college try and then released the dream of rock super stardom. Or did they?
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