A LIFE OF CRIME and The Scars to Prove it - review
The now-immortal Wesley Willis said it best: Going on long road trips can really be a hellride.
In the documentary 'A Life of Crime', James Loftus and John Eagan packed a couple of mini-DV cameras and hopped into 'Bessie', a grumbling monster of an old van, to accompany Ontario-based indie band The Parkas on their second cross-Canada tour.
They set out to make a film that would capture the typical experiences of a fledgling Canadian band on the road. And though I've never been in said situation before, I can guess that they got a lot more than what they bargained for - and that's a good thing.
Nearing the end of the two month tour, the Parkas were on the road discussing recording their follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album 'Now This is Figthing'. When trying to schedule what dates they would record, founding member Grady Kelneck announced "I don't think I want to be in the band anymore". The scene is explosive, and Loftus and Eagan wisely bookend their film with parts of it. After being teased with the terse breakup scene right off the bat, I was all the more curious to know: What the hell happened on that tour?
The short answer is that the Parkas regularly play in lousy bars with minimal promotion, no crowds, and worse - very little money. When we're given a glimpse of the east coast concert goers, the result is both humourous and depressing.
Thankfully Loftus and Eagan showcase the Parkas' comedy as well as their pathos. A trip down the 'Magnetic Hill', idiotic beer guzzling, and emaciated bassist Mark Rhyno all provide much-needed laughs during the very frustrating tour.
But most importantly we have the music. Though they don't always sound so hot playing for empty rooms with bad sound setups, the Parkas music endures. Though I'd recommend attending a live show that people show up to for a primer in the Parkas, the movie is damn good to listen to given the limitations of the filmmakers equipment.
For this reason I was particularly glad the new Parkas EP 'The Scars to Prove it' was included with the DVD. Recorded 3 months after Grady's departure, the companion disc showcaes the growth and maturation of several songs that were performed in the documentary.
With Grady gone, guitarist Michael Brown is left to his own devices as lead singer and he shines, pushing himself to both extremes of his vocal range as well as showing off a loopy vibratto on 'Sweet Amputations'. In terms of raw emotion, Brown's best is the Dylanesque 'The Highway Divides'. Written as a bitter send-off to Grady after the tour, the song is a roots-rock gem that is all the more powerful to anyone who's seen 'A Life of Crime'. In that context, the break-up songs on the EP seem all the more authentic. Also included is a live version of Brown's flagship concert song, 'My Life of Crime', which is sadly a lot better than the version used in the film named for it, and maybe even better than the originally recorded version. Definitely a great bonus, and I can't wait to hear the newer stuff that they're currently recording for their next full-length.
www.theparkas.com
In the documentary 'A Life of Crime', James Loftus and John Eagan packed a couple of mini-DV cameras and hopped into 'Bessie', a grumbling monster of an old van, to accompany Ontario-based indie band The Parkas on their second cross-Canada tour.
They set out to make a film that would capture the typical experiences of a fledgling Canadian band on the road. And though I've never been in said situation before, I can guess that they got a lot more than what they bargained for - and that's a good thing.
Nearing the end of the two month tour, the Parkas were on the road discussing recording their follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut album 'Now This is Figthing'. When trying to schedule what dates they would record, founding member Grady Kelneck announced "I don't think I want to be in the band anymore". The scene is explosive, and Loftus and Eagan wisely bookend their film with parts of it. After being teased with the terse breakup scene right off the bat, I was all the more curious to know: What the hell happened on that tour?
The short answer is that the Parkas regularly play in lousy bars with minimal promotion, no crowds, and worse - very little money. When we're given a glimpse of the east coast concert goers, the result is both humourous and depressing.
Thankfully Loftus and Eagan showcase the Parkas' comedy as well as their pathos. A trip down the 'Magnetic Hill', idiotic beer guzzling, and emaciated bassist Mark Rhyno all provide much-needed laughs during the very frustrating tour.
But most importantly we have the music. Though they don't always sound so hot playing for empty rooms with bad sound setups, the Parkas music endures. Though I'd recommend attending a live show that people show up to for a primer in the Parkas, the movie is damn good to listen to given the limitations of the filmmakers equipment.
For this reason I was particularly glad the new Parkas EP 'The Scars to Prove it' was included with the DVD. Recorded 3 months after Grady's departure, the companion disc showcaes the growth and maturation of several songs that were performed in the documentary.
With Grady gone, guitarist Michael Brown is left to his own devices as lead singer and he shines, pushing himself to both extremes of his vocal range as well as showing off a loopy vibratto on 'Sweet Amputations'. In terms of raw emotion, Brown's best is the Dylanesque 'The Highway Divides'. Written as a bitter send-off to Grady after the tour, the song is a roots-rock gem that is all the more powerful to anyone who's seen 'A Life of Crime'. In that context, the break-up songs on the EP seem all the more authentic. Also included is a live version of Brown's flagship concert song, 'My Life of Crime', which is sadly a lot better than the version used in the film named for it, and maybe even better than the originally recorded version. Definitely a great bonus, and I can't wait to hear the newer stuff that they're currently recording for their next full-length.
www.theparkas.com