THE HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS…BOUND TO LOSE
by Sam Wainwright Douglas & Paul Lovelace
2006, 87 minutes, BetaSP.
NEW YORK THEATRICAL PREMIERE RUN!
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.
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Full NYC Lineup!LIVE MUSIC, RARE SHORT FILMS & SPECIAL GUESTS
FRIDAY 12/7
OPENING NIGHT SPONSORED BY SIXPOINT CRAFT ALES
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 Party: Live Music at Anthology Film Archives with
Peter Stampfel & Jeffrey Lewis and The Jitters (featuring a mini-Godz set with Paul Thornton)
Performance $8
Open Bar with Music Ticket. 21 & over.
SATURDAY 12/8
TODAY’S EVENTS SPONSORED BY THE FOLK MUSIC SOCIETY OF NEW YORK
Recent Addition!
At 2:30 PM? “Play On John:? A Life in Music”? 52 minutes screening with “The High Lonesome Sound”? 30 minutes
John Cohen's fingerprints and influence have been felt, seen and heard throughout the world of traditional American Folk Music. Long believed to be the inspiration of the Grateful Dead's classic song, Uncle John's Band, "Play on John: A Life in Music," tells the story of this remarkable individual and true American treasure. He is a modern renaissance man - musician, painter, documentary filmmaker, print maker and photographer.? The documentary features rare footage of Bob Dylan, an interview with legendary folk singer Pete Seeger and showcases Cohen's involvement with the people and personalities of The Beat Generation.? The film is narrated by playwright, screenwriter, actor and musician Sam Sheppard, who is also a member of Cohen's band, The Velocity Ramblers.? Play on John: A Life in Music will make its worldwide television premiere in 2008 on Smithsonian Channel.
Screening with “Play on John” is Cohen’s wonderful film “The High Lonesome Sound” featuring Roscoe Holcomb and is widely considered one of the finest documentaries ever made about folk music.
Before “Bound to Lose”: Introduction by John Cohen
with Short Film: "End of an Old Song" directed by John Cohen
After Screening: Live Music at Anthology Film Archives
World Debut of 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 (Famed 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 Animations" by Harry Smith
WEDNESDAY 12/12
***Please note:? Nick Tosches will not be available to introduce tonight’s screening***
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
The filmmakers would like to thank The Village Voice as a participating sponsor of our live music events.
ALSO SCREENING ON FRIDAY 12/7 & SATURDAY 12/8 4:30PM
Michelangelo Antonioni's "Zabriskie Point" 1970
Written by Sam Shepard during the recording of The Holy Modal Rounders' album "The Moray Eels meet The Holy Modal Rounders"
AND LISTEN TO THESE RADIO APPEARANCES
On Friday December 7th at 12:00AM Peter Stampfel and Jeffrey Lewis will appear on Bob Fass’s Radio Unnameable on WBAI.
99.5 FM in New York City and streaming at www.wbai.org
Then on Wednesday December 12th Peter Stampfel and the filmmakers will appear on The Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC.
93.9 FM in New York City and streaming at www.wnyc.org
Check for Updates:
www.myspace.com/holymodalroundersmovie
www.anthologyfilmarchives.org
There are no future showings scheduled.