Caveat:  Just because I’m giving a rockumentary a bad review and a classical music documentary a good review, please don’t think I’m a music snob.  Yes, I enjoy and get along to a fair whack of classical music, but I’m also a fan of the rock end of the radio dial too.  Right, now on with it…

It Might Get Loud  

What happens when documentary director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) get the World’s Greatest Guitarists (for these purposes Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White) into a room together for a one-day-only, no-holds-barred, anything-goes meeting?  They nerd out about guitars, that’s what.  I seemed to enjoy the running time well enough (although it could definitely have been shorter) but on reflection can’t really pinpoint much of merit in the film.  It lacks direction and the information and interviews lack context, so it feels rather more like a fan film, made for those among us who already know everything about these guys and the history of guitar rock (not me), than those who like documentaries about things they don’t know much about and are seeking to be entertained and educated (definitely me).  Some bits focusing on creative processes (especially The Edge’s) were fascinating, but not more so than some other bits were irritating or contrived (Jack White teaching his 9 year old self how to fight with music?  Really?).  If you’re a fan of any or all of these guitarists then no doubt you’ll find something to interest you.  If not, listen to an album instead.

In Search of Beethoven  

Beethoven’s piano works to me had always seemed so show-offy.  In Search of Beethoven has explained to me that they seem arrogant because they ARE arrogant.  And no wonder given that he was not only a genius performer (with HUGE hands) but, creatively and musically, terrifically ambitious.  TV and feature documentary film-maker Phil Grabsky (The Boy who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan) has made the second in a presumably ongoing series about great classical composers.  Although he’s starting with the obvious (first Mozart and now Beethoven) his approach is fresh and his style is energetic.  Not only is the music spectacular, but Beethoven’s story and character are so fascinating.  There is a little too much “he was such a dark person, but, the interesting thing, you see, is that his music is so filled with hope” and not enough notation about the names, chronology and musicians of the 60-odd pieces that were performed live for the film.  The documentary focuses more on Beethoven’s blockbuster pieces (for example, the 5th (da da da dummmmm) and 9th (ode to joy) symphonies) without shining a light on his 100-odd other works, but the music that is covered is so good that it’s a slight complaint.  Aside from being enormously entertaining, I learned a lot from this film (including an understanding and new appreciation of Beethoven’s piano works) and you can’t you can’t ask more from a documentary than that.

– Jen

This arc is drawn by the talented Andrew Fulton who is currently travelling with Jen across the grand old United States (actually about now he’ll be in Toronto for TCAF). Andrew’s comic Mumblier is sometimes NSFW, sometimes strange but always beautiful and delightful. Jen and I are huge fans of both his comic and his resplendant beard. Sadly he’s not such a great mario cart player but we still love him.

Today is free comic book day. It’s a day when you can pop into your local comic shop and get more than 40 books designed especially for the day FREE! But it’s more than that. It’s an opportunity to discover comics, find your local store. Engage with comics. For the industry it’s about getting new readers. Comic buying is steadily decreasing even though there has never been a better time for comics as far as the quality of the writing and art. So please give titles you’d not usually read a look, if you see a comic a friend’s kid might like pick it up for them, get them reading!

For my part I’ll be supporting FCBD by doing sketches at All Star Comics in Melbourne between 2-3pm along with 17 other great comic creators. Here is the full list. Hope to see you there.

Sawbones began 5 years ago as Sawyer and Bones appeared as background players of a bunnified version of Poe’s the Raven.

Recently I realised that that story wasn’t on the site and went looking for it. Turns out i don’t actually have a copy on any of my computers. Technology moves so fast i’ve been through 4 of them in that time. So I used my moderate google-fu skills and found it online. Apparently nothing dies on the interwebs.

Anyway reading through the story I was struck by two things.

1. Jen’s storytelling was just as delightful 5 years ago. Reading the story with so much water under the bridge was like reading it for the first time and I loved the turns of phrase and way she balanced the horror tone with the comedic twist.

2. There was no way I could bear putting that art up online now. I don’t know a single artist who doesn’t cringe at old work and i’m no different. So over the last few weeks I’ve redrawn the comic. Tightening it up a little and adding a little more mood. I’m sure in another 5 years I’ll hate this too but it’s a start.

I do however want to aknowledge how this started so as this story progesses there’ll be a link at the bottom of the comic where you can look at the original version.

I hope you enjoy this.