The other day the husband was on a Nina Simone kick. Sitting in the computer room, kitty corner from each other, I listened in…without asking him to turn the volume down or go back to the previous song (he has a habit of skipping through his playlist, ADD style). So I was enjoying Ms. Simone’s vocal stylings when I was caught by surprise. I may have heard her cover of “Angel of Morning” before, but I couldn’t get the original out of my head afterwards. Major earwormage. Later on I was checking out the upcoming film festivals and happened upon the Sound Unseen site. Turns out they will be showing a 1976 Nina Simone concert, filmed in Paris. Could be interesting. In wildly different music movie news…Afropunk: The Rock’n'Roll Nigger Experience will finally be screening here. Wednesday, October 1st at the Babylon Arts and Cultural Center. Screening begins at 7pm, featuring the late Matt Davis of Ten Grand, with musical performances to follow by Sicbay, Signal to Trust, and Rickyfitts. All ages. Apparently there was an effort to get this film into Sound Unseen, but it didn’t make the cut. I’m just glad I’ll have the chance to see it. But speaking of film festivals, I have seldom seen a more brutal or discouraging write-up of one than the City Pages blurb about Central Standard. I was going to pick a line to quote, but it’s all so malodorous I don’t know where to begin. So I’ll move right along instead. In free movie news, the U of M has some decent offerings throughout September and October. Already missed Old School (darn), but Bowling for Columbine is screening tonight and tomorrow night. Next week Chicago is showing on Tuesday the 23rd, Wednesday the 24th and Friday the 26th. The week after it’s The Italian Job Tuesday the 30th through Friday the 3rd. Followed by Spike Lee’s 25th Hour Tuesday the 7th through Friday the 10th. And last but not least, Better Luck Tomorrow…which I’ve been wanting to see for months, is playing Tuesday the 14th through Friday the 17th. Thank you Twin Cities Student Unions and Student Activities Office.
