Put on your thinking-back caps, scenesters: It was over two years ago ... February of '07 ... the OxBlood Records Showcase at the Record Bar ... 12 local bands ... and a film crew led by a dude named Bob Moczydlowsky.
Bob had come to his hometown former KC home (he was born in Fort Collins, CO, and went to KU) from his current base out in L.A. to film the two-night showcase for a documentary about the Kansas City music scene -- and yet not. The proceedings had a very unusual twist built in.
The bands caught on film -- In the Pines, the Architects, the Pedaljets, Ghosty, et al -- were all local KC-Lawrence groups, as were the 72 area musicians Bob interviewed about what it's like hustling in the music biz. However, through the whole process, there was to be no mention of where it all was taking place. Kansas City's identity would be kept secret until the end of the film. As he told Heartbeat City back in '07: "The reflected glow will be on KC," he says. "People will be curious about this town if we do this right, and they'll want to investigate it more."
Though the film, now titled 72 Musicians, isn't completely finished, a trailer has been posted to the project's site. And it looks FUCKING COOL.
Along with the trailer, Bob posted this update to the film's blog (excerpt).
And it's still not *totally* done. But it's done enough to have been submitted to a ton of small and regional festivals. Done enough to have been accepted at two, maybe three of 'em so far. And done enough for me to start using the software I've been helping build for the last year to get this thing ready for the world. We're going to premiere at the Maine International Film Festival on July 12th, then hopefully head to KC for an underground sneak-peak fundraiser thing, and then screen at festivals during the fall, including the Kansas International Film Festival in September.Most of my LA peeps don't even know this film exists. Most of my KC peeps wonder what the fuck I've been doing all this time. The rest of you are probably saying "Oh, jeez, Bob. You made a movie? Really? Do we have to watch it?"
The answer is "No." Unless you want to. Unless you love music. Unless you love musicians. Then you *have* to watch it. Because in my opinion, the musicians in the film deserve to be heard. Not because they're geniuses, but because they aren't. Because they're honest and real, like you and me. Human. Flawed. And good.
Sweet!
Bob tells us that he's also preparing a 10-song live album to go along with the film's release.
Go to 72musicians.com to donate $20 or so to the cause and to find out more about the film.
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I hear there was a different trailer a few months back. Anyone know where it might be posted?
Hi Carl! I want to come to Sandy Eggo! Get the beach house ready, Beeyotch. Cheers
Sorry, Bob and Carl. Gah! I even could've sworn I went to elementary school with Bob at Bishop Miege. Except that I was born and raised in Texas. Being a non-native, I take on the memories of whatever landscape I dwell in currently.
So, apologies. I'll fix. I'll also have to change the basename URL, which may fuck up some trackings, but that's what I get for fucking up.
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