Guest blogger Amanda Krotki here:
Just caught the 4 p.m. screening of music documentary "Wheedle's Groove," which festival programmer Eric Hatch introduced as one of the "most exciting films we have here at the festival."
It's interesting to consider that two decades before grunge put Seattle on the map in the '90s, there was a viable soul scene in the Pacific Northwest, after all Jimi Hendrix was from there. However, for me, the film doesn't become completely exciting until we're treated to a gospel cover of Soundgarden's "Jesus Christ Pose."
At that moment, the film does its job -- sparks my interest in several groups I've never even heard about -- and I do want to go hunt down a copy of "Wheedle's Groove," the CD compilation of Seattle music created to celebrate this lost scene.
And about that scene, it's really saying something when the most famous name to come out of it is Kenny G, who started in Cold, Bold and Together. Nothing against Kenny G, but he's not the most representative figure of the music that was thriving in Seattle at the time. Though, he gains major cred during his interviews in the doc. (Seattle native Sir Mix-A-Lot, looking more Sir than Mix-a-Lot, also makes an appearance and narrates the film.)
In the Q&A following the technically plagued screening (it was a very forgiving crowd), director Jennifer Maas said she wanted to make the movie because of the "sense of injustice that nobody knew about [these bands] and Seattle is so known for its music scene."
This is not my favorite music doc I've ever seen at the festival (see my earlier post for that), but it is worth catching on its second screening at the festival (Saturday at 9:30 p.m.).
Movies watched: 1, next up is "A Family Affair" at 7:30 p.m.
People met: 1, screenwriting competition finalist Robynn O. Brooks
Friends spotted: 0
What have you seen? Who have you met? Share your Festival sightings here.
Handout photo