Don't Knock the Rock Festival

The Don’t Knock the Rock Festival kicks off again this Thursday. Screenings take place each Thursday night at 8:00 PM at the Cinefamily at 611 N. Fairfax.

Schedule:
7/8/10 – Screening of The One Man Beatles (Emitt Rhodes Documentary) followed by an Emmitt Rhodes tribute show featuring The Parson Red Heads and others and a Q&A with producer Tony Blass (Emitt and drummer Joel Larson will be in attendance) [THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT]

7/15/10 – Screening of Dogs in Space (Australian post-punk film starring Michael Hutchence) and We’re Livin’ On Dog Food (documentary surrounding Dogs in Space)

7/22/10 – Krazy Kings Fanklub Night: Do It Again (doc about an attempt to get the Kinks to reunite) shown with Mondo Kinks Video Mix! (hour of rare Kinks footage)

7/29/10 – Target Video Presents: SoCal Punk Rockers (two hours from the Target Video archives – including Black Flag, the Screamers, TSOL, etc..)

8/5/10 – Deconstructing Dad: The Music, the Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott plus The Secret Animated History of Raymond Scott (Jerry Beck guides you through Scott’s work as featured in Ren & Stimpy, The Simpsons, Duckman, Animaniacs and more)

8/7/10 – Roundtable discussion on Music in Film, TV and New Media

8/12/10 – Lee Hazlewood Rare Films Bonanza!: Cowboy in Sweden shown with Nancy & Lee in Las Vegas and N.S.V.I.P.’s (Not…So…Very…Important…People)

8/19/10 – An Evening with Thom Anderson: Screening of Get Out of the Car! and “-- -------“ and Olivia’s Place

8/26/10 – Vince Martin Night: Vagabondo! Plus Vince Martin Tribute Show

Emitt Rhodes Self Titled Debut

Don't forget to listen to Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd) today from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Little Radio. As I mentioned last week, they've generously allowed me to select one track a week. The idea is for me to then write about why I picked that track. I'm way behind. On 8/2/07 I selected Emitt Rhodes "Live Til You Die."

Emitt Rhodes is a singer-songwriter from Hawthorne, CA (also home of the Beach Boys, Black Flag and Dios). Being relatively young, I think I first became aware of him through the Merry-Go-Round song "Live" which is included on the Nuggets box set. Even on a compilation of stand out tracks, that track still stood out for me. Cut to years later, and my friend Tita did a vinyl transfer of his self-titled solo album onto a CD-R for me. I was immediately smitten. The record's so full of humanity. It's mostly all sensitive man lyrics about love and hope and disappointment and falling down and getting back up again. The guy writes amazing melodies and has a great voice. While the solo Paul McCartney comparisons often dominate reviews of this album, I think younger fans who love Elliott Smith will find a lot to like too.

Unfortunately digital and CD copies of his records are hard to find. However, if you have a turntable this first album isn't that rare. You can usually find it in the $5-10 range (I've scored a couple of copies at Freakbeat in the Valley). In keeping with the spirit of turning people on to music the old fashioned way, I recently passed along a vinyl copy of this to my friend Ryan for his birthday. He's since told me that he's bought copies online for family members and sought out Rhodes' other records. I recently picked up a Russian vinyl reissue of The American Dream at Love Garden in Lawrence, KS. If you don't have a turntable, go ahead and pick up the Rev-Ola compilation, Listen Listen: the Definitive Merry-Go-Round Collection. While not as good as the Rhodes solo debut, there are a lot of gems ("Time Will Show the Wiser" to name one).

Today, Emitt's still living in Hawthorne. The Prix recorded some of their early stuff with him. If you want to get in touch with him, Cashew from the Prix might be able to help you.

Read the original Rolling Stone review for Emitt's self titled album HERE.

Read the All Music Guide review HERE.

Stream some songs from the fan run Emitt Rhodes Myspace page

photo collage from the fan run Emitt Rhodes website