The Starz Denver Film Festival is also presenting the accompanying ongoing live Love Hope Strength Music Lounge, a week-long series of live concerts that runs through Thursday.
While the name band of the week is Gin Blossoms, the rest of the bands are all local.
“The goal is to bring together filmgoers and filmmakers in another setting that highlights Denver’s thriving independent music scene, which is increasingly linked to independent film,” said organizer Kristin Nolan, the series and operations manager for the festival.
We caught up with Nolan, pictured above, for three quick questions:
Q: From “Where the Wild Things Are” to “Whip It,” the use of indie rock to enhance storytelling in film seems to bemore integral now than ever. What’s driving the symbiosis?
A: With a landscape chock-full of homogenized music and studio films needing massive promotions to offset a lack of depth, the inclusion of indie-rock music in films seems to be a reflection of the changes we have been hoping to see in society. Independent film and indie rock include texture, complicated stories, a sense of genuine emotion and honesty.
While it may not always be the case, I would like to think that both independent film and indie rock strive to provide audiences with something outside the norm and that receptive audiences are responding if not clamoring for a much needed change-up from the all too easily digested music of the FM radio world.
Q: Flip side: Isn’t the preponderance of music montages as a replacement for storytelling in films, as opposed to good old-fashioned words, a bit lazy?
A: While I find the musical montage is all too often used as a vehicle to neatly sew up a story line lacking depth or good scriptwriting, I think music is a strong means for making a powerful emotional connection. Music is the backdrop of everything we do. But music should never be a substitute for substance in a film, or simply included to help the promotion of a movie.
Q. Choose one local band the average fest-goer probably has not heard of and tell us why they will be rewarded.
A: Coming out of the strong alt-gothic scene filled with artists like Munly and the Denver Gentlemen, Kal Cahoone’s voice, lyrics and instrumental strength are the perfect complement to the independent films presented in the festival. Much like the heartfelt and often raw look at life and its realities presented in the films, Kal’s music is an expression of honesty and humanity that should resonate with people moved by independent film.
Starz Denver Film Festival Music Lounge
Remaining performances:
Today
At Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St.
9 p.m. Jim McTurnan and the Kids That Killed the Man
9:30 p.m. Vivienne VaVoom of Burlesque As It Was
9:45 p.m. Mike Marchant of Widowers
10:30 p.m. Achille Lauro
Wednesday
At Meadowlark, 2701 Larimer St.
9 p.m. Rachael Pollard
9:30 p.m. Phelyx
9:45 p.m. Kal Cahoone
10:30 p.m. Andrea Ball
11:15 p.m. Paper Bird
Thursday
At Hard Rock Cafe, 500 16th St.
9 p.m. Gin Blossoms ($35)
At Forest Room 5, 2532 15th St.
9 p.m. Aaron Collins of Machine Gun Blues
9:45 p.m. B. Sous
10:30 p.m. Le Divorce
Admission: $3-$5 except for Gin Blossoms ($35)
