Today we want to take the time to thank an artist who’s been incredibly supportive of Before The Music Dies on a day that’s very important to him, to his band, and to his fans. Anyone lucky enough to be in the ?uestophere knows that today, August 29th, The Roots new CD Game Theory drops. If you happen to be an Okayplayer, you already know this. But if you don’t know what the ?uestosphere and Okayplayer are, well, it’s our duty and our honor to introduce you to both.

?uestlove is Ahmir Thompson, the man who may end up taking the mantle of the Hardest Working Man in Show Business from Mr. James Brown. Not only did ?uestlove sit for one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking interviews in Before The Music Dies, he rocked everyone when he played drums in Funk Sway at the SXSW premiere party in March and was the guest DJ at the great NYC screening at the beginning of the month. We cannot thank him enough for his continued support for the film.

What we really want to tell you about ?uestlove is his commitment to his music and his fans. The ?uestosphere is his phenomenally popular blog on MySpace–a revealing, hilarious, and challenging look at the music industry from the inside. And not just any inside, but inside the head and heart of one of the best drummers playing today, one of the busiest producers working, and one of the great truth tellers in music. Period. Plus, the man can write. He ponders, considers, bemoans, celebrates, and berates the music industry in a way that few musicians are willing to do publicly.

And what about Okayplayer? You could say Okayplayer is the fan website for The Roots and a group of “lesser hyped” (read, on the radio a whole lot less) hip hop artists. Or you could say that Okayplayer is where the future of music is happening today. Check it out. Of course, we’d like to thank them for their help in turning out such a phenomenal audience in NYC on August 11. But we’d also like to thank them for their commitment to providing fans and musicians a place to discuss (sometimes heatedly!) the current state of hip hop. Okayplayer’s an inspiration to anyone who wants to foster a meaningful dialog about the future of music.

Finally, we have to remind you about the screenings in Tucson (5 p.m. Monday September 4th at the Screening Room) and at C.O.L.D. Camp at Burning Man. Go see the movie if you’re there and tell your friends to go even if you can’t.

This weekend, add Arizona and Nevada to the list of places cool enough to show Before The Music Dies. If you’re in Tucson or at the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock City, it’s your turn to see Before The Music Dies. We’re thrilled that filmmaker and festival organizer Michael Toubassi has invited Joel Rasmussen to present the film at the 2nd annual Tucson Film Festival. Before The Music Dies shows at 5 p.m. on Monday September 4th, right before Michael’s documentary about the history of the Tucson music scene High And Dry closes the festival. All screenings take place at the Screening Room, 127 E. Congress Ave., just two blocks from Hotel Congress at 6th Ave.

Those of you in Tucson also get to see Steve Poltz, without whose on-the-fly songwriting genius Before The Music Dies would not have its “Don’t Look Behind the Curtain” moment. Steve’s performing as part of the Club Congress Music Fest which takes place in conjunction with the film festival; he’ll also take part in the Q & A after the screening. Information about both festivals and tickets are available online. So call your friends, cancel the camping trip, and head down to the Screening Room and Club Congress this weekend.

If you’re a glutton for punishment and need more heat, well, you’re already packing for Burning Man 2006, and the Damned Fucking Texans are ready to welcome you (and director Andrew Shapter) to the hottest screening of Before The Music Dies yet.

OK, if any of you don’t know what Burning Man is, here’s what Burning Man is. (We don’t have the six hours to go into it.) The incredibly great news is that the Damned Fucking Texans (their official name) are presenting Before The Music Dies at C.O.L.D. Campwhich has a prime location on the Esplanade. To find out when screenings will be, visit the Damn Fucking Texans camp and ask around.

As for dress, we recommend you follow Erykah’s advice and go butt naked with glitter and a beeper. But since this is Burning Man, you can forget the beeper. Stay cool.

And her name is Paris Hilton.

Who knew? Who would have predicted that Paris Hilton would be the ideal spokesperson for Before the Music Dies? Is there anything that girl can’t do?

Well, the obvious answer to that question is “sing.” But that didn’t keep Paris or her crew of handlers, promoters, producers, and suits at Warner Brothers from going in the studio, recording a few numbers, shooting a couple of videos (what’s another video shoot to Paris, anyway?), and setting up shop on YouTube. And it didn’t keep the CD from dropping this week, opening the Paris flood gates once again. (Did you really think we’d had enough Paris already?)

If you were unaware of this seismic cultural event, well, we’re not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The one thing we do know is that you weren’t in Austin listening to the KLBJ morning program last week. If you were listening to KLBJ, you’d have heard Dudley and Bob talking, no, bemoaning Paris by Paris (great title).

And then you would have heard them say, “You have to see Before the Music Dies.”

Why did the morning crew on KLBJ, Austin’s great long-standing rock station (with a serious side of the blues) tell everybody in Austin they have to see this movie? We didn’t send them a press release last week. We weren’t plugging a screening or a DVD release. Why would a few DJs go on about a documentary that’s still on the festival circuit? The KLBJ crew has embraced Before the Music Dies because it tells the truth about what’s happening in music right now.

Before the Music Dies shows EXACTLY how digital recording technology allows producers to make non-singers “sing” on key. The film exposes the pop music business for what it is–the place where Paris Hilton is welcomed warmly because what’s not to like when there’s pretty much no marketing to be done. There’s no showcase, no tour, no introducing a new artist to music lovers eager to hear great music. Nope, it’s just connecting the dots. “If you like the show, you’ll love the CD,” has become the mantra of pop. That’s not anything new, but at least you could still hear Stevie Wonder on the radio when The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You” was the biggest song in the world.

We think Before the Music Dies is the antidote for living in a world that constantly tells you to buy something (ringtone? burger? sex tape?) related to Paris Hilton. Tell us if you agree that there’s a few too many chances to buy Paris and not enough to hear great music. Then tell your friends about the movie. We’re here to help.

Edinburgh Film Festival 2006 – They drive on the wrong side of the road!

Ok, so this isn’t my first time in the UK, but the driving detail
continues to challenge me. At every street corner my natural
instincts are wrong, so I end up betting against my intuition, which
also, somehow, turns out to be wrong. Couple this with a visit to the
Museum of Whisky (free samples), and you begin to see the challenge.
But despite the life threatening traffic, Scotland had a huge welcome
for “Before the Music Dies.”

My main question for taking the film overseas was whether a movie
about American music would be relevant to foreign audiences. I’ve
since learned that nearly every music market is facing the same
consolidation pressures. Clear Channel owes most of the radio
stations in Norway! So, yes, there is a huge amount of international
interest in this subject, and the reaction of the audience at the
Edinburgh International Film Festival left no doubt that this is a
subject people care about. Like most of the festivals Andrew and I
have attended, audience comments ranged from ‘It’s about time”, and
“Thank you for making this,” to “When can I see it in my town?”

As encouraging as the audience response was the support from the
festival itself. Apparently the festival director was very interested
in the project and had told most of the staff about the film.
Everywhere I went people knew about the movie and were excited to
see it, or bummed that they were scheduled to work during the
screening. Even the screener copies were always checked out of the
library, which hopefully bodes well for the films eventual
international distribution.

Between the gorgeous architecture, the very congenial Scots, and the
incredible local entertainment (not to mention the world class pubs
on every corner) we completely fell for Scotland.

Cheers
Joel

Over the past month, there’s been a lot of work to going on behind the scenes at Before the Music Dies. With the positive reaction we’ve been getting at festival after festival, it’s clear that this film strikes a deep chord with audiences. The fantastic NYC screening last Friday was an affirmation of what we believe — there is a huge audience of music fans who will love this movie. All we have to do is get it to them.

This fall, we plan to make that happen. We’re busy putting together a new kind of theatrical release, one which will allow audiences to see this film while staying true to the film’s core message that artists, not corporations, should reap the benefits of their work. We can’t announce the full schedule right now, but we can tell you it’s coming and that we’ll keep you posted here on the Before the Music Dies site.

Finally, a word or two about the site and these news postings. A couple of weeks ago, we introduced a new website design. Our goal is to introduce the film to people who are hearing about it and let you know when and where you’ll be able to see it. We’ve also put links to interesting sites under the Get Educated section on the right column. Through these links, you’ll find sites, news, ideas, and people who are creating the future of music today. We hope you find them entertaining, thought-provoking and inspiring.

Stay tuned.

Welcome to New York! You never know when your dealing in “firsts”, how things are going to turn out. My first film played in New York City for the first time. A special event screening hosted by Erykah Badu. I had no clue what was going to happen. Well, upon my arrival, as I turned the corner on West 29th Street, I noticed a very long line stretched beyond the entire block twisting all the way around the corner of the venue. I got ushered in by the Maitre de’, who quickly sat me down in the “V.I.P” section next to a “complimentary” bottle of Vodka (priced on the menu for a mere $600). Oh well, better try some. Next thing I know, I get ushered taking a photo with “the winner of America’s Top Model.” I hope she learns something from the film, because, she’ll probably get to cut a big label record soon.

Overall, it was an amazing show. To see B4MD spread on screens throughout a packed NYC club in West Chelsea was unforgettable. On a Friday night, everyone found a comfortable spot and watched a film that apparently had, “alot on buzz.” I feel twice as confident that B4MD is going to resonate with all kinds of people after seeing the reaction from the audience Friday night. A room full of people dressed in top fashion mode respectfully paid attention and cheered and laughed in all the right places. From what I gathered from e-mails, Branford’s tell it like it is comments hit home with the New Yorkers. Not surprising at all. The audience seemed to really be into Calexico and Doyle especially. Two hip hop guys (in the bathroom) said to our crew member John, “yo man, I was thoroughly entertained, that movie was dope!” It’s safe to say that B4MD is “universal” and that matters to me most.

As soon as the movie ended, Questlove began to spin and everyone filled the dance floor. Erykah (always on Badu time) finally arrived at Midnight to address and dance with the audience. Better late than never I thought, she’s always worth the wait. By the time I left, I felt so honored to see B4MD be so widely appreciated. I walked 10 blocks to my hotel at 1a.m. with my head held high. Very high.

Andrew Shapter, Writer / Director

What do you get when you mix Erykah Badu, the NYC premiere of “Before the Music Dies,” and Questlove’s trusty turntable? We’ll be able to tell you early Saturday morning OR you can find out for yourself at Sol Nightclub (609 West 29th Street) this Friday night at 8 pm. And with all this entertainment for only $10, you can’t afford to miss it. Erykah, in town for the Sugar Water Festival at Prospect Park on Saturday, will host the evening and answer questions along with director Andrew Shapter. After the screening, the one and only Questlove (whose interview in B4MD is sure to be the inspiration for a thousand turkey sandwiches) brings his infamous record collection to the lucky people at Sol.

In other B4MD news, the film has its European premiere this month at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. We’re extremely excited and proud that the film was selected to be a part of this festival. Filmmaker Joel Rasmussen will be in attendance in Edinburgh and we’re looking forward to hearing about the audience’s reaction.

So, if you’re in New York or Edinburgh, please come out to support the film. We’ll let you know how both screenings go and what’s coming up next for Before the Music Dies.

Also, if know anyone in the NYC area, *please* help spread the word about this special screening.

Lize@Bside

The Lowdown:

Club Sol (http://www.sol-nyc.com)
609 W. 29th St., between 11th Ave. and West Side Hwy.
Doors open at 7:30pm, film starts at 8pm.
$10 Cover.