Super Furry Animals singer Gruff Rhys raises grins retracing a relative's quest to find Welsh-speaking Native Americans
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys has already gone west once on film, with 2010's Separado!, his characteristically idiosyncratic history of the Welsh adventure in Patagonia. Now he offers this record of a tour that wasn't quite a tour: a retracing of John Evans' 1792 quest to find Welsh-speaking Native Americans that has yielded a Dave Gorman-like PowerPoint presentation and an album bearing a distinctly American chug and twang. Clearly, Rhys was creating as he went along, which accounts for the film's spontaneity, but also its restless contradictions. Silvery photography stifles some of its larkiness; vox-pops drown out the quieter numbers. Only the title track's gorgeous anomie lingers, but this tentative survey, full of beans and half-baked ideas alike, still generates broad grins. Having a Muppet represent Evans is an approach a Schama might consider non-canonical,...
Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys has already gone west once on film, with 2010's Separado!, his characteristically idiosyncratic history of the Welsh adventure in Patagonia. Now he offers this record of a tour that wasn't quite a tour: a retracing of John Evans' 1792 quest to find Welsh-speaking Native Americans that has yielded a Dave Gorman-like PowerPoint presentation and an album bearing a distinctly American chug and twang. Clearly, Rhys was creating as he went along, which accounts for the film's spontaneity, but also its restless contradictions. Silvery photography stifles some of its larkiness; vox-pops drown out the quieter numbers. Only the title track's gorgeous anomie lingers, but this tentative survey, full of beans and half-baked ideas alike, still generates broad grins. Having a Muppet represent Evans is an approach a Schama might consider non-canonical,...
- 5/8/2014
- by Mike McCahill
- The Guardian - Film News
It is surely not a coincidence that American Interior is released in the same week as Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank. The wonderfully idiosyncratic documentary follows Welsh musician Gruff Rhys (of Super Furry Animals) as he travels across the American heartland with a doll of the 18th-century explorer John Evans as company. Myth has it that Evans had found a tribe of Welsh-speaking Native Americans descended from Prince Madoc, who is said to have sailed to America in 1170.
- 5/8/2014
- The Independent - Film
Each year, the programmers of the SXSW Film Festival deliver a fresh batch of documentaries and films that focus on music in the 24 Beats Per Second sidebar. With such a wide variety of bands and artists performing all over the city during the festival, it only makes sense that some of them would invade our darkened theaters too. We've taken a look at some of the most promising movies premiering this year to help you prioritize what you should add to your schedule.
American Interior (pictured above) -- Gruff Rhys, lead singer of Welsh rockers Super Furry Animals, went on a solo tour in 2012 retracing the steps of one of his relatives. Explorer John Evans left Wales in 1792 headed to America on what would be a seven year quest, searching for a lost tribe of Welsh-speaking Native Americans. Rhys followed Evans's path, playing music along the way and then eventually...
American Interior (pictured above) -- Gruff Rhys, lead singer of Welsh rockers Super Furry Animals, went on a solo tour in 2012 retracing the steps of one of his relatives. Explorer John Evans left Wales in 1792 headed to America on what would be a seven year quest, searching for a lost tribe of Welsh-speaking Native Americans. Rhys followed Evans's path, playing music along the way and then eventually...
- 3/6/2014
- by Matt Shiverdecker
- Slackerwood
Though best known as a musician, Super Furry Animals founder Gruff Rhys is turning out to be rather an interesting filmmaker as well. With his debut feature Separado! Rhys tracked the path of a distant relative into South America and he's doing something similar here, only this time headed to, you guessed it, the American Interior.In 1792, John Evans, a twenty-two-year-old farmhand from Snowdonia, Wales, travelled to America to discover whether there was, as widely believed, a Welsh-speaking Native American tribe - The Madogwys - still walking the Great Plains. During the course of an extraordinary adventure, Evans wrestled the largest river reptiles ever seen in the Mississippi, hunted Bison with the Omaha tribe, defected to the Spanish in St Louis, discovered imaginary volcanoes in...
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- 1/29/2014
- Screen Anarchy
It's not clear yet what form the Oscars' tribute to the James Bond franchise will take. On Friday, the Academy announced it had booked Shirley Bassey for her first-ever Oscar show appearance, so at the very least, we're likely get to hear her belt out one or more of the three Bond movie theme songs she recorded ("Moonraker," "Diamonds Are Forever" and of course, "Goldfinger"). We also know Adele will be on hand to sing her currently nominated theme to "Skyfall." Beyond that, Oscar host Seth MacFarlane has made a promo clip where he plays a bartender who makes fun of James Bond (Pierce Brosnan, in an archival clip) for the distinctive way he orders his martini. Otherwise, there are few clues as to what shape the tribute will take, though there is a rumor that all six men who've played 007 -- Daniel Craig, Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby...
- 2/8/2013
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
What is Planet Ridiculon, and what are the strange sounds they're putting into Team Meat's mini-project, "Mew-Genics?"
In answer to the first question, that would be the duo of Matthias Bossi and John Evans, who are featured in the video below working on the music for Team Meat's mysterious, and allegedly very strange next project. As for the latter, we'll let the video speak for itself as Evans and Bossi put together some feline-inspired sounds (with a little bit of 20's/30's madcap music thrown in) for "Mew-Genics."
Related posts:
Japanese 'Metal Gear Rising Revengeance' Trailer Shines The Spotlight On Its Bosses
New Tutorial, Content Sharing Coming To 'Dead Or Alive 5+' On The Vita
--
Follow @MTVMultiplayer on Twitter and be sure to "like" us on Facebook for the best geek news about comics, toys, gaming and more! And don’t forget to follow our video gaming and TV writer @TheCharlesWebb.
In answer to the first question, that would be the duo of Matthias Bossi and John Evans, who are featured in the video below working on the music for Team Meat's mysterious, and allegedly very strange next project. As for the latter, we'll let the video speak for itself as Evans and Bossi put together some feline-inspired sounds (with a little bit of 20's/30's madcap music thrown in) for "Mew-Genics."
Related posts:
Japanese 'Metal Gear Rising Revengeance' Trailer Shines The Spotlight On Its Bosses
New Tutorial, Content Sharing Coming To 'Dead Or Alive 5+' On The Vita
--
Follow @MTVMultiplayer on Twitter and be sure to "like" us on Facebook for the best geek news about comics, toys, gaming and more! And don’t forget to follow our video gaming and TV writer @TheCharlesWebb.
- 1/20/2013
- by Charles Webb
- MTV Multiplayer
"The Batmobile Tour" invades Louisiana this weekend for appearances at
the Alabama-lsu game in Baton Rouge on Saturday and the Eagles-Saints
game in New Orleans on Monday.
"The Batmobile Tour" is celebrating the December 4 home entertainment
release of The Dark Knight Rises, the final film in Christopher
Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises Blu-ray Combo Pack
includes “The Batmobile” documentary, an hour-long in-depth look into
every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal.
Media Alert Camera Crews Welcome!
What: The Batmobile Tour
When: Saturday, November 3 in Baton Rouge 12:00Pm –4:00Pm (for media photo opps) 10:00Am –7:00Pm For The Public
Monday, November 5 in New Orleans 3:00Pm – 6:00Pm (for media photo opps) 10:00Am – 7:00Pm For The Public
Where: Saturday - Louisiana State University Parade Ground - Highland Rd and Raphael Semmes Rd, Baton Rouge, La, 70813
Monday – Mercedes Benz Superdome Concourse level,...
the Alabama-lsu game in Baton Rouge on Saturday and the Eagles-Saints
game in New Orleans on Monday.
"The Batmobile Tour" is celebrating the December 4 home entertainment
release of The Dark Knight Rises, the final film in Christopher
Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. The Dark Knight Rises Blu-ray Combo Pack
includes “The Batmobile” documentary, an hour-long in-depth look into
every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal.
Media Alert Camera Crews Welcome!
What: The Batmobile Tour
When: Saturday, November 3 in Baton Rouge 12:00Pm –4:00Pm (for media photo opps) 10:00Am –7:00Pm For The Public
Monday, November 5 in New Orleans 3:00Pm – 6:00Pm (for media photo opps) 10:00Am – 7:00Pm For The Public
Where: Saturday - Louisiana State University Parade Ground - Highland Rd and Raphael Semmes Rd, Baton Rouge, La, 70813
Monday – Mercedes Benz Superdome Concourse level,...
- 11/2/2012
- by THE LEGION fan network
- Legions of Gotham
Sydney-based marketing agency Euphorium has announced winning a brief from dairy brand Danone to launch Oikos.
The announcement:
Danone is a world-leading fresh dairy company which entered the Australian market in a Joint Venture with Murray Goulburn Pty Ltd in May, 2010. They have recently appointed Euphorium to promote the launch of Oikos throughout Australia.
Oikos contains Zero % Fat and has higher protein that most yoghurts in the market. To make Oikos we use a centuries old straining method which takes 3 Litres of milk to make 1 litre of yoghurt. The process removes the water & liquids, leaving the whey (natural milk protein) intact. This results in a thick and creamy yoghurt which has No Fat, is packed full of protein and is free of gelatine, artificial thickeners, colours and preservatives.
Emre Kasikci, Marketing Director of Danone Murray Goulburn said “We were impressed with Euphorium’s integrated pitch for Oikos and John’s...
The announcement:
Danone is a world-leading fresh dairy company which entered the Australian market in a Joint Venture with Murray Goulburn Pty Ltd in May, 2010. They have recently appointed Euphorium to promote the launch of Oikos throughout Australia.
Oikos contains Zero % Fat and has higher protein that most yoghurts in the market. To make Oikos we use a centuries old straining method which takes 3 Litres of milk to make 1 litre of yoghurt. The process removes the water & liquids, leaving the whey (natural milk protein) intact. This results in a thick and creamy yoghurt which has No Fat, is packed full of protein and is free of gelatine, artificial thickeners, colours and preservatives.
Emre Kasikci, Marketing Director of Danone Murray Goulburn said “We were impressed with Euphorium’s integrated pitch for Oikos and John’s...
- 10/26/2012
- by Robin Hicks
- Encore Magazine
Media Alert Camera Crews Welcome!
What: The Batmobile Tour –
Seven unique vehicles from the Batman franchise
When: Saturday, October 27 (open to all media)
11:00Am – 3:00Pm
Sunday, October 28 (game credentialed media only) 10:00Am – Half Time
Where: Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Saturday – Outside the Miller Lite Club (Inside the Stadium along the Self Guided Tour Route (Media: Free, Public: Must purchase a Tour Ticket or Rally Day ticket to see) Sunday – East Plaza and West Plaza
For the first time in Batman franchise history, witness six Batmobiles and the Bat-Pod as they embark on a tour of sporting events across America prior to the December 4th home entertainment release of The Dark Knight Rises, the final film in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
The Dark Knight Rises Blu-ray Combo Pack includes “The Batmobile” documentary, an hour-long in-depth look into every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal.
What: The Batmobile Tour –
Seven unique vehicles from the Batman franchise
When: Saturday, October 27 (open to all media)
11:00Am – 3:00Pm
Sunday, October 28 (game credentialed media only) 10:00Am – Half Time
Where: Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Saturday – Outside the Miller Lite Club (Inside the Stadium along the Self Guided Tour Route (Media: Free, Public: Must purchase a Tour Ticket or Rally Day ticket to see) Sunday – East Plaza and West Plaza
For the first time in Batman franchise history, witness six Batmobiles and the Bat-Pod as they embark on a tour of sporting events across America prior to the December 4th home entertainment release of The Dark Knight Rises, the final film in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
The Dark Knight Rises Blu-ray Combo Pack includes “The Batmobile” documentary, an hour-long in-depth look into every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal.
- 10/25/2012
- by THE LEGION fan network
- Legions of Gotham
The link-sharing website's demise at the hands of the content industry's pitbull has set more than one precedent
Anton Vickerman probably didn't want to enter the history books in this way. As the founder of surfthechannel.com, a website that provided links to TV and film content – in a significant number of cases, unlicensed and illicit – the 38-year-old last week became the first person in Britain to be jailed for running a site linking to pirate material. He was jailed for four years after a private prosecution brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft, Aka Fact, funded by the TV and film industries.
In a furious 18,000-word commentary on his website, Vickerman says a lawyer had advised him that Surfthechannel was legal. Fact, he alleges, behaved like a private police force – with employees and private investigators using subterfuge to get hold of personal information. But worse: it acted without oversight...
Anton Vickerman probably didn't want to enter the history books in this way. As the founder of surfthechannel.com, a website that provided links to TV and film content – in a significant number of cases, unlicensed and illicit – the 38-year-old last week became the first person in Britain to be jailed for running a site linking to pirate material. He was jailed for four years after a private prosecution brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft, Aka Fact, funded by the TV and film industries.
In a furious 18,000-word commentary on his website, Vickerman says a lawyer had advised him that Surfthechannel was legal. Fact, he alleges, behaved like a private police force – with employees and private investigators using subterfuge to get hold of personal information. But worse: it acted without oversight...
- 8/19/2012
- by Charles Arthur
- The Guardian - Film News
Anton Vickerman, who has been sentenced to four years in jail, alleges Federation Against Copyright Theft made false claims
Anton Vickerman, the Briton sentenced this week to four years in jail for running a website that linked to pirated Us TV and film content, has launched an 18,000 word attack on the anti-piracy organisation that ran a private prosecution against him.
The 38-year-old from Gateshead complained about the evidence-gathering methods of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact). Film-industry financed Fact filmed inside his home – with one of its agents posing as a prospective house buyer – and obtained evidence at a meeting where another Fact operative posed undercover as an investor in his website.
Vickerman, wrote: "By the time you read this I will be starting my new life behind bars." He claimed that Fact initially wrongly complained to police that he was criminally distributing DVDs from his home, and encouraged a...
Anton Vickerman, the Briton sentenced this week to four years in jail for running a website that linked to pirated Us TV and film content, has launched an 18,000 word attack on the anti-piracy organisation that ran a private prosecution against him.
The 38-year-old from Gateshead complained about the evidence-gathering methods of the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact). Film-industry financed Fact filmed inside his home – with one of its agents posing as a prospective house buyer – and obtained evidence at a meeting where another Fact operative posed undercover as an investor in his website.
Vickerman, wrote: "By the time you read this I will be starting my new life behind bars." He claimed that Fact initially wrongly complained to police that he was criminally distributing DVDs from his home, and encouraged a...
- 8/16/2012
- by Charles Arthur
- The Guardian - Film News
"Ready, Set, Fund," is a column about crowdfunding and related fundraising endeavors for Austin and Texas independent film projects.
As the "Live Music Capital of the World," Austin has no shortage of musicians onstage nightly in live music venues, whether it be a jazz lounge, rock club or country/western bar. Often bands can make as much if not more on merchandise sales than on the take from the door, especially if they have extra help behind the merch table. Texas honky-tonk musician John Evans relies on his 18-year-old daughter Abbie (seen above) to fill that role, especially on the road -- despite the challenges as Abbie suffers from the incurable and often painful skin disease epidermolysis bullosa.
Director/producer Cary Bell and editor/producer Jessica Miller document Abbie's coming of age as a self-confident and passionate young woman in Merch Girl, which is currently funding through Thursday, August 23 on Kickstarter.
As the "Live Music Capital of the World," Austin has no shortage of musicians onstage nightly in live music venues, whether it be a jazz lounge, rock club or country/western bar. Often bands can make as much if not more on merchandise sales than on the take from the door, especially if they have extra help behind the merch table. Texas honky-tonk musician John Evans relies on his 18-year-old daughter Abbie (seen above) to fill that role, especially on the road -- despite the challenges as Abbie suffers from the incurable and often painful skin disease epidermolysis bullosa.
Director/producer Cary Bell and editor/producer Jessica Miller document Abbie's coming of age as a self-confident and passionate young woman in Merch Girl, which is currently funding through Thursday, August 23 on Kickstarter.
- 7/18/2012
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Photograph by Robyn Twomey
Jack Abraham sold his startup to eBay for $75 million. Now all he has to do is help the e-commerce giant redefine the future of retailing.
At The Moment when most boys are plotting how to launch gum into a classmate's braids, 12-year-old Jack Abraham was hired by his father. It was 1999. Magid Abraham already had a habit of defying convention: He had escaped the farming life of his Lebanese parents by way of an engineering scholarship to Ecole Polytechnique in France, then had turned down the opportunity to become a nuclear physicist in Europe to get his Mba and PhD from MIT. Now Magid was setting out to defy all those sensible things he'd learned in business school. His ludicrous goal was to measure all the data on the web, with Jack as one of his software coders. "From a young age, Jack always had the...
Jack Abraham sold his startup to eBay for $75 million. Now all he has to do is help the e-commerce giant redefine the future of retailing.
At The Moment when most boys are plotting how to launch gum into a classmate's braids, 12-year-old Jack Abraham was hired by his father. It was 1999. Magid Abraham already had a habit of defying convention: He had escaped the farming life of his Lebanese parents by way of an engineering scholarship to Ecole Polytechnique in France, then had turned down the opportunity to become a nuclear physicist in Europe to get his Mba and PhD from MIT. Now Magid was setting out to defy all those sensible things he'd learned in business school. His ludicrous goal was to measure all the data on the web, with Jack as one of his software coders. "From a young age, Jack always had the...
- 7/5/2011
- by Danielle Sacks
- Fast Company
Despite the fact that he failed to impress David Hasselhoff with his strong man act, John Evans managed to make it past the initial judges rounds on britain’s Got Talent.
The 64 year old retired builder tried out for the panel in Manchester and impressed Amanda Holden and Michael McIntyre by balancing 20 huge yellow buckets on his head, while dancing and slapping his belly in time to Eye Of The Tiger.
The Hoff seemed non-plussed by the routine and afterwards asked:
That’s it? The act is balancing yellow buckets on your head?
However, TV funnyman Michael was more impressed and told John:
David, this is Britain, you need to lower your expectations. The audience obviously enjoy the buckets on the head act and I can’t deny that I am desperate to see you balance more things on your head
After getting two yeses from Michael and Amanda, John...
The 64 year old retired builder tried out for the panel in Manchester and impressed Amanda Holden and Michael McIntyre by balancing 20 huge yellow buckets on his head, while dancing and slapping his belly in time to Eye Of The Tiger.
The Hoff seemed non-plussed by the routine and afterwards asked:
That’s it? The act is balancing yellow buckets on your head?
However, TV funnyman Michael was more impressed and told John:
David, this is Britain, you need to lower your expectations. The audience obviously enjoy the buckets on the head act and I can’t deny that I am desperate to see you balance more things on your head
After getting two yeses from Michael and Amanda, John...
- 5/14/2011
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
John Evans is strong, we can’t deny that, however it seems that his physical prowess alone wasn’t enough to wow David Hasselhoff when he tried out for Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year.
The 64 year old retired builder showed up in Manchester and explaining his act to Ant and Dec said:
‘On the building site you can only get 12 bricks in the hod, so I developed this technique where I could stack 20 bricks, lift them up and put them on my head and run up the ladders all day long. Today I’m going to balance some gorilla tubs on my head. I’m going to balance 20 on my head. The equivalent weight is something like 18 stone on my head. Nobody else in the world can do what I do. It would mean such a lot to my life to perform in the Royal Variety Show.’
He...
The 64 year old retired builder showed up in Manchester and explaining his act to Ant and Dec said:
‘On the building site you can only get 12 bricks in the hod, so I developed this technique where I could stack 20 bricks, lift them up and put them on my head and run up the ladders all day long. Today I’m going to balance some gorilla tubs on my head. I’m going to balance 20 on my head. The equivalent weight is something like 18 stone on my head. Nobody else in the world can do what I do. It would mean such a lot to my life to perform in the Royal Variety Show.’
He...
- 5/13/2011
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff will show how different their tastes are on tonight’s Britain’s Got Talent show.
The pair just can’t seem to agree on any acts, starting with strongman bucket lifter John Evans and continuing through the audition of singing driving instructor Chris.
After the wannabe sings Billy Joel’s Just the way You Are, Michael mused:
“I was just wondering whether it’s a really good karaoke, where everybody says ‘you’re really amazing’ or whether you’re actually a good enough singer or whether you’re just really good at nailing that on karaoke night.”
David looked incredulous and asked:
What? So do you like him?
Michael replied:
Yes I liked him but do I like him enough?
The exasperated Baywatch star went on:
So, good on karaoke night or just good?
He added to Chris:
You did a fantastic job, much better than karaoke.
The pair just can’t seem to agree on any acts, starting with strongman bucket lifter John Evans and continuing through the audition of singing driving instructor Chris.
After the wannabe sings Billy Joel’s Just the way You Are, Michael mused:
“I was just wondering whether it’s a really good karaoke, where everybody says ‘you’re really amazing’ or whether you’re actually a good enough singer or whether you’re just really good at nailing that on karaoke night.”
David looked incredulous and asked:
What? So do you like him?
Michael replied:
Yes I liked him but do I like him enough?
The exasperated Baywatch star went on:
So, good on karaoke night or just good?
He added to Chris:
You did a fantastic job, much better than karaoke.
- 5/13/2011
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
It’s being reported that President Bill Clinton may take an even greater and more permanent role in Haiti’s recovery. Ideas are being floated to establish the Interim Haiti Recovery commission to oversee the country’s recovery over the next 18 months. The commission would be headed by the Haitian prime minister and “a distinguished senior international figure engaged in the recovery effort.” Sounds like Clinton. Hopefully he wasn’t enjoying his retirement too much. On Monday, President Jimmy Carter was in Ghana meeting with Ghana’s president, John Evans Atta Mills. Carter is in Ghana to kick off a three-day African Regional Conference on the Right and Access to Information. President Mills praised Carter for his work with the Carter Foundation, which helped oversee last year’s general election. As President Mills said, “The very mention of the Carter Foundation send shivers down the spine of those who intend to cheat.
- 2/11/2010
- Vanity Fair
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