Customer Reviews

Beulah - A Good Band Is Easy To Kill

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Well put. The title fits many rise and fall acts we have grown to love and had to let go of in some way, based on the 99.9% anticipation factor, praying for a new album each year that never comes. Beulah has been a favorite of mine since 2001. I was turned on by a friend who resides in the California area. My friends were exposed through me. Miles said at one of the first gigs, in so many words, a major label would be a step in the right direction. Based on my relationship with their music, I agree. They were brilliant and should have been more available than the few avenues that had been paved.

This documentary overviews a hard working band on tour with grounded personalities and common sense. It's all about a band on the road living a dream. Seeing a lot of shows myself including Beulah, one thing I enjoyed seeing is how well they treated their fans. It is just refreshing to see fun and business worked out at the right times. Miles taking care of the tour was impressive, and yet he came off collected and cool.

Any fan of this band should own this dvd. It doesn't cover too much drama or turmoil, but demonstrated a lot of heart for an art that sometimes gets the short end of the stick. You don't get one of the band members talking about the history or their influences - it is almost like a nicely shot home movie. Very few shots really acknowledging the camera following them. I appreciated the unique direction. When I laughed, there was a part of me that hoped 'never again' somehow meant 'see you real soon.'

The bonus footage actually includes 17 tunes live and tons of deleted footage.

For those of us who regret the break up of Beulah, the best line in this documentary comes from near the end, where Miles Kurosky states that it might turn out that the guys all miss each other and feel that they have to get together and make another album. We can only hope. The last three albums by Beulah are about as good as any put out by any American band in the past several years and Mile Kurosky as good a songwriter as you can find. One wonders in vain why they didn't manage to be more popular or most successful than they were. Awesome music for some reason just isn't always enough, a fact in part brought home by the band honored by the T-Shirt that Miles wears through much of the film: Big Star. Although Big Star made two albums that are now packaged into what is arguably the greatest disc by an American band ever released (though I am given to hyperbole, that is not an instance of it), #1 RECORD/RADIO CITY, to this day the album has never racked up big sales. Why do these bands fail to make it? I don't want to disrespect Green Day, because they aren't a bad band, but would anyone who really knows music prefer any Green Day album Big Star's classic? I would be stunned if the members of Green Day claimed to be as good a band. And yet, has Big Star sold even one thousandth as many records as Green Day? Something doesn't add up

I have to emphasize that this is a documentary, not a mere collection of live performances. There is a substantial amount of concert footage, but the focus isn't the concerts so much as the entire experience of being on the road. The film follows the San Francisco indie band Beulah's on its last tour. There are several documentaries that chronicle super groups, but very few that covers the host of indie bands that actually provide a majority of the live acts to be found across the country on any given night. Focus of the film is very much on the road itself, and all the tiny irritations and disasters that make being on the road a drag. Absolutely no one, after seeing this, will wonder why any band would break up. What one might wonder is why any band would stay together. Though the collection of film footage of the boys on the road is entertaining, it is crystal clear that actually being on the road is akin to an ingenious form of torture. Anyone interested in alternative or indie music should see this documentary if for no other reason than to get a vivid picture of what life on the road is like.

But though I consider this a must-see for indie fans, I had a couple of complaints with the album. First, unless you already have some sense of who Beulah was, this is going to be a pretty confusing video. Who are these guys? What kind of music do they play? How did they come together? How many albums have they done and how were they received? What kind of following do they have? In other words, the film needed to establish the background, but really didn't manage to do so. I have a few complaints about the scenes actually contained in the movie. But a lot is left out that is simply screaming for inclusion.

My second complaint is that although the primary focus of the film isn't on the performances so much as the band being on the road, there was a lot of music, but music that wasn't very well recorded. Actually, it pretty much sounded like it sounds when you are at a live performance. The truth is that in most clubs the sound is pretty bad in most of the places you can stand in the club. On an autobiographical note this is a major issue for me because at age 12 a neighborhood jerk kid threw a firecracker at me that exploded a couple of inches behind my head, resulting in a traumatic hearing loss in the upper registers. There is a trick to finding the best place in a club to enjoy the sound. Instead of crowding near the stage with the rest of the folks, go stand as close to the sound mixing board as possible. The guy with his hands on the volume is going to balance it for him. But I digress. The point is that most places are not good, and for many of the numbers it seems that the mike recorded the band from spots where the sound didn't balance, so that you can hear all the instruments, but no vocals, or drums and bass, but no guitar. The recording used in the film has more of a you-are-there effect, but it doesn't do the music justice. Only on a few numbers in the film is the utter brilliance of Beulah revealed. For the most part, it sounds like a band with a somewhat muddied sound. Anyone who knows their albums knows that nothing in the world could be further from the truth. These guys formed a very, very tight band with an exceptionally clean sound. This doesn't come across in the film except on rare occasions, one of them being the song that provided the inspiration for the title of the film, "A Good Man is Easy to Kill." That. Number provides some of the most exciting visuals of the entire film. I'm not sure that the film is going to make a lot of people go out and explore their music, though I could be wrong about this. I think it will, however, go over well with people familiar with the band and their music. As extras a number of performances, not all of which were utilized in the film, are included. The sound is not much better for these, but it will provide a better picture of what a super band this is.

I strongly recommend this for anyone who is interested in alternative music. At the end, the vivid picture of how tough it is being on the road will probably lead one to wonder why any band undergoing such an ordeal would stay together. But one will also be grateful that Beulah was able to share with their fans these images from their last tour. Though we can all hope that Miles's pondering from near the end will come to pass. We can indeed hope.

I can't tell you how much I love Beulah. They've been my favorite band for the past few years. From every cd I ever bought (four) to every show I ever saw (three) they were never anything short of amazing. And so I bought this dvd with high expectations and they were definitely exceeded. If only for the included seventeen-song concert, this dvd should be on everybody's must-have list. And at only $13.45, you should be arrested because it's like stealing.

Pretty good! I saw their last ever show at Clinton Castle in NYC and was a bit dissapointed they had no footage from that show. Overall high quality for a DIY doc.....intimate footage and nice road show feeling.....enough spinal tap for fun....certainly worth having if youre a fan of the band.

A couple of things need to be cleared up regarding this DVD:

1. You must understand sarcasm if you are going to understand or appreciate this film. For instance, Miles Kurosky is obviously joking when he says "f@&% Bob Dylan." It's clear that he's trying to get a rise out of the interviewer on the phone. Basically he's doing the exact same thing Dylan did in "Don't Look Back" when talking about Caruso. In punk rock terms it's called killing your idols. Keep in mind a brilliant quote from Kurosky a few years back when he said "Nowadays if you say you're bigger than Jesus it's absolutely meaningless. However, if you say you're bigger than Lennon or Dylan you're entering dangerous territory." He was merely trying to be provocative and dangerous.

2. Without Kurosky as the manic protagonist, and Tim Tunks (lighting guy) as comic relief this dvd would be absolutely and teffically boring. Without the drama and comedy provided by the aforementioned characters, you just have some great songs.

3. The band has always been outspoken with their liberal beliefs. The day the Iraqi war started the band posted a blurb on their website telling everyone to protest in whatever way they feel comfortable, and that they felt apologetic and ashamed for the actions of their president. Hence, to portray the band as anti-Canadian, anti-socialist, flag waving American patriots is completely outrageous. Afterall, we are talking about a band from the most liberal city in the country. Again, Tim Tunks for lack of a better word, was just being a smart aleck. I mean, come on, he was attacked over the aesthetic qualities of the American dollar. Very silly.

Overall, it's a really engaging film and quite revealing. It's apparent the band, especially Kurosky, let the director film everything, warts and all. For that he and the band should be commended, especially when so many bands are worried about their public personas. Because of this the dvd doesn't come off like a lot of other band documentaries ie. wimpy and overly politically correct. It's definitley worth watching especially if you're a fan. If that's the case then it's absolutely mandatory.

It's sad when a review is nothing more than a personal attack. Maybe Miles forgot to tip coug after ordering a latte? That said, some facts need to be established in a world of cougian slander and inaccuracies.

Miles probably authorized this DVD because he thought it was funny, which it is, unless wit, charm and sarcasm are foreign to you. Self absorbed? Hardly. He's just tough on himself and the band after bad shows, and he demands perfection from those he works with...and thank God for that. Otherwise Beulah would've actually just been a lame local band from San Francisco. Without Miles there is no Beulah. Basically you'd have a band that could pull off a 10 minute concert and a mediocre EP. From what I've heard, all the other members of Beulah have been in other bands, made solo records, or performed on other people's records. I've heard a few of these selections as well Yuji Oniki, For Stars, John Vanderlice and I can say I didn't hear fiery flourishes or musical majesty. I'm not saying that Beulah wasn't talented, because they were an amazing band, one of the best indie bands ever. However, to dismiss Miles Kurosky as a hack is not only wrong, it's just plain dumb, and speaks volumes about the reviewer and not Mr. Kurosky.

All of Beulah's songs do not sound the same as those found on HWS unless you LITERALLY think a two piece band consisting of guitar and drums with no vocal harmonies recorded on a cassette sounds the same as a 20 piece orchestra filled with tablas, flute, French horn, trumpet, sitar, piano, vibes, organ, tubular bells, harp etc. recorded on a 16 track. That's not cookie cutter songwriting and production, that's called innovation and evolution. It's true HWS doesn't compare to either Yoko, Heartstrings or Coast, but that was Kurosky's point in the film...not many bands have ever gone through such a progression or metamorphosis, and that's not just his opinion, that's a fact. Most bands make the same record over and over again, Beulah never made the same record twice.

Kurosky built his own band's hype? Yeah, sure...and maybe he also wrote for Magnet, Spin, Entertainment Weekly, NME, NPR, Mojo, among so many others. I wonder if John Peel at the BBC or Conan O'Brien knew this when they booked Beulah for their shows? All I can tell you is that I and the 1,500 people who waited in line at NYC's Battery Park in August 2004 (in the rain no less) believe that Miles and Beulah were something very special and we're glad that their greatness was documented. Personally I cannot understand why anyone would watch a DVD of a band they consider to be sub-par and then give an unfair and personally vindictive review. It's absolutely mystifying. Viva Beulah indeed.

The movie starts off fast with a beautiful rant by Miles, the much-discussed "F--K Bob Dylan" moment. I played this back ten times at least. I'm certain that he's not so much talking about Bob Dylan the man, but Bob Dylan the icon. To believe that Dylan can do no wrong is maddening. To believe that Radiohead can do no wrong is maddening. To believe that John Lennon can do no wrong is maddening. Star worship is maddening. So F--K 'em all. Get it?

There's so much to love about Beulah and about this dvd. Yeah, there's the bonus 17 songs of Beulah concert. Yeah, there's almost half a movie's worth of deleted scenes. But the movie itself is incredible. While Miles does steal the show with his pontificating, everybody shines.

Case in point: when the t-shirt guy lists all the things he does on tour I was laughing so hard I nearly choked. Later, when he shows off everything he owns I again nearly died. But when their roadie poses the question of which member of the Vanderslice band they'd all like to sleep with, that is the funniest thing I've ever seen.

Miles' melancholic statement that closes the movie seals the deal. These bands that we love so much do leave us much too quickly. It's up to us to sieze the day and make sure that we appreciate them--and all beautiful, fleeting things--while they are still here.

I first heard of Beulah in November of 2001 while I was sitting in the Riviera Theatre anxiously awaiting Cake's entrance from behind the stage. No backup band was advertised but, instead of my cowboy hat and white shirt wearing heroes, Beulah emerged. Within ten minutes time, this impatient Cake fan was won over by their performance. Maybe it was the melodies or maybe it was their enthusiasm, but, whatever it was, they were appealing. That weekend, I went out and bought their CD, "The Coast is Never Clear." It was a good purchase because I still listen to it today, and there are numerous albums that I definitely cannot say that about. Due to my high estimation of the band, I was excited to see that a documentary had been released concerning them called
A Good Band Is Easy to Kill. Happily, this weekend I had a chance to view it.

Unfortunately, the movie does not initially make a good impression. During the introduction, the lead guitarist and head of the band, Miles, disrespects Bob Dylan, a man who truly, unlike most of today's entertainers, deserves the title of artist--if not poet. Miles states that his new CD is superior to "Blood on the Tracks." His rationale as to why is most peculiar and more comical than the statement itself. He seems to think that the fact that he put more "emotion" into his work makes it better. Hardly, emotion has no correlation (actually, in my opinion, it has a negative correlation) with musical quality. Miles further offended fans of rock & roll's greatest troubadour by saying "F--- Bob Dylan." I almost turned off the DVD right there.

I'm glad that I didn't though as, despite its inauspicious beginning, it turned out to be an interesting documentary. After the opening thirty minutes of banal equipment moving and tire changing, A Good Band is Easy to Kill improves immensely. Other than Miles, the band, appears to be comprised of mature, authentic, and likable fellows. It's too bad that the lead guitarist gets so much of the spotlight as he's the only one whose personality ever grates, yet, I should mention, that he was the only person who made me to laugh out loud. It was not at him but with him. We overhear a cell phone call he has in which he reports that the rotunda they are supposed to be playing in is actually a "living room." He then grumbles that "a bunch of hippies are having a cooking class in there" and have no intention of clearing out in order to give the band a chance to set up before show time.

The scene in which they get into it with an effete, trendy Canadian is absolutely priceless. The camera pans over to a self-righteous pseudo-intellectual fan who succeeds in spoiling an after concert party by reflexively bashing America for the most irrational of reasons. It seems that all we do is declare wars. Ah, no, there would be tens of millions of people dead today were it not for the food and medical aid with which we provide. Besides, since World War II, what has his government ever done for anybody? Canadian politicians may project themselves as being the conscious of North America, but their leaders don't care about anyone. They can't be relied on to do anything aside from making sure that their citizens are taxed into poverty. At their current rate of spending, they'll achieve third world status before the end of the century. Although, we should all be grateful to Canada for showcasing to the world that socialized medicine is an inefficient, corrupt, people-killing mess.

Anyway, in the scene, one of the Beulah guys points out how irrational the metrosexual's views happen to be as the charlatan hates war but simultaneously wants to declare war upon capitalism. He said, in essence, I think you're a bit confused, war can't be good and bad at the same time. Young Pierre Trudeau had no answers in response. Another band member later remarked that the apartment of their anti-corporate antagonist was entirely furnished by IKEA. Bravo! How many other performers would stand up for our nation under any circumstance? Whatever that number may be, even fewer would ever consent to have their justifications filmed for the sake of posterity.

The strongest parts of the documentary can be found in the live concert sequences. They were entertaining and illustrated Beulah's considerable ability. My favorite scene was when they allowed some 17-year-olds to come in early to observe and participate in the sound check. Their age barred them from actually being present for the show. The youths were ecstatic over their proximity to the band and, upon leaving, were stunned and appreciative. It was a sincere, uncontrived moment. Seeing entertainers take a heartfelt interest in their supporters is always satisfying (and surprising). During their actual concerts, they brought audience members forward to dance and play the tambourine onstage which further indicated this ensemble's dedication to their admirers.

A Good Band is Easy to Kill lacks the polish and intensity of Wilco's I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, but it is stimulating and has something to say.