OLD DOG NEW TRICK trailer from Mike Steinberg on Vimeo.
So I have reason to be excited about a pair of rock documentaries opening this Friday at the Saint Louis Film Festival: my former boss, co-editor, writer, neighbor, fellow Kick-Ass Award conspirator and just all-around stellar pal, Thomas Crone, gets credit as co-director. The other half of this equation is the swell Mike Steinberg, who is best known as the director of the Webster Film Series, but has some great documentaries to his credit, including Stan Kann: The Happiest Man in the World and How It Is WIth Phooie.
Old Dog, New Trick (49 min)., follows the career of Pavlov's Dog/REO Speedwagon founder Steve Scorfina "as he balances a life in antiques-dealing with a re-launched career as a blues-rock bandleader, guitarist and vocalist. Scorfina grew up in the garage rock era, came of age in the psychedelic 60s and expanded his repertoire in the exotic fusion of progressive rock. Shaped by the music of his life and misadventures in and out of drugs, relationships and day jobs, Scorfina eventually finds his roots in the St Louis Blues." The Pride of St. Louis (31 min.) follows brothers Pat and Danny Liston, founders of Mama's Pride: "In the mid 1970s the R&B-infused Mama’s Pride garnered huge accolades as the greatest local band in St Louis. Signed to ATCO records by legendary music impresario Ahmet Ertegun, they cut two LPs that featured a sizzling mix of R&B and rural rock. Even with the soulful vocals and clean rock sound, they were unable to break a hit. Eventually their AOR moves left them wallowing in obscurity as disco began to rear it's ugly head. The group has now reunited to popular acclaim, allowing Mama’s Pride an unlikely second act. The film traces their trip to almost fame and explores the key role of the radio station KSHE-95 in breaking album-oriented rock acts during the heyday of freeform FM radio."
I haven't seen the movies yet (I'm hoping to see 'em Friday), but Christian Shaeffer at the RFT has, and you can find his review here. Both films open Friday, November 20, at the Tivoli at 7 p.m. (tix are available at the door, or at the Tivoli's website) and the show's followed by a concert featuring Scorfina and Danny Liston, just down the street at the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill. --Stefene Russell
