iPhone Capture #1
The boys engage in an impromptu hoe-down 

after the encore in Chattanooga on 11-27-10...

It was at the age of 25, after writing this song- 'Scarred But Smarter'- that Kevn Kinney became convinced that he could write songs for a living. My documentary research says that understanding this song is the key to understanding this man.

Kevn Kinney- Scarred But Smarter/Truckstop Montage

Kevn Kinney explains the Truck Stop concept & 
sings an acoustic version of 'Scarred But Smarter' 
through a montage of the night's imagery.

DnC Movie Extra from Eric Von Haessler on Vimeo.

Only a few choice shots from this actually make it into the movie 'The Great American Band'- but I thought I'd throw this longer form piece out there to show just how close the guys allow me to get with my camera while they perform. You can see that Kevn backs up not knowing I'm there- then I brush into Tim, during a critical part of the song, as I pass by. The great thing is that no one has ever complained about me being in the way (not to my face anyway). That's why the live performances in the movie look different. I'm trying to put the viewer right in the middle of a great rock band while they're chugging away. That's the goal.

The opening number from Drivin N Cryin at Chastain Park Amphitheater in Atlanta, GA. on 08-13-10.
This is long-form footage shot for the upcoming documentary-
The Great American Band: DnC@25.

I've been catching up on editing from raw footage this week.
Found this gem:
This Town (Sound Check 7/3/10)


After noodling about for awhile Kevn starts this song in earnest & the true sound check begins as the rest of the band make their way to the stage & Mac works out an issue with his guitar. In the first few seconds look for Tim Nielsen exiting to take his kids back to the hotel. The next time you see him he's on stage playing the song. It's like magic!

A bit of a spat concerning the title of the movie broke out on the You Tube page where the trailer is featured. I copied the back and forth and added my comments at the end.
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RawYetTender:
It's hard to claim "The Great American Band" when you don't tour outside of the bible belt of America. A new album came out half a year ago and they have yet to leave the southeast. The title should be, "The Great Southeastern Band".

Love the music, love KK, love the band... just get out the corner and tour!
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tdssportsvideo
@RawYetTender
Don't comment if you don't know what you're talking about. They were up in NY and Massachusetts in November 2009 soon after the release of the new album.. Great shows. Great band.
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RawYetTender:
excuse me... the east coast then.

haven't seen them in Milwaukie, Chicago, St Louis, Denver, SLC, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, do I need to go on???

Kevn tours predominately the Southeast, and makes his way to Amsterdam every year or so... they rarely play outside of the Southeast or along the East Coast. My claim that they are the Great Southeast Band still rings true. Get on the road and see America!!!
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ericvon:
This is a cool dust up- so let me weigh in on it.

RawYetTender's argument is a sound one. The southern identity of the group (pro & con) is covered in the documentary. Kevn has his opinion and others in and around the band express their feelings about it as well. So the criticism as such is legitimate, but it misses the point of the working title of the movie.

The title doesn't presuppose the band is America's band in the way the Dallas Cowboys used to be known as America's team. Rather, the name is meant to be provocative. It's a thesis statement that the movie will then back up with evidence. In other words, the movie is making the case that Drivin n Cryin is the Great American Band. The qualities spotlighted are presented as intrinsic to the character, style, and journey of the members, individually and collectively, through the last 25 years.

As to the cities rattled off that rarely, if ever, see a Drivin n Cryin show- again I concede. But all four current members of the band are lifetime musicians. All have been in various bands since their teen years and all have seen this country inside out. Kevn is from Milwaukee and lived there until he moved to Atlanta at the age of 20. The whole country may not know these guys- but these guys know the whole country.

But let's not get too serious. I promise this movie will bear no resemblance to a VH1 Behind The Scenes special. When I was a kid rock and roll movies would show up at the theater every once in awhile and I loved them because it was kind of like hanging out with the group for a couple hours. This movie will tell the story, including the good and bad, but mostly it celebrates great music by a great band- and the audience is invited to join in the celebration.

Now- we have to be patient. We are only halfway through the documented year. The movie won't be finished till next year.

eric

Here is the first trailer for the documentary:

DnC on CBS @6AM