Recently, at least two new documentaries focused on “the greatest generation” of Rock and Roll have debuted and both are highly recommended! I was privileged to see both of these documentaries on the big screen at the Charleston Music Hall (SC), along with a great sound system. Since it is the Fiftieth Anniversary of Woodstock, allow me to start with the Woodstock doc.

Woodstock: Three days that defined a generation is a behind the scenes look into what it took to make the festival a reality. It also shone the light on the methods used to overcome the tremendous, unexpected challenges of putting on a festival at that time. The stories told dealt with the seemingly overwhelming crises’ that popped up and how they were overcome. One story that fascinated me was the monumental task of feeding everyone that weekend. I would imagine from observing the crowd that most did not plan to bring in enough food, water and similar provisions to take them through the three plus days of the festival. Although I knew the movie and albums well, it’s the story of how this idea was hatched, the hurdles they successfully jumped and those where they stumbled and fell that captured the audience’s attention.

I have seen the original Woodstock movie several times over the decades and remember the great musical moments that created careers for so many artists. This new doc puts the flesh on the bones, as the saying goes.  Once you have seen this movie, you will know ‘the rest of the story’, as Paul Harvey would lament.

Echo in the Canyon tells the story of the inhabitants of Laurel Canyon (CA) in the sixties and Seventies. The epicenter of the rock music scene was to be found in this picturesque valley, on the outskirts of Los Angeles.  The host for this movie is Jacob Dylan, Bob’s famous son. He assembled a band that also featured Beck, Fiona Apple, Norah Jones and introducing Jade Castrinos, they recreated the wonderful music that flowed from this canyon back in those days.

The movie intertwines the story of how the Laurel Canyon became the address for so many of rock’s greatest artists and musicians.  There is a treasure trove of film capturing the magical moments making this music while the producers interspersed these clips with present day interviews, telling the story from an eyewitness standpoint. If you enjoy the music of Tom Petty, the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Mamas and Papas, Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, the Eagles, Monkees, John Sebastian and more, this is your movie. There are great stories told in this movie. Some of my favorite memories include Tom Petty, Michelle Phillips, Ringo Starr, David Crosby and Jackson Browne, to name but a few. So if this sounds like the soundtrack to your youth, make sure you see it soon!

#echointhecanyon # Woodstock:threedaysthatdefinedageneration #charlestonmusichall  

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