Who Is Lydia Loveless?

I caught this movie as part of the Boston Independent a Film Festival this year (2016). There are documentaries that make you think about the subject for the few hours after you see it, there are documentaries that are well done but don't inspire discussion, and then there are documentaries that force you to immerse yourself in the subject at hand. Gorman Bechard's latest rock doc falls into the last category. At least once a day I find myself thinking back to some part of this movie.

The story focuses on the lifeblood of a working musician-recording and touring. Excellent interviews with Lydia and her band throughout give us the answer to this question. Like most subjects there is not just one answer you will come away from the movie with an appreciation for the challenges it takes to be an artist in a world which appears to put less value on art.

I loved this documentary for baring all the Heat & Soul and Warts and all of Lydia. I was pleasantly surprise on how each band member was featured & how much they contribute to the overall sound and spirit of Lydia Loveless the band. They fellow musicians are not only talented in their own right, but downright Funny!! Lydia herself was quite candid in this documentary and you get to see what makes her tick, come along for the ride in the songwriter process and party after the show with the band. One thing I did learn for sure from this documentary is that you cannot put Lydia Loveless in a box, she will scratch & kick her way out of it. A Must watch for true Rock N Roll Fans and for those of us who keep hoping for a Carson Drew Reunion.

Coney

I'll be honest – I attended the screening in Raleigh for the solo performance after the movie. At live shows, Lydia's amazing vocals are often overwhelmed by the mix of her band, so eight hours of travel was well worth hearing her solo.

I was initially skeptical of a movie about her – at just 25 years old, exactly how do you fill almost two hours of screen time??? But I came away really impressed. The movie is extremely well constructed, with artifices and devices that move the story in an interesting way. The scrapbook motif was brilliant, although the "super heroes" could have been left on the cutting room floor.

Even if you have no idea who Lydia Loveless is (your loss), this movie is put together in a way that will draw you in.

I absolutely loved this documentary of Lydia Loveless, which I saw at an Chicago film festival.

Loveless' music is pretty well known among fans of Alt-Country/Americana rock, but aside from her reputation for solidly written songs and frequently messy but very enjoyable shows, I don't think there's been as deep a dive into what makes her tick as this film provides.

Intimidating and adorable all at once, Loveless comes across as ridiculously smart, which I don't think I'd know unless I saw the film. Her lyrics are very clever, and this film does a fantastic job of showing the viewer from which parts of her personal history that cleverness comes from.

There are tons of well-shot and exciting performances throughout the film, and without giving away too much, the film nears it's close documenting a performance of Loveless' "Boy Crazy" that is completely intense, surprising, and enthralling. I've watched a zillion rock docs, and this particular song performance is one of the most compelling 7 or 8 minutes I've seen in such a film.

Can't wait for this one to become available online or DVD so I can share with friends.

Being a fan of Lydia's music I was certainly predisposed to like this film. The filmmaker brought so much more to the party, with the visual treats of the funny animation and the photo albums for example. The style reminded me of other docs like 'We Jam Econo' but has its own flair. The biggest charm of course is Lydia herself. Admittedly slightly alienated from society yet at the same time very charismatic, the push-pull dynamic of her is fascinating. Her band mates are fantastic supporting players in every way.

This film goes into my highest echelon of music documentaries. I look forward to seeing Gorman's other films.