Who Is Lydia Loveless?

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.

I watched a special screening of this film (so I had no exposure yet to all the extras on the DVD itself). When the credits ended I had to stay seated for a few minutes just to absorb the energy and feelings I had.

If you're already familiar with Lydia Loveless, the live music alone is worth the cost of admission ("More Like Them" gives me chills every time I hear it). If you're NOT familiar with Lydia - or you are but only in a small way - you will learn so much about her, and the band. But this documentary is SO much more than that.

It's a study of the way a "family" of five band members holds things together while maintaining individual identities.

It's a lesson in the economics of music, and the differences between being a "star" and being an artist and a critics favorite and making enough money to live.

It's a beautiful peek into the process of how pages of scribbled lyrics becomes a song, and then a different song, and then a completely different song...and then in the studio it takes shape into a work of art.

It's a diary of how Lydia Loveless has grown from a teenager just wanting to please everyone to a woman who has learned allowing input and ideas from her band is not a criticism of her craft.

Gorman Bechard has done some great work in the past, but this is the finest documentary he has ever filmed. The interviews are relaxed and off-the-cuff while maintaining honesty. You're really just watching conversations, not self-aware canned answers to obvious questions. The live music is as powerful as if you were standing in the audience. And like all great documentaries, so much of what you learn is simply shown to you instead of spoken. The film is an experience, not a lecture or a history lesson.

Lydia Loveless is an amazingly talented person, and the Patron Saint of the Socially Awkward. When I wasn't feeling my heart pulled out I was laughing hard and loud. And sometimes I was doing both.

I've ordered a copy for myself plus copies for gifts. I've already seen the film, and I'm still counting the days until the DVD is released. That's not just because of the long list of extra material I want to enjoy. It's mainly because I desperately want to watch this again.

Buy this film. Watch this film. Love this film. And when you play it, play it LOUD.

Update: Now that I have the DVD in-hand, I can also say the extras are tremendous. After you've watched the movie, make sure you enjoy the commentary track between Gorman and Lydia, as well as all the other bonus material. Too often the bonus features are ignored by the casual viewer. Don't make that mistake!

Gorman Bechard is a documenter of those that history has forgotten and those it has not yet discovered. He finds creative ways of working his way into an artist's life like a puppy. Hanging around long enough to be endearing, and then long enough to become a part of the furniture. The truths start to boil to the surface and we get to see the true face of the artist. It helps that Lydia is a powerful songwriter and performer. If you haven't heard of Lydia before seeing this film, by the end you'll feel like you've known her for a very long time.

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.

This movie rocks. No, really it literally rocks. Lydia's amazing talent is reason enough to see this movie but the behind the scenes look into an upcoming star is fascinating, funny and moving. Gorman does an excellent job of showing how this unlikely cast of characters came together to make some truly inspirational music. Lydia's talent is clearly the driving force behind the band but it is very interesting to see each members roll and how they have become a family. The concert footage is some of the best I have ever seen. It Makes you want to jump in a car and follow Lydia around. There is also some great comic relief from the band mates and animation. Bottom line, Lydia is a bad ass and this movie is a must see for all music lovers.