I admit it, before today I'd never really heard The Airborne Toxic Event's music, but after watching their part documentary part concert film All I Ever Wanted,I now confess I'm a fan.
The film is a behind the scenes look at the preparation that went into their December 2009 Walt Disney Concert Hall show as well as footage of the show in question. Hailing from Loz Feliz, Los Angeles The Airborne Toxic Event formed in 2006, released an album in 2008 which sold in hundreds of thousands of copies, achieved iTunes 1# Alternative Song of the Year with "Sometime Around Midnight", played sold out shows for two years and played a sold out show at the 2265 seater Walt Disney Concert Hall for their homecoming gig. I think it's safe to say this band are making it big.
The film switches between clips of black & white behind the scenes footage to songs of the concert and it's not long before we're treated to the first song of the show. The Calder Quartet which includes band member Anna's brother take to the stage and begin playing, The Airborne Toxic Event join them not long after with singer Mikel Jollet leading the group on the halls giant organ. They exchange excited glances at each other throughout the opening song which say "Is this really happening?" Every time a song is shown from the concert the film bursts from black and white into colour which gives the performance and songs energy and life. There's a tearjerker moment at the beginning of the second song as Mikel reveals that exactly a week before the concert his grandmother, who was looking forward to attending the show, sadly died. The band play a Magnetic Fields song The Book of Love and dedicate it to Mikels grandmother as he played it to her not long before. It's moments like this in the film which show the band made up of Mikel Jollet, Steven Chen, Noah Harmon, Daren Taylor and Anna Bulbrook as they are, as genuine talented people. They don't show off about their success and there's no pretension involved, they're very thankful for being given the opportunity to play The Walt Disney Concert Hall and they put everything they have into putting on a great show for the audience. The band wanted to include different musical groups from the East LA area to showcase the different cultures and talent in the area to a wider audience. A high school marching band, a children's choir, an accordionist, horn players, visual artists and traditional Mexican folkorico dancers all join The Airborne Toxic Event during the show and they all add something special, new and unique to each of the bands songs.
The behind the scenes footage is interesting to watch as the viewer realises just how passionate the band are about their music and wanting to put on a great show. Despite not being able to read music Mikel was known to be working around 10 hours a day leading up to the concert, wanting to perfect every aspect of his performance. He and Noah create some inspiring intricate compositions for the string quartet, horn sections and accordionist which sound amazing when all played together at the concert.
Although I can't remember the setlist of the concert or in which order they played them I do know that I had to physically restrain myself from clapping after such songs as Sometime Around Midnight, All I Ever Wanted and Missy, I kept forgetting I was in a cinema and not a gig venue. The bands energy and enthusiasm just seem to explode through the screen, their excitement and passion is very obvious and after the show they're just exhausted after putting on an impeccable performance.
The editing is very well done in the film, it's often fast paced when building up to big moments in songs which creates excitement in the viewer. Director Jon Danovic definitely succeeds in capturing an important moment in the bands career, all shots are very clear and the editing of the songs are put together well. I think the change from black and white to colour footage when the band perform on-stage is clever as it gives extra colour and energy to the film. Having not head The Airborne Toxic Event before viewing the film I think fans of the band will love it and others that haven't heard them may be converted by the end credits like me.
I saw a press preview screening of All I Ever Wanted as part of Raindance Film Festival on 24th September.
