Who Is Lydia Loveless?

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!

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.

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 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.

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.