Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone | |
---|---|
![]() Film poster | |
Directed by | Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler |
Starring | John Norwood Fisher Angelo Moore |
Narrated by | Laurence Fishburne |
Music by | Fishbone |
Distributed by | Pale Griot Film Cinema Guild |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is a 2010 American independent documentary film about the U.S. alternative rock band Fishbone. [1] [2] Co-produced [3] and co-directed by Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler, [4] [5] and narrated by actor Laurence Fishburne, [6] [7] The film is listed on the 100 Best Documentaries as ranked by Rotten Tomatoes coming in at #74. [8]
Everyday Sunshine is a rock documentary [9] [10] that recounts Fishbone's near breakthrough. [11] It chronicles the birth of the band, [12] its highs and lows, [13] [5] and its influence on other bands. [12] The film centers on the partnership between founding members Norwood Fisher and Angelo Moore, and their struggle to keep Fishbone going. [1] [11] Everyday Sunshine features interviews with members of the band, [14] [9] footage of the band performing live, [3] [7] [12] and incorporates interviews with their friends and colleagues, [13] including Les Claypool, [15] George Clinton, [13] [10] Perry Farrell, [9] [12] Flea, [14] [12] Bob Forrest, [9] Eugene Hütz, [11] Ice-T, [9] [10] Branford Marsalis, [14] [10] Questlove, [15] [11] Tim Robbins, [12] Gwen Stefani, [14] [10] and Mike Watt. [14] The band's origin story is told in animated flashbacks in the visual style of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids . [11]
Everyday Sunshine had its world premiere during the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, on June 19, 2010 followed by a semi-acoustic performance reuniting three of Fishbone's original members Chris Dowd, Norwood Fisher, and Dirty Walt. [16] [14] This premiere helped mark Fishbone's 25th anniversary whose EP first debuted in 1985. [15]
After screening at SXSW and more than 150 film festivals around the world the film opened in select theaters on October 7, 2011 and continued to screen theatrically throughout the United States and Canada until the Spring of 2012.
A shorter, more historically themed version of the film aired on American Public Television's AfroPoP series hosted by stand-up comedian Wyatt Cenac, along with occasional broadcasts on the PBS TV station KQED documentary series Truly, CA.
In honor of Black History Month Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone debuted exclusively on iTunes on February 1, 2012 followed by a DVD release by the home video distributor, The Cinema Guild, on February 21, 2012.
In addition to interviews on MTV and with Tavis Smiley for promotion of the film's release the band performed on ABC's late-night talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on January 30, 2012 and Fishbone's lead singer Angelo Moore was a musical guest on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on June 27, 2012.
The film was critically acclaimed. [15] At Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 100% score, with an average rating of 7.40/10, based on 48 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is an entertaining, heartwarming, and balanced documentary about the influential Los Angeles band." [17] It was Rotten Tomatoes' highest scoring movie of 2011. [18] At Metacritic it has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 16 reviews. [19]
The New Yorker 's Ben Greenman wrote, "Perceptive, plainspoken, frequently gripping... Many bands have a might-have-been story, but few have a story that reflects such rich and paradoxical ideas." [20] The Portland Mercury's Ned Lannamann called it "One of the best music documentaries, period." [21]
Fishbone is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1979, the band plays a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. AllMusic has described the group as "one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s. With their hyperactive, self-conscious diversity, goofy sense of humor, and sharp social commentary, the group gained a sizable cult following".
Purple Onion is the debut studio album by The Les Claypool Frog Brigade, released on September 24, 2002. It followed two live releases by the band, and is the first release of the Frog Brigade's original compositions. While the Brigade regulars are consistent on much of the record such as Jay Lane, Eenor Wildeboar, Skerik and new percussionist Mike "Tree Frog" Dillon, many special guests appear on the album as well. Guests on multiple tracks include Ben Barnes and Sam Bass. "D's Diner," a tribute to a Sebastopol, California restaurant, features sitar player Gabby La La in addition to the triple-bass onslaught of Claypool, Norwood Fisher (Fishbone) and Lonnie Marshall. Warren Haynes adds slide guitar on the "Buzzards of Green Hill" and Fish Fisher guests on "Whamola." "Whamola" was a live show staple named after the unique instrument Les employs—a one-string bass played with a drumstick. The song later appeared as a remix for the theme of South Park Season 10. "Barrington Hall" is a tribute to the UC Berkeley student housing known in the 1960s-1980s for counterculture. Purple Onion was released on vinyl for the first time on November 24, 2009.
Truth and Soul is the second studio album by American rock band Fishbone. It was released on September 13, 1988. As is typical of the band's history of music the album features a wide array of genres including punk, ska, reggae, soul, funk, and blues. Additionally, Truth and Soul includes the band's earliest foray into hard rock and heavy metal. The album begins with a cover version of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead", originally from the soundtrack to the film Super Fly.
Gogol Bordello is an American punk rock band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, formed in 1999 by musicians from all over the world and known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring. Much of the band's sound is inspired by Romani and Ukrainian music mixed with punk and dub, incorporating accordion and violin.
The Reality of My Surroundings is the third studio album by the American rock band Fishbone, released on April 23, 1991 through Columbia Records. It was their first album to include former Miles Davis music director John Bigham, who joined in 1989 during the Truth and Soul tour.
Eugene Hütz is a Ukrainian-born singer, composer, disc jockey and actor, most notable as the frontman of the Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello.
In Your Face is the debut studio album by American rock band Fishbone, released in November 1986. It is the band's second major label release for Columbia Records following their self-titled EP from the previous year.
Fishbone is the recording debut of alternative group Fishbone. This six-song EP was released in 1985 and captures the band at the height of their early funk/ska era. The track "Party at Ground Zero" remains one of the band's most popular tracks.
Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fishbone. It was the last album to feature all six original members, as guitarist Kendall Jones left the band a few months after the album's release, and keyboardist/trombonist Chris Dowd would leave the next year.
Chim Chim's Badass Revenge is the fifth full-length album and concept album from alternative rock band Fishbone. It was Fishbone's first studio album in three years following the departure of founding members Kendall Jones and Chris Dowd and the band being dropped by Sony Records. It was also their last album with founding member Philip "Fish" Fisher, who would leave the band two years later.
Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Friendliest Psychosis of All is a three-song EP released by alternative rock band Fishbone in 2002. It features original outtakes from their 2000 album Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx, with cameos from funk pioneer George Clinton, Primus bass guitarist Les Claypool and comedic singer Blowfly.
Critical Times – Fishbone's Hen House Sessions is a 2001 DVD release by Fishbone recorded at Hen House Studios, a free community recording studio in Venice, California.
Eric McFadden is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter from San Francisco.
Filth and Wisdom is a 2008 British comedy-drama film directed by Madonna, starring Eugene Hütz, Holly Weston, Vicky McClure and Richard E. Grant. It was filmed on location in London, England, from 14 to 29 May 2007. Locations included two actual strip clubs in Hammersmith and Swiss Cottage; both owned by the Secrets Clubs chain. Additional scenes were shot in July 2007.
Chris Metzler is an American film director known for documentaries. His documentary Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone (2010) is listed in the 100 Best Documentaries ranked by the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes
The Wrecking Crew is an American documentary film directed by Denny Tedesco, son of guitarist Tommy Tedesco. It covers the story of the Los Angeles–based group of session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, famed for having played on numerous hit recordings throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. The film premiered at the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival.
Fishbone Live is the first officially released live album of Fishbone. It contains a 5.1 DVD with companion audio CD of a show filmed April 23, 2008 in Bordeaux, France. It was released worldwide on May 10, 2009. In 2010, the album was pressed on double picture disc vinyl and is for sale via the band's website.
Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque. From 1992 to 1995 he led the Tonight Show Band.
The Amazing Nina Simone is a 2015 American documentary film by director Jeff L. Lieberman. The film details the life, legacy and musical accomplishments of singer, musician, pianist, songwriter and Civil Rights activist, Nina Simone through interviews with over 50 of her friends, family, band members, lovers and fellow activists. The film has been called the best of the three Nina Simone films by The New Yorker, and "The Nina Simone film we should all be watching" by Blavity.