The world of rock n roll is notorious for quick flashes and burn outs. Young amazing talents find fame and fortune without the wherewithal to handle the intense pressure and adulation. Normal self esteem can't handle the pressure the lifestyle of music, partying and still having to produce the work that will sell. An urban myth has been growing with the famous living fast dying young and sometimes leaving a beautiful corpse at the age of 27. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Jopin, Jim Morrison, Robert Johnson, Brian Jones and most recently Amy Winehouse. This film directed and written by Scott Rosenbaum was made in 2009 way before that latest tragedy occurred, but it's a reminder that these unfortunate legends still occur.
The lead singer of the 90's band The Lost Souls is living isolation in his father's house in Oyster Bay, Long Island 20 years after the band broke up. Revolver rock writer Clifton Hanger (Lukas Haas) has been invited by Spyder (Kevin Segers) to hear the story of the last days of the band. After a blockbuster debut album using the songs of his childhood friend Eric Genson (Jason Ritter), their sophomore album written by Spyder flops. The record label wants a third and they have 2 weeks to get it done. Spyder all eyeliner no shirt rock god comes back to Long Island to recruit Eric now a school music teacher. He will go under the condition they travel with August West (Peter Fonda) the former manager for his dad a late great punk rock guitar legend from the 70's. The Lost Souls manager Rose Atropos (Taryn Manning) is not too thrilled with this deal because the clock is ticking on their careers. However when she hears Eric play guitar she falls for Eric. Traveling down Route 66 playing gigs while the old friends confront some emotional baggage along the way.
Spyder narrates the story to the rock journalist describing the trip as “I was on this dysfunctional family road trip down a road that didn't even exist”. Between the episodic adventures at each stop on their journey are musical performance interludes that included the real voice of Kevin Segers and the authentic guitar styling of Jason Ritter. The big bonding scene is the impromptu jam session with blues legends Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Sugar Blue, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, and Bob Stroger wishing they had spent more time playing music there. The soundtrack includes songs by Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Iggy & The Stooges, Alice in Chains, Muddy Waters, The Violent Femmes, Howlin' Wolf, Jane's Addiction, and many more.
At one point the journalist asks “who is Eric Genson?” and that maybe going through your mind as you watch this film. Supposedly these are two best friends, but we don't really know that until some blink or you will miss them flashback during the last act. Spyder doesn't really treat Eric very nice, and why is Eric going along when his friend stole is his music and got famous from it, and is using him again to write the songs for the next album. Rose the manager spends some time on the phones, but mostly just hangs all over Eric. Taryn Mannings needs to have a movie of her own one day with that sexy husky voice and killer body. The other band members you don't even get to know. There's the typical road movie, some hijinks, some music, some conflict. There's the big scene in the last actto explain the third album and maybe why Eric is living like a hermit if you still care at that point. On the bright side, it's got Peter Fonda in it.
(Review by reesa)
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