THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON A film by Jeff Feuerzeig
PLUS A LIVE ACOUSTIC SET FROM THE MAN HIMSELF
PLUS A LIVE ACOUSTIC SET FROM THE MAN HIMSELF
"Daniel Johnston combines ebullient pop to wonderful sadness in the great tradition of Syd Barett or Brian Wilson. Daniel Johnston is an American treasure."
David Bowie
"He’s my favourite songwriter."
Matt Groening
“When a child hits a piano he makes untainted music, and that's there in Daniel. He goes between extremes of naivety and darkness".
Jason Pierce, Spiritualized
"The most harrowing and aesthetically keen portrait of madness and artistic inspiration since Crumb."
The Onion's AV Club
"One-quarter inspirational, three-quarters nerve-racking"
New York Magazine
Daniel Johnston has spent the last three decades exposing his heartrending tales of unrequited love, cosmic mishaps and existential torment to an ever-growing international cult audience.He is one of the most significant cultural figures in American alternative rock music alive today, having inspired a whole generation of alternative rock icons such as Nirvana, Beck, Flaming Lips, Spiritualized and Wilco. From humble beginnings handing out homemade cassettes to anyone that would listen, his career has spanned over three decades and twenty albums. He has collaborated with Sonic Youth, Sparklehorse, Yo La Tengo, Butthole Surfers and Jad Fair and counts David Bowie, Tom Waits, Matt Groening and Johnny Depp amongst his many fans. Daniel is also the subject of an in depth biography currently being written by notorious British music writer (and current Brisbane resident) Everett True.
As a prolific visual artist Johnston's vibrant sketches have earned him worldwide recognition and critical praise. The comic book-style doodles that used to fill his schoolbooks now hang in galleries all around the world.
For much of his life Johnston has been dogged by struggles with manic depression. His downward spirals and various demons lend added poignancy to Johnston’s heartfelt soul-searching – and are all wildly expressed in his music and art.
Despite these fluctuations, and perhaps because of them, Daniel Johnston has become a true American icon and a pop phenomenon.
In The Devil and Daniel Johnston director Jeff Feuerzeig weaves together vintage performances, home movies, dozens of recorded audiotapes and testimonies from friends and family. Anchored by Johnston’s awe-inspiring music and artwork, the film is a heartrending portrait of madness and genius walking hand in hand.
Winner of the Best Director (documentary) Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2005.
Running time = 110 min.
As a licensed event this screening is 18+.
TUESDAY 2ND FEBRUARY
6PM (SCREENING FIRST, GIG SECOND)
8PM (GIG FIRST, SCREENING SECOND)
ALL PRE-SALES SOLD OUT
VERY LIMITED TIX ON THE DOOR
DOORS OPEN AT 530PM
ACOUSTIC SET AND Q&A STARTS 8PM
SPEAKEASY CINEMA AT 1000 £ BEND
361 LT LONSDALE ST, MELBOURNE
TICKETS
$25 (PRE-SALE)* / $27 (DOOR)
*Pre-sales receive discount voucher for a $12 beer & burger bundle.
Choice of roo or saganaki burger or vegan burrito plus beer or house wine. Payable to the venue on the night.