Calling all country fans: Garth Brooks has just been added to the stacked lineup of speakers for SXSW Music 2017.
The legendary country music star will join Steve Boom, vice president of Amazon Music, in a discussion of music in the digital world. According to SXSW, Boom "spearheaded Amazon's exclusive deal with Garth Brooks to bring the country superstar's music catalog to streaming for the first time ever."
Brooks comes to Austin at the tail-end of a massive tour supporting his 2014 album, Man Against Machine, his first new material in 13 years. What's unconfirmed is whether his keynote will be accompanied by a performance. Brooks has time between March stops in Albany, New York, and Lubbock.
Brooks' keynote conversation is scheduled for Friday, March 17, at the Austin Convention Center, and a new badge structure allows for more SXSW festivalgoers to attend. Primary access will be given to Platinum and Music badgeholders; if there is space left, Interactive and Film guests will be able to attend.
"I'm so excited that the new badge system will empower more of our attendees to discover even more of this great content," says Hugh Forrest, chief programming officer, in a release.
Brooks joins Nile Rodgers and Zane Lowe on the list of SXSW Music keynotes. Recently announced featured speakers include Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, A$AP Ferg, T.I., Mike Bruno, Angela Yee, Charles Attal, Residente, Mike Posner, Warren G, Andre Cymonee, Dez Dickerson, Lou Adler, Paul Tollett, and Scott Goldman.
Neil Diamond — a member of both the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame with 10 No. 1 songs and over 56 million albums sold — is such a music legend that it would be easy to do a straight-up biopic of him. Instead, the new Song Sung Blue — named after Diamond’s 1972 hit song — serves as a shadow Diamond biopic, with his songs showcased through a real-life husband-and-wife tribute act known as Lightning & Thunder.
Based on the 2008 documentary of the same name, the film focuses on Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman), who comes up with the idea for a Diamond-centric act when he meets Claire (Kate Hudson). The duo soon grows in popularity locally in Milwaukee, headlining not just restaurants and bars but also some larger venues. As their legend spreads, they even start to get the attention of the media and bigger names outside of Wisconsin.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a good biopic without a little turbulence, and — without spoiling things — Mike and Claire learn that good times never seemed so good when they face more than their fair share of troubles. The couple endures their ups and downs with the help of their combined family, including children Rachel (Ella Anderson) Angelina (King Princess), and Dana (Hudson Henley), as well as a community of fellow tribute acts.
Written and directed by Craig Brewer (Dolemite is My Name), the film’s appeal lies mainly in the irrepressible enthusiasm of Mike, a man born to entertain if ever there was one. Neither his long-dormant alcoholism nor health problems nor location in the Upper Midwest can stop Mike from demonstrating his showmanship skills. Of course, it helps that he’s portrayed by Jackman, who - despite getting a little long in the tooth — gives every performance his all.
What the story can never quite answer, though, is why this particular couple is worth an entire feature film. Sure, they have a somewhat interesting arc, especially when it coincides with a certain early ‘90s grunge band, but otherwise there’s little that separates them from other tribute acts toiling around the country. Brewer struggles to define them outside of their singing lives, and when things get really bad for them, the emotional connection is at a minimum.
Then there’s the aspect of incorporating Diamond’s music, some of which has endured across the decades more than others. Naturally, “Sweet Caroline” gets a notable showcase, but whither “America” or “Heartlight”? The title song is featured the most often, as Mike uses it to celebrate his yearly “sober birthday,” but it’s not a barnburner. Mike also has an obsession with the relatively obscure "Soolaimón," an odd choice both for him and for the movie to include so much.
Jackman and Hudson have good chemistry together, and when the film puts them together in singing scenes, their bond becomes infectious. Each of them has naturally melodic voices as well, lending an extra boost to that part of the film. Supporting actors like Anderson, King Princess, Michael Imperioli, and Fisher Stevens complement them well, but Jim Belushi, playing their promoter, gives a hammy performance that seems to be in a completely different movie.
While it’s unclear who the audience for Song Sung Blue might be other than hardcore Diamond fans, it has just enough crowd-pleasing moments to make for a solid watch. The entertainment factor of the film comes and goes, but Jackman using every ounce of his abilities mostly makes up for any deficiencies.
