The Sounds of VTech

Our good friends at MOCHILLA have a few surprises for you this weekend. From the (re)premiere of the amazingly poignant documentary on singer Bill Withers, “STILL BILL” by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack at the Downtown Independent,  to a Solo Exhibition by photographer Eric Coleman at the MOCHILLA Headquarters, opening this Thursday, it’s the perfect opportunity to start off your weekend right. Come and get visually and musically stimulated with the best. 

           

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20×24
Solo Exhibition by Eric Coleman 
THURSDAY SEPT 24TH | 7PM             

Exhibiting twenty 20×24 prints on September 24th

-A brief visual history- 

Mochilla Headquarters 
4124 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065

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Mochilla Presents: 

A New Screening Series Monthly at the Downtown Independent. 

Mochilla is dedicated to bringing you music and visuals of the highest order.  During the discussions around the successful screening of Postcard from Cali with Jim from the Independent we stumbled upon the idea of a series of Music Documentaries that are obscure, unseen and maybe just didn’t have a real run. 

We proudly start this series with unequivocally one of the best music documentaries I’’ve ever seen.  Still Bill is the story of Bill Withers.  It is moving, inspiring and learned.  It is a must see for anyone interested in music, the creative process or humanity for that matter.  Bill Withers if you don’t know is the creator of such soulful hits as Ain’t No Sunshine, Lean on Me. Lovely Day, Grandma’s Hands and Use Me.  His story is unique but his sensitivity is universal. 

We will have the (re)Premiere on Friday with very special guests.  We will have a little afterparty on the roof after wards please feel free to bring your favorite Bill Withers record to play.  There will be some drinks.  And there will be very special guests. 

For those who cant make Friday – the film will continue to screen on Saturday and Sunday.  

We urge you not to miss this.  It is an incredible achievement as a film.

(re)premiere of

 

 

Still Bill

SCREENING AT 9:30PM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2009

DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT

251 S. Main St, LA, CA 90012

12$ Tickets Available at The Independent Box Office   

  

 

Directed by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack, Still Bill tells the story of Bill Withers, an unexpected superstar. “Ain’t No Sunshine”, “Lean on Me”, “Lovely Day” and “Just the Two of Us” are only part of a complex and fascinating character: an icon who left the industry behind but never gave up his soul. You know his songs. Now meet the man. Featuring a tribute concert, a soundtrack with previously unreleased tracks, and rare live performance.  

 (-excerpt from: http://www.stillbillthemovie.com)        

 

 

*Everyone is welcome and encouraged to bring a Bill Withers Record! 

DJ’s + Special Guests TBA* 

Trailer of the Film: 

            

Additional Still Bill screenings:
September 26th at 3pm, 5pm and 7pm &
September 27th at 2:30pm and 4:30pm
http://www.downtownindependent.com

 

 

Often confused with xylophones, marimbas are a traditional folk instrument of the people of Southern and Central America. And though the instrument’s roots lie in West Africa, it ties together the music of the African diaspora and the inhabitants of the Southern and Central American shores on which they landed on in the 16th century.

The Pacific coast of Colombia is home to many genres of music. From its local music of the Afro-Colombian chirimia, the marimba, and outside influence of salsa, the music scene in Colombia continues to blend the old with the new.

When we look to rural towns such as Timbiqui, home of singer Nidia Gongora Bonilla, where musicians play in dedicated marimba houses and listen in awe. The music never stops, and the houses vibrate with the rhythm of the marimba all day long.

Memoria de Justinho By Quantic y Su Combo Barbaro Featuring Nidia Gongora Bonilla on Vocals is a tribute to legendary Marimba player, Justinho Garcia from Timbiqui. It was written by legendary female songwriter Ines Garanja on the occasion of his passing and holds enormous cultural significance. It is a classic song in the tradition of the Pacific Coast and was first recorded by Grupo Socovan, Nidia’s family’s band.

As Nidia introduces the song in the beginning of the video, she explains it is a Rumba from Timbiqui in the style of Quantic; a collision of sounds and influences in the best possible way.

Though the QCB has never recorded this song, it was worked out specifically for their first LA show and in many ways, this was the song that reached the audience’s musical souls. Los Angeles was open to Quantic and the new album and the band he had brought with him, but this song managed to put a smile on everyone’s face and a extra shuffle in everyone’s step.

It is with extreme pleasure that MOCHILLA was there to capture it and for VTech to premiere it.  This is history here. With beating hearts and hands in the air, connect your computer up to those speakers, kick back and feel the Afro-Colombian magic.

FULL SCREEN
The Sounds of VTech / Memoria de Justinho by Quantic and his Combo Barbaro

Quantic y Su Combo Barbaro:

Will Quantic Holland: Guitar/ Alfredo Linares: Piano/ Fernando Silva: Bass

Malcolm Catto: Drums/ Jack Iglesias: Percussion/ Freddy Colorado: Percussion

Reggie Ambrose: Sax/ Todd Simon: Trumpet

Shot by: Eric Coleman, Todd Mazer, and B+ for MOCHILLA

Edited by: Luke Lynch

Sound Recorded and Mixed by: Benjamin Tierney