Beulah: A Good Band Is Easy to Kill

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eric b I've been a Beulah fan since stumbling upon <i>When Your Heartstrings Break</i> back in 1999 , and yet I somehow didn't know about this documentary until just a few days ago. It's miraculous that the film even exists, considering the group was never a hot seller and wasn't even especially loved by critics. Just how many people could be itching to see this? This is a surprisingly well-made film, however. First-time director Charles Norris follows the San Francisco-based group across 30 tour dates which dip into Canada as well as the States. He uncovers no major truths, but there is plenty of entertaining banter, great music plus a generous look at the troubles of carrying off a small-scale, self-organized tour. One van (with vulnerable tires) against the world. Considering the band was already split up by the time "A Good Band Is Easy to Kill" was released, there isn't much internal friction evident in the footage. One brief, sharp argument in the car, and that's about the extent of it. However, frustrations with bad venues, physical health, separations from family, abrasive fans and tricky border crossings are more than evident. I've seen other viewers complain about singer/songwriter Miles Kurofky's edgy personality, but what's the problem? He's the group leader and acting manager -- of course, he's going to be a bit of a taskmaster. He seems like someone I'd enjoy knowing (and heck, I actually phone-interviewed him for a short magazine feature years ago and had no problems with him). His opening rant about Bob Dylan does go overboard, but it also sounds like he's hamming it up for the camera. Nothing which I can't forgive. Did the Stax/Volt label co-sponsor this film? Peculiar to see such a steady parade of people wearing pristine Stax, Volt and Big Star T-shirts. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I would rate it higher, but the lead singer is incredibly obnoxious, and there wasn't quite enough music. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member "i don't love you to death, but i'd die if you left". in their own words, the band might just have foretold their own successes and failures. FOR SHAME, for beulah was a fantastic band that i am holding out might still make a comeback (as long as miles is good for it). a wonderful (and timely) feature length documentary, just about my favourite musical one perhaps because of the level of fangirl-dom i reserve for this band. mostly a tour diary with a multitude of clips collated from their last US tour (and props go to filmmaker charles norris for getting so much out of just one camera. i have learnt a lot from his skillz), there's an air of resignation as the band nears the end of its tour - not necessarily of defeat but a tacit acknowledgement of doomed inevitability. whatevz, it's just great to see what the band would've been like since i never had that opportunity. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Beulah: A Good Band Is Easy to Kill

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