Sarah Lipstate, aka Noveller; image courtesy of loumuenz.com
So, perhaps you’ve seen the trailer for It Might Get Loud. I’ve seen in at two different movie screenings. For the uninformed, it’s a documentary about how “three icons get together” in the name of rock. These three icons are guitarists Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, U2′s The Edge, and The White Stripes’ Jack White.
I bet you know how I feel. The words you want are “wank” and “decadeism,” accompanied by an eye roll.
Now, apart from confirming my suspicions that The Edge relies too much on effects pedals, I don’t have any real beef with these dudes. Oh, I also think the whole stage name business with the aforementioned David Evans is dumb, but duh. It’s just — why these three? And then comes my obligatory question that is often met with a compromised answer, if it’s even addressed: where are the guitar-playing women, girls, and/or people of color?
I’ve provided at least two counterexamples for the women – Marnie Stern and St. Vincent. Today, I’ll add one more. Sarah Lipstate, aka Noveller. Her gloriously named Red Rainbows comes out this fall. Can’t wait.
Full disclosure: Sarah and I were acquaintances at KVRX. We never hung out, but I always knew she was really talented (and not just with guitar — for example, I once saw her play a theremin at a house party). When we were at KVRX, she was recording as one half of One Umbrella, for whom she also made experimental films, which she continues to do (she’s a UT RTF alumna as well). She’s also performed with Glenn Branca and finished a stint with Parts & Labor. And I’m really excited to see her breaking out on her own. You should be too.
I’ve seen this preview about 502 times now. The only person I like is Jack White, and that’s because he’s such a freaky dude. And the quasi-guitar. And collaborates with Loretta Lynn.
I agree – both that I’ve seen this trailer 502 times and that Jack White is the only one that I actively like out of these three. And, it should be said that Jack White plays/collaborates with, not to mention gives praise to, female musicians on a regular basis – whether it be Meg White, Holly Golightly, Alicia Keys, Loretta Lynn or, most recently, Alison Mosshart (aka, “VV”). I don’t follow the careers of the Edge or Jimmy Page but, unlike White (unless we’re talking about the Raconteurs), they are famous for playing in all-guy bands and seem very much guys-guys. Plus, White’s “freakishness” (as Annie puts it) has always made him seem a bit effeminate to me – or at least not your prototypical man. But, yes, why three white dudes? And, why make a film that looks so darn boring?
I also think it’s telling that we’ve seen the preview so often — probably because we’ve been seeing movies at the Arbor, which caters to the main demo for this movie: 30- and 40-something white dudes. Thus the exclusion of females, color, or non-white ethnicity.
Totally, Annie. You just said what I was about to say. I saw the trailer at the Arbor when I watched “The Hurt Locker” and the Dobie when I saw “Moon.” Although, strangely enough, there were also trailers for romantic comedies (“Adam” at “The Hurt Locker” and “(500) Days of Summer” at “Moon”). And, happily, the trailer for “Soul Power” played when I saw “Moon” and I believe “The Hurt Locker” as well. Perhaps these other trailers broaden the potential target audience?