Hello everyone, we are pleased as punch to be a part of the Texas Music Mini COnference on May 30, at the downt town Dallas Public Library. We will be screening the film and sharing the stage with William Williams of BigD60's for a short Q&A session after. Here is a list of programs for the day.To reserve a space at the conference contact me or go the the Dallas Public Library website and click on events at the downtown branch.
Hope to see ya'll there.

Mark A.

Texas Music Mini-Conference
May 30, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
 

On Saturday, May 30, Dallas Public Library’s Fine Arts Division will host a
one-day conference on the history of Texas music. 

Twelve sessions will be offered covering a wide range of performers and
styles,  including Stamps-Baxter and Southern Gospel music, Texas blues, rock

bands from the 60s, two noted women in Texas music, the Texas International
Pop Festival, jazz in Texas, the Big D Jamboree, and more.  Two film
screenings will be included in the day:  Teen-a-Go-Go and South Dallas Pop.   

For details, including a complete list of topics and information about
speakers, visit the library’s web site:
http://dallaslibrary.org/fineArts/conferenceTexasMusic09.php. 
You may also call the Fine Arts Division at 214‑670‑1643.
                       
Although the conference is free, space is limited, so advance reservations
are requested.  To register for the event, please visit 
http://texasmusic.eventbrite.com.

More detailed information regarding the program schedule, specific rooms, and
lunch options will be e-mailed to registered attendees about a week before
the conference.
 
In conjunction with the conference, from May 8 through the end of June, the
library’s fourth floor will host an exhibit celebrating eighty years of The
Light Crust Doughboys’ legacy.  The band can trace its beginnings to 1929,
when Bob Wills began his first group, the Wills Fiddle Band.  New members
were added,  and in 1931 the name was changed to The Light Crust Doughboys when
they became the on-air musical promoters of Light Crust Flour.  Wills left
the group in 1933 to form the Texas Playboys, but The Light Crust Doughboys
continued to perform and record.  Although there have been many changes in
the membership over the years, today the band continues to honor their Western
swing legacy.  The library’s exhibit will include costumes, photos,
instruments, and other items illustrating the band’s long history.
 
The Fine Arts Division appreciates these businesses for their support of this
conference
Levenson & Brinker Public Relations
True West
Buddy:  The Original Texas Music Magazine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howdy to all our TAGG com padres, it has been a busy Spring for us. We have a ton of things cooking and I hope everyone will check in often for news and notes as we continue to move forward.
A few months ago we were asked to screen Teen A Go Go at a one day Texas Music Conference sponsored by the Fine Arts Division of the Dallas Public Library. The event will be held Saturday, May 30 at the downtown J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. After the screening there will be a short Q&A session with myself and William Williams of the BigD60's group. It will be an honor for me to stand next to William and pretend I know as much about music as he does. Unfortunately, the screening is for conference attendees only and not open to the general public. But don't fret; like I said at the top, we've got a lot of things cooking.
I'll be posting here regularly with news, notes ramblings and rants so keep TAGG on your radar and as always; thanks for ya'lls support and interest.

So excuse my confusion but I'm down to one potato. Please don't burn it even if you need to see Betty Lu's new tattoo in the darkness of the night of the sadist.
I don't know... you figure it out.

Bye ya'll,

Mark A.  

http://fwweeklylsiff.blogspot.com/2008/11/q-with-teen-go-go-director-melissa.html

Saturday, november 15, 2008

Q & A with "Teen A Go-Go" director Melissa Kirkendall
Several years go, veteran music promoter Melissa Kirkendall transitioned from the rawk world to work as a production coordinator on locally shot TV movies and series, including “Prison Break” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” She makes her debut as a documentary director with “Teen A Go-Go,” a feature-length exploration of 1960’s “teen scenes” around the country—with a special emphasis on North Texas. These “scenes” were adult-run nightspots where teenagers driven into a hormonal frenzy by British Invaders like The Beatles and Herman’s Hermits could dance to the latest national pop hits as well as to live original music by their peers. Local garage bands recorded their own “one-take” tunes, pressed them onto vinyl, and sold them at the gigs where they performed

LSIFF’s 5pm Sunday screening of “Teen A Go-Go” has sold out, prompting Kirkendall and her producer Mark Nobles to sked a second LSIFF screening at 7:30pm. Kirkendall spoke briefly to “Fort Worth Weekly” about her doc.—Jimmy Fowler

FWW: What prompted you to make “Teen A Go-Go”?

Kirkendall: I’d been discussing ideas for music documentaries for a while. Then Mark (Nobles) heard the “Fort Worth Teen Scene” CDs and gave them to me. I was like, “Wow, how could I have not known about this part of the music scene?” I knew about Johnny Reno and John Nitzinger and Bloodrock, but a lot of the garage bands had passed me by. Also, honestly, I was shocked at how good the music was. Bands like The Elites and Larry and The Bluenotes were not business-savvy, they didn’t get the industry advice that today’s teen musicians get, but their songs really hook you.

FWW: Where was the original “Teen A Go-Go” club located in Fort Worth?

Kirkendall: In the mid-‘60s, there were three or four “A Go-Go” clubs in Tarrant County that could attract as many as a thousand kids on a weekend night. There were different venues with names like “Candy Stick A Go-Go” and “Action A Go-Go.” But the original “Teen A Go-Go” that we talk about was in Will Rogers Coliseum, in what’s now called the Roundup Inn. The peak of popularity was probably Friday nights from 1965 to 1966. These scenes were happening all over the country at the same time, with no MySpace to connect what everyone was doing.

FWW: Can you name any “one-take” songs by 1960s Fort Worth bands that’ve become internet collectibles?

Kirkendall: What comes to mind is “One Potato” by The Elites, a song that was covered by the all-girl Japanese punk band The 5.6.7.8.’s. “Night of the Sadist” and “In and Out” (by Larry and the Bluenotes) have been covered by different musicians. These were bands that played more than forty years ago, and they only discovered their records were selling on eBay a couple of years ago.
Posted by FWWeekly's Coverage of LSIFF '08 at 10:30 PM

Melissa Kirkendall

Melissa has over 17 years experience in the entertainment industry in the DFW area. Before working in film she owned and operated a couple of award winning live music venues (Mad Hatters & The Split Atom Cafe & Electron Lounge). She also founded a very successful event production/ promotion company (Daughter Entertainment). Melissa produced and programed several North Texas area music and arts festivals such as the Deep Ellum Music and Arts Festival. However, while doing all of this she kept thinking about making movies. Finally in 2003 she nudged her way in on a non paying film as the Music Supervisor. This eventually led to other films and Tv shows, and now she is producing, directing and editing her own projects.

Video & Film Credits:
CADILLAC FRAF TRIBUTE - Producer/ Editor/ Creative Content Director
(Multi media) 2009

TEEN A GO GO Documentary- Director/ Producer/ Editor
Teen A Go Go LLC, (HDV) 2006 - 2009

ROSLYN - Prod Coordinator/ Prod Placement Coordinator
Roslyn LLC, (35mm) 2008

DEWEY REDMAN MEMORIAL TRIBUTE - Director/ Producer/ Editor
Fort Worth Library Jazz Archives, (HDV) 2007

"HELL YA" Music Video - Production Manger
Sony/ BMG, (HDV) 2007

PRISON BREAK TV series - 2nd Unit Production Coordinator
Fox TV Network, (35mm) 2006 - 2008

A HOUSE DIVIDED TV Pilot - APOC
ABC/ Disney, (35mm) 2006

RAIN - Asst Location Manger
Rainfall & Merv Griffin Ent., (35mm) 2005

LIVING & DYING - Production Supervisor
New Film International, (35mm) 2005

TRIAL BY FIRE: WALKER TEXAS RANGER - APOC
Paramount Television, (35mm) 2005

STRIKING RANGE - Production Coordinator/ Prod Placement Coord
S-Films LP, (35mm) 2005

VERITAS: PRINCE OF TRUTH - US Production Coordinator/ Prod Placement Coord
Twelfth Night Ent., (35mm) 2004

BLUE SALOON - Music Supervisor
Blue Saloon LLC, (35mm) 2003

Awards & Recognition:
* Inducted into FW Weekly Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
* PANELIST for "Music in Film" Panel at the Lone Star International Film festival along with T-Bone Burnett, Robert Rodgriguez & Johnny Reno for 2007 festival
* Awarded "BEST PRODUCER" for music events by FW Weekly for 2002, 2003, 2004
* Named "Star of '99" by Fort Worth Star Telegram in 1999 for her overhaul of the Ridglea Theater that year.

*If you would like to see a complete resume for Melissa or any of our other key crew, contact us.

Producer/ Director/ Editor: MELISSA KIRKENDALL
Melissa has over 17 years experience in music and film production. She started out in the early 90's at the early age of 21 in the music business owning and operating her own award winning live music venues and event production/ promotion companies. In 2003 she began working in film while still working in music and has since been credited with such titles as Production Manager, Location Manager, Production Coordinator, Music Supervisor and Producer between 8 films, several music videos and the Fox TV Series "Prison Break". Melissa has also been a Producer and programmer for several area music festivals and is currently the Programmer/ Coordinator for the Fearless Film Festival which is a part of the acclaimed Main St. Fort Worth arts Festival. Teen A Go Go is Melissa's first feature length film to direct, co-produce and edit. Melissa is currently also developing another pop culture documentary as well as a comedic webisodic series for the web.

Director of Photography/ Editor: JAMES STERLING JOHNSON
Sterling has 20+ years experience shooting and editing material for television and film. STerling shoots and edits projects on Final Cut Pro HD. Sterling has won several regional emmys and has been a DP and/editor on several docu style shows featuring name actors like Howie Mandell and Shenna Easton. Sterling is currently editing a documentary film in denver Colorado.

Producer: MARK A. NOBLES
Mark has over 13 years experience as a scriptwriter of children's educational programs, music video and documentaries. Mark has worked on productions for NPR as well as writing and co-producing a weekly Regional syndicated 2-minute module for radio called "Texas Music Minutes". Mark's main focus is Teen A Go Go, however he has several other projects in various stages of development.

Co-Producer: JON KEEYES
Mr. Keeyes is a successful film director, screenwriter and producer. Among his credits are "American Nightmare" (director/writer/producer), "Suburban Nightmare" (dircetor/writer/producer), "Living & Dying" (director/writer), "Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know" (director), and "Fall Down dead" (director). Along with a constant flow of feature film work, Jon has directed episodes of the Danica McKellar show "Inspector Mom" for Lifetime Channel.

Hello friends, fans and fellow supporters of rock and roll!

I have been threatening to do this for quite some time now... and I guess today is the day it starts!

I'm not sure what all I will write on here - I think I intend to mostly write about goings on with the film, but I may be inspired to write about other topics. I will try to keep within the realms of film and all that supports the silver screen...

Today, I'm just gonna back up a little and talk about how amazing this whole experience has been thus far. 4 years ago when I first met with Mark I really had no idea what I was getting into... I did not know that his idea for this film would lead me down so many different and interesting paths along the way. I didn't know how much doing this particular project would effect me, change me and teach me. And I certainly didn't think I would end making so many new friends along the way!!

I think all I really want to say right now is thank you.

I think it's important for everyone to know exactly how it is that Mark and I wound up doing this project together. Because of my music background, most people assume that the topic for this film was my idea when infact it is actually Mark's. Another little known fact is that Mark originally called Jon Keeyes to direct this movie. Jon was busy with another project and he's not really a doc filmmaker. Jon told Mark that he probably wouldn't be able to do it, but he knew this woman who was looking to direct music oriented docs and that she knew more about the FW Music scene than anyone he knew of. (I'm pretty certain Jon played down the fact that I never actually directed a movie before....) Mark said he wanted to meet me.

At this time I was actually trying to piece together another music doc idea when Jon called me up and asked if I might be interested in Mark's concept. I of course said I was and I immediately said to Jon "Does this guy know I've never directed anything before?..." Jon said that Mark knew that but still wanted to meet me... I figured this guy Mark must be crazy or an idiot... Turns out he's pretty sharp!! Thank you Mark for finding me and bringing me on this project! I believe this was the perfect subject for my first film...

There is a short clip on here that has Mark explaining how the meeting between he and I went which eventually led to the film that is now completed... It's on the Q&A video.

Thank you to my wonderful crew and the dynamic (some of you down right crazy - you know who you are!...) fun cast! Thank you to our angels who believe so much in us and our idea to give us what we need to get this made. And lastly, thank you to all my supportive friends, family and fans for giving me the encouragement, criticism when needed and incredible support and indulgence through this whole process. I truly feel privileged and lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful human beings and one really great dog!!

It's been a rather long day... I'll be filling up the blog spot with all sorts of stuff over the next few months... I look forward to reading feedback from all of you!


-melissa
(Director)

WOW! So the first screening at 5pm has been completely booked so we have added a second screening at 7:30PM in the same location.

Details:
SCREE​N​ING/​​ EVENT​ SCHED​ULE:​​
DATE:​​ Sunda​y,​​ Nov. 16
Locat​ion:​​ Norri​s Confe​rence​ Cente​r,​​ 304 Houst​on St, Fort Worth​
(​​forme​ry the Sunda​nce 11 movie​ theat​er)​​

7:30PM - Screening w/Q&A w/ filmmakers to follow
*FREE, BUT YOU MUST CALL 817-504-1373 TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

10pm - AFTER​ PARTY​ at Club Embar​go featu​ring:​​ Krist​ina Moore​land,​​ Cryst​al Casey​,​​ Megan​ McCul​loch Li. This is also FREE.​​


ORIGINAL RELEASE:
Teen A Go Go is scree​ning as a work in progr​ess at the Lone Star Inter​natio​nal Film Festi​val in Fort Worth​ on NOV. 16

TEEN A GO GO, A littl​e film about​ rock and roll histo​ry
Direc​ted by Melis​sa Kirke​ndall​
Forma​t:​​ Narra​tive Docum​entar​y
Lengt​h:​​ 1hr. 26min​.​​

Brief​ synop​sis:​​
Teen A Go Go is a snaps​hot of the untol​d story​ of our count​ries Teens​ and the Scene​s they creat​ed which​ spran​g up every​where​ after​ the Briti​sh invas​ion.​​ Focus​ing in on one parti​cular​ly uniqu​e Teen Scene​ as an examp​le of the pheno​mena that occur​ed all acros​s Ameri​ca,​​ Teen A Go Go final​ly sheds​ light​ on what these​ uncon​sciou​sly groun​d break​ing teens​ did to help influ​ence and shape​ rock and roll as we now know it today​.​​ The music​iansh​ip and influ​ence this commu​nity contr​ibute​d to rock and roll is both unpre​ceden​ted and impre​ssive​ in it's almos​t '​​kept secre​t"​​ state​.​​ Music​ these​ teens​ made in "one take"​​ recor​dings​ betwe​en 1963 throu​gh 1968 has becom​e highl​y colle​ctabl​e and in some cases​ conti​nues to recei​ve radio​ play today​.​​

Throu​gh a serie​s of inter​views​ with the music​ians thems​elves​,​​ indus​try exper​ts,​​ super​ 8 foota​ge,​​ achiv​al Tv foota​ge and perio​d photo​graph​s,​​ Teen A Go Go takes​ the views​ on an enter​taini​ng,​​ educa​tiona​l and nosta​lgic ride into the teen scene​s and the lives​ of the peopl​e who lived​ it.

SCREE​N​ING/​​ EVENT​ SCHED​ULE:​​
DATE:​​ Sunda​y,​​ Nov. 16
Locat​ion:​​ Norri​s Confe​rence​ Cente​r,​​ 304 Houst​on St, Fort Worth​
(​​forme​ry the Sunda​nce 11 movie​ theat​er)​​

5pm - FREE Work in progr​ess scree​ning w/ Q&A with filmm​akers​ to follo​w(SOLD OUT!)

7pm - TEEN A GO GO Battl​e of the Bands​ Jam! $2 (​​just like in 65!)
Featu​ring live perfo​rmanc​es of the music​ in the film by the music​ians in the film:​​ The Elite​,​​ Larry​ & The Blue Notes​,​​ The Mods,​​ The Bluco​ats,​​ The Excel​s and more.​​.​​.​​ Speci​al guest​ appea​nces by Bobby​ Wygan​t and other​s.​​ Event​ will be Emcee​d by Janic​e of Sputn​ik on KTCU,​​ Tom and Tony of the Good Show on KTCU.​​ There​ will be Go-​​Go dance​rs,​​ food,​​ drink​,​​ bands​,​​ fans and music​ians galor​e!​​

- Don'​​t miss this uniqu​e event​ that is sure to bring​ toget​her a most inter​estin​g mix of music​ians toget​her in one room for one night​!​​

10pm - AFTER​ PARTY​ at Club Embar​go featu​ring:​​ Krist​ina Moore​land,​​ Cryst​al Casey​,​​ Megan​ McCul​loch Li. This is also FREE.​​

*​​Scree​ning is free,​​ but you must RSVP your spot as space​ is limit​ed and we are almos​t full!​​
RSVP by calli​ng Mark 817-​​504-​​1373.​​

More info:​​
Lone Star Site
www. lsiff​.​​ com

Teen A Go Go
www. myspa​ce.​​ com/​​teena​gogog​arage​bands​
www. Teen-​​A-​​Go-​​Go.​​ com
teena​gogo@​​hotma​il.​​com

This scree​ning and event​ is broug​ht to you in part by the follo​wing commu​nity partn​ers:​​ Zoo Music​,​​ Kat Daddy​ Sound​,​​ Tangi​loos Cater​ing,​​ The Butte​rfly Conne​ction​ Theat​er Compa​ny,​​ The FW Weekl​y and The Lone Star Inter​natio​nal Film Festi​val.​​

I sure hope to see you somet​ime,​​ somew​here this night​!​​
XO
-​​melis​sa

Dallas Observer: SXSW Blog
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2008/03/to_the_ends_of_sxsw_film.php



The Fine Line Blog
http://finelinelive.com/2007/10/17/where-are-they-now/



Fort Worth Business Press
http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=5146



60sGarageBands.com
http://www.60sgaragebands.com/newsnuggets/2006nuggets.html



FW Weekly: Article about Jon Keeyes
http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=4223