Brooklyn indie band Dahl Haus’ unreleased song ‘Seasick,’ gets a sneak preview in David Leigh Abts’ indie documentary, “Bodega?,” premiering Saturday, February 24th. The song became a last minute placement in the film when Abts by chance caught the nugaze/dream pop band playing at Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn just weeks before the film’s release date, and heard a song that was perfectly in sync with his film’s state of mind.
The film explores the waning of bodega culture in the face of gentrification and juxtaposes its interviews with bodega workers and newbie residents with music from upcoming Brooklyn indie bands. What’s the connection? The filmmaker explains: “You may wonder why such a selection and what do these bands have in common with Brooklyn Bodegas? This is a small strand of sounds of what the transplants/hipsters population would be listening to in their Beats by Dre headphones as they make their morning coffee and bagel stop before jumping on the train for work. For better or worse, totally missing what the shopkeepers are listening to.”
Echoing the film’s theme, Dahl Haus’ singer/songwriter/producer Blaise Dahl describes her song, ‘Seasick,’ as a “grungy social protest song about elitism, apathy, and society’s hater mindset that says, one way or another, we're all struggling not to drown.”
The trailer for ‘Bodega?’ features “The Dandy Warhols TV Theme Song” and the Northwest alt rock band’s frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor (who also wrote the forward to Abts’ book, “Mother’s Day at the Orphanage”) makes an on-camera appearance. (“Bodega?” trailer)
The “Bodega?” premiere will be held at the iconic Brooklyn metal bar, Saint Vitus at 7 PM this Saturday, and will feature a live performance by Jacuzzi Boys and a “Very Special Act from the Northwest” surprise guest, along with musical guests Rat Schabies (The Damned), Chris Constantinou (Adam Ant), David Mudie (LA Mood/Courtney Barnett), Bob Harrow (Immigrant Union), Kalen Lister (Death By Piano), Brian Buta (Steady State) and Cory Wade (former co-host of America’s Next Top Model). (Tickets)