“A gentle, affectionate portrayal of the witty humor and lo-fi inventiveness of Giant Sand” (Signal To Noise review). Time capsule documentary by Marianne Dissard about the Tucson band Giant Sand circa 1994.
Released originally on VHS tape, then on DVD in 2004, these two videos are now available for the first time on a streaming platform. ‘Drunken Bees’: 27mn. Bonus video ‘Giant Prequel’: 28mn, featuring a KCRW studio performance.
With Giant Sand’s Howe Gelb, Joey Burns, and John Convertino. Also featuring Victoria Williams, Rainer Ptacek, Vic Chestnutt, and many more folks from downtown Tucson circa 1994.
“Drunken Bees, the Marianne Dissard film chronicling Giant Sand circa 1994 is a fascinating glimpse of the “classic” Giant Sand lineup: Howe Gelb, Joey Burns, John Convertino and Bill Elm. The title is taken from a particularly excoriating review of the band’s 1994 album “Glum”, which appeared in Rolling Stone; in one scene, the band dissects the review with grim humour. Clocking in at one hour, the film supplies a tantalizing glimpse of the band’s creative process and their Tucson stomping grounds.
Unlike many rockumentaries, some of the offstage banter is surprisingly entertaining. In a similar vein as much of the band’s music, Dissard’s film pieces together an overall impression from fragmentary bits of materials; she prefers vignettes linked by common themes to overarching narrative. While you might wish for lengthier portions from live performances and studio sessions, “Drunken Bees” is a gentle, affectionate portrayal of the witty humour and lo-fi inventiveness of the band Giant Sand“
The Fat Angel Sings 