Pitchfork: Wrens Documentary in the Works

Wrens Documentary in the Works
Hey, isn't that grounds for a lawsuit?

In retrospect, the return of The Wrens seems a triumph not merely in the context of underground music, but in the archetypical spirit of rock 'n' roll itself; they are a band of quiet, mythical stature, releasing the phenomenal Secaucus in 1996, just prior to a series of label catastrophes that have since found ascension to the status of indie rock folklore.

The result of that return, 2003's The Meadowlands, is pure and emotionally ardent rock music sorely needed in a time when the proper use of such a concept is nearly extinct. The Wrens have come a long way and worked hard for everything they've created; now their journey is now being documented in film, courtesy of Kathryn Yu and Little Quill Productions. Says Yu in her statement on the Little Quill website:

"I'm making a documentary with my good friends Christine and Dan. It's a rock documentary. An indie rock documentary to be exact, and it's about The Wrens... The story of The Wrens-- their belief in their music, their perseverance in the face of disappointment, and the road they've followed in the pursuit of their vision-- demands to be told to a wider audience. In this movie, we explore the past, present and future of The Wrens as a band, and as ordinary people."

Little Quill Productions and the band seem to share both a DIY ethos and a quintessentially "indie" commitment to the project at hand. Yu to internet: "The project up until this point has been entirely self-financed. We've already shot several hours of footage, including two performances in New York City, and are planning to follow the band on the road to San Francisco in July, and Boston in September. Our major expenses at this point are going to be travel, fees and permits, and equipment rental. We are asking for your support. We realize that there are an abundance of worthy causes out there, but if you can give anything, we would really, really appreciate it."

Scoff if you will at the appeal for donations; posting an open call for the goodwill of others is not an easy move to make, and in this case serves to display that the previously mentioned spirit of rock music itself is still alive and fighting every step of the way. Little Quill Productions is "cautiously predicting" a release date of early 2006, at which point the band's median age is likely to be somewhere in the early 60s. In the meantime, you can catch The Wrens on the road at the following dates:

07-15 San Francisco, CA - The Great American Music Hall *
07-16 San Francisco, CA - The Great American Music Hall *
07-17 Los Angeles, CA - The Knitting Factory *
08-20 Denton, TX - Hailey's
08-21 Austin, TX - Emo's (w/ Okkervil River)
09-04 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
09-10 Seattle, WA - the Crocodile Cafe (w/ the Swords Project)
09-11 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan (w/ the Swords Project and Crooked Fingers)

* with Jim Yoshii Pile-Up

As previously reported, the band is remastering and repackaging their 1999 EP Abbott 1135 with unreleased tracks from the period in-between Secaucus and The Meadowlands. The disc is tentatively scheduled for release on Absolutely Kosher this coming October.