Best Old Band

Everybody knows the iconic walking bass line in Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made for Walkin'." But do you know who wrote the part? Though they played on hundreds of standards—from the songs on the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds to Ricky Nelson's "Fools Rush In"—the group of L.A. musicians, dubbed "The Wrecking Crew" by drummer Hal Blaine, has gone unknown to everyone but the odd music curmudgeon for over 40 years. The Wrecking Crew, a lovely little documentary by Denny Tedesco, the son of a prominent Crew guitar player, sheds light on the story of the mishmash gang of musical castoffs that made all of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson's weird ideas come to fruition. The only downside is, the film never attempts to answer the burning question: If these players were so good, how come they never tried to form their own band? Hollywood Theatre. 7 pm Sunday, May 8.

  1. Best paired with: Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale.
  2. Also showing: Road House (Laurelhurst), Spaceballs (Academy).

WWeek 2015

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