Culture Watch

For Catherine Gets Released To DVD … Again

Almost exactly a year ago, Culture Watch reported that local film company 207 Pictures was releasing its debut film For Catherine to DVD. The very low-budget flick (their official press release claims that the budget was “less than the price of a decent used car”) is essentially an “inversion” of the romantic-comedy formula, telling the story of a guy who is so bored and depressed after a breakup that he packs up all of his belongings and sends them to himself, only to have the packages end up getting lost in the mail. Why am I rehashing this a year later? Because For Catherine was recently picked up by indie-loving distribution house Passion River. According to writer/director Ethan Hunter, interested viewers can expect to see For Catherine available through major retail outlets like Suncoast and Barnes & Noble, online at Amazon and for rent through services like Netflix. The re-release will retail for $20, and includes a cast-and-crew commentary track as well as a number of other special features. Learn more at www.207Pictures.com

Eliza Lynn Steps Into The Limelight

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that local folksinger Eliza Lynn was planning to release a new album and DVD combo sometime during the spring, the follow-up to her 2005 release Frisky or Fair. Well, things seem to be going very well for Lynn these days, as it was recently announced that her tune “Sing A New Song” would be included on the new Putumayo compilation album Americana. The album will start with an initial run of 20,000 copies and be shipped to more than 60 countries, so there’s a not-bad chance that Lynn’s international profile will be raised quite a bit. Other artists featured on the recording include Old Crow Medicine Show, The Little Willies (Norah Jones’ band), Tim O’Brien, Ruthie Foster, Robert Earl Keen, and Robinella. For more information, visit www.ElizaLynn.com

Ménage To Release New Album, Eventually

Meanwhile, be on the lookout for Tell Me, the new release by local folk/Americana group Ménage, although exact details about where you should look are still very much up in the air. The band had originally planned to release the album at a double-CD-release party with dark-pop group Stephanie’s Id (promoting their new album Grus Americanus) at The Orange Peel. However, the arrival of the nine-show Smashing Pumpkins “residency” forced a change of plans. The album is Ménage’s fourth recording, following their 2006 disc Live at the Grey Eagle. For more info, visit www.TheMenage.com

[Contact Steve Shanafelt at unknowncity@hotmail.com]