It’s not often we @ Vermont Independent get a chance to review a truly independent film featuring three of our planet’s finest acoustic singer songwriters in gorgeous 3-part harmony. But make no mistake, The Independents is one of the more unique, original and authentic movies to cross our e-desk in some time – and funny, too! With a brief dash of nudity and some mild car chases! Interest piqued? Read on.

The Independents – Official Trailer (Dec. 2018) from RGB FILM on Vimeo.

If you aren’t familiar with the sonic sweetness that is The Sweet Remains – Brian Chartrand, Greg Naughton, and Rich Price – then click here to visit their official web site and make your ears and heart much happier. As a fellow singer-songwriter who revels in multi-part harmonies, I’ve enjoyed their music for years, and I am fortunate enough to live and work in the same town – Burlington, Vermont – as Rich, a gent who embodies the generosity of spirit and musical conviviality that defines the acoustic music tradition at its best.

The Independents is directed by Rich’s fellow TSR colleague Greg Naughton. This wonderfully understated movie, featuring Brian, Greg, and Rich, finds The Sweet Remains guys playing 3 very different musical characters who, through twists of fate and moments of chance, find themselves and their guitars in the same van, hotel room, etc. Through a series of poignant, awkward and gently humorous twists and turns, our three intrepid songwriters come to recognize that they have something special – sweet, really – when they make music together. The problem? They are all feeling non-musical pressures – work, relationships, life, family – that continually push against the desire each of them feels to simply make music and damn the consequences.

Ask ANY real-life working songwriter about this very real struggle, and you’ll get an earful. The bottom line? It ain’t easy to make music, follow your muse, and support yourself in a neoliberal corporate, commercial capitalist system. And remember, Brian, Greg and Rich ARE real songwriters making really good music in real life  – which makes The Independents an even more intriguing film. Are we witnessing some sort of musical biopic? Real life biographies brought to life on the silver screen? Completely made up characters that bear no resemblance to the REAL The Sweet Remains?

Truthfully, at day’s end – none of these questions matter. “You do what you gotta do to keep making music,” our three characters states at various moments in this wonderful film. And there’s the rub. Listening to excerpts of the The Sweet Remains’ gorgeous three part harmonies and well-crafted songwriting as they struggle to find their way (as fictional characters?!) deeper into the love for and relationship with their music is gold – the film will leave you wanting to listen even more. And their journey in the film – funny, heartfelt, and authentic – is a neat complement to their music.

Here are two opportunities to catch The Independents before this film breaks out and listen to the Sweet Remains, as well. Let’s hear it for independent songwriting AND filmmaking here in our Green Mountains. Don’t pass this up.

Special Screening of THE INDEPENDENTS

Sunday, Feb 17^th at 6pm (followed by a Q&A with the cast)

Merril’s Roxy Cinema; 222 College St; Burlington, VT

The Sweet Remains (live performance)

Thursday, Feb 21^st at 9:30pm (7pm show is sold out)

Flynn Space; 153 Main St; Burlington, VT