AFF Review: Todd P Goes to Austin

The new Off the Record category at Austin Film Festival includes a documentary where the ultimate goal is to get to Austin for SXSW. Promoter Todd P set up a series of free, unofficial performances at SXSW, and eventually was invited to come back and put together an official showcase, as documented in Todd P Goes to Austin. When viewed as a performance documentary, Todd P Goes to Austin is a must-see for music fans.

Todd P Goes to Austin starts out with a mumble: director Jason Buim opens with a performance by Dan Deacon, and even when Todd P is talking, it's not clear what the focus of the film is really supposed to be.  The tagline touts it's a film about doing it yourself, but the focus is really on the performances and the travel to Austin from various locations by the highlighted bands, including Matt and Kim, Mika Miko, The Death Set, and Japanther. 

Todd Patrick, also known as Todd P, is a Brooklyn based DIY promoter who works with underground bands and performers. Little screen time is spent on the actual efforts required to set up the showcases and get the word out to  potential audiences. Instead, most of the movie is devoted to actual performances. It's hard to follow that two different SXSW festivals are covered. The film dwells significantly on the featured groups making their way to Austin, and shot by themselves, from car trouble to broken jacks, contributing to the DIY sensibilities.

The doc is marketed as a profile of Todd P and his efforts, but it's really a roadshow doc featuring performances by these underground musicians.  Each of these bands clearly has an avid fan base, as the performance sequences highlight, with fans crowding into the performers themselves. The performances are kinetic and unrefined, and the audiences respond in kind.  Matt and Kim are particularly riveting, with her ferocious grin and she bangs away on the drums. These are two performers who clearly love what they do, and the audience eats it up.

While Todd P Goes to Austin may start with a mumble, it ends with a bang, with showcase performances. As a performance documentary, the energy can't be beat. Just don't expect to learn much about how the shows were organized and how word gets out to fans. 

There are only two clearly definable locations in Austin: Ms. Bea's on East Sixth, and the Mohawk Lounge on Red River. Other shots of Austin are B-roll footage that could be from several locations. No locals are featured in the documentary, save one unknown SXSW staffer.

Todd P Goes to Austin plays at the Independent at 501 on Thursday, October 29 as part of AFF. Austin Film Festival continues through Thursday.