One Man in the Band

One man band: a musical entertainer who rejects dependence on other band members and plays it all alone. ONE MAN IN THE BAND: a documentary that sketches a voyeuristic and sympathetic picture of the lifestyle and phenomenon that is the one-man act. Giving whole new meaning to the phrase “go it alone,” this documentary from director Adam Clitheroe follows seven engaging one-person acts (from all ranges of talent, motivations, and genres of music) through their gigs and conversations in which the musicians and the music speak for themselves. Driven by the prospect of total artistic freedom, the subjects of this documentary teeter between achieving their creative goals or failing miserably of their own accord. Plagued with loneliness and alienation and the pressure of even greater alienation, the musicians attempt to reach out from their quiet lives of solidarity and displacement through the brave act of public performance and the universal language of music. The real question is, “Can they?” The film itself may be the answer as it weaves the seven stories of these lone souls and their distinct sounds into one rhythmic, communal, visual spectacle and audio soundtrack. – DM