When I first read Thunder Soul’s tag line—"The true story of Conrad Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band"—I couldn’t help but think, Cool, another movie about an impassioned band director taking on a group of rough and tumble kids and, against all odds, molding them into a legendary stage band while imparting wisdom. Been there, done that, right? Wrong. Thunder Soul is a straight-up, gut-wrenching documentary, not a based-on-a-true-story Hollywood drama. Director Mark Landsman follows the original members of Houston’s famed Kashmere Stage Band as they reunite 30 years after graduating to play one last concert for their former director, Conrad Johnson. If the story doesn't do it for you, the music absolutely will. href="http://www.thefader.com/tag/jamie-foxx/ "target="_blank">Jamie Foxx narrates.
Thunder Soul opens in New York tonight. Catch it at AMC Loews Village 7, playing at 5:40 and 8:15PM. Weekenders can see the film and talk with Landsman at 4:45PM this Saturday, at AMC Loews 84th St. A Q&A with director Mark Landsman follows all three screenings.
