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John Popper, Others, All Over Sundance
01/25/2000 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen
(1/25/00, 6 p.m. ET) - John Popper's presence has definitely been felt in the early days of the Sundance Film Festival, taking place this week in Park City, Utah. First, the Blues Traveler front man previewed several new songs during a solo set in which the harp master was armed only with an acoustic guitar -- and absolutely no harmonica -- on Sunday night (Jan. 23) at the Elks Lodge. One night later (Jan. 24), Popper hopped up onstage with Third Eye Blind at the same venue to add a new dimension to the San Francisco band's hit, "Semi-Charmed Life." The song closed their special, so-called "acoustic" set, during which the band was sitting down, but plugging into their amplifiers. But Popper's reach at Sundance has gone beyond music. He was also in town to help give a buzz to the film Das Clown, an eight-minute short about a psychotic clown doll presented in the style of the old film strips once found in grammar school classrooms. Popper provides voice-over for the twisted movie, directed by his longtime friend Tom E. Brown. His sister, Emily Popper, also appears in the work. Other musicians have appeared around the festival as well. Verve Pipe's Brian Vander Ark is in town to hype three different movie projects, and was scheduled to lay down a solo performance today (Jan. 25). Also performing were power-popper Matthew Sweet, folk legend Janis Ian, and moody singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, who could also be found discussing Fissure, a new movie that features his songs. Hit pop act Sixpence None The Richer was also scheduled to perform tonight (Jan. 25). Several music-related films have also cause a stir at Sundance and its more irreverent offshoot, Slamdance, which runs concurrently. There's Barenaked In America, the Jason Priestley-directed documentary about Barenaked Ladies. And there's the new documentary on the Sex Pistols, The Filth And The Fury, for which band members John Lydon and Steve Jones are in town to promote. But the real hot ticket seems to be for Groove, a new film with an ensemble cast about one night at a rave. The Sundance Film Festival continues through the end of the week. -- Deborah Russell, Park City with Darren Davis, New York and Neal Weiss, Los Angeles Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.
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