by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Sure, it’s spring and everybody is out of hibernation, but there are still some good reasons to stay inside (rollerbladers come to mind). If you are going take a night to stay in this week, do yourself a favour and rent New York Doll, directed by Greg Whiteley, at your local video store. This simply stunning documentary captures the late New York Dolls bass player Arthur “Killer” Kane as he prepares for the first Dolls show in 30 years, part of 2004’s Morrissey-curated edition of the Meltdown festival at the Royal Albert Hall.

Whiteley slips and falls occasionally, as he concentrates a little too heavily on Kane’s conversion to Mormonism in the late ’80s, which comes as no surprise, as the bonus features reveal that Whiteley is a fellow member of Kane’s congregation. He does manage, though, to stop just short of mucking up Kane’s life with religious propaganda, and thankfully strays from the formula of VH1’s Behind the Music by not focusing excessively on the Dolls’ history.

The usual suspects are interviewed, like David Johansen and Max’s Kansas City character Bob Gruen, but it’s the gushing Brits like Morrissey, Don Letts, Mick Jones and Bob Geldof, as well as current fans who are about to catch a glimpse of the reformed band for the first time, that really give perspective on just how much impact Arthur’s band has had on rock ’n’ roll today.

Kane himself was such a character that his lummox-like behaviour lights up the screen as he plays the role of antihero perfectly. You can’t help but be pulled into his tragedy of alcoholism, jealousy, regret born from living in relative obscurity for 30 years and the loneliness of being cooped up in his small apartment in West Hollywood, but this definitely proves to be a story about human triumph. The interviews conducted as he takes the public bus down Wilshire Ave. to his job as a librarian at L.A.’s Family History Center are full of optimism, as Kane shakes with anticipation for the reunion with his old bandmates. Whether you are a Dolls fan or not (I’m not what you would consider a huge fan), this is a must-see. The scene where he gets his bass out of the pawnshop alone is worth the price of admission.

If you insist on getting away from the boob tube this week, there are plenty of good shows happening. Probably my favourite band in the city, Tricky Woo, will show why there is no act in town that can follow them when they destroy Petit Campus with Toronto’s finest, Shikasta, and Kosmos (featuring members of Voivod and One 976). If there’s anybody better on a stage then Tricky Woo, then I have yet to see them—and c’mon! Shikasta! Get your tickets right now.

Sunday marks the return of the almighty Supersuckers at Cabaret. These cowboy-hat-wearing heathens haven’t swung through town since their appearance at Jailhouse way back when, and that show was nothing short of incredible, so don’t miss. Also, don’t miss the epic ballast of Isis when they play le National with Mare on Wednesday. They will crush you like the puny human you are.

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK, I SALUTE YOU! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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