Scott Tady: Cool documentaries will screen at The Lindsay; James Tobin releases heartfelt album

Scoot over, Barbenheimer.

There's a new batch of films headed to The Lindsay Theater; eight documentaries screening Sept. 1-14, ready to expand your mind by tapping into that thirst for knowledge that comes with the back-to-school season.

The most notable film, locally, might be the award-winning "Behind The Stage Door," starring Rich Engler dishing on the ups and downs of being Pittsburgh's No. 1 concert promoter from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Featuring special appearances from Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famers Alex Lifeson (Rush), Phil Ehart (Kansas), Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Danny Seraphine (Chicago), "Behind The Stage Door" will be shown during matinee hours Sept. 2, 7, 9, 11 and 12 at the Sewickley theater. Engler, who lives near Sewickley, will give a screen chat and host a Q&A and book-signing after the 4 p.m. Sept. 11 screening.

Winner of Best Documentary accolades in the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival, and streamed nationally on Apple TV, iTunes, Tubi, DirecTV, Verizon FIOS and Amazon, "Behind The Stage Door" includes a candid talk from Engler on the financial risks, emotional highs and headaches concert promoters face. He's spent 53 years in the business and produced and promoted over 6,000 concerts and events, including Pittsburgh visits by legendary acts like the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and the final show by Bob Marley.

Other intriguing documentaries set for Lindsay's Documentary Week:

"Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World," exploring the role of Native Americans in contemporary music history, starting in 1958 with Link Wray, the mastermind of "Rumble," the only instrumental song banned from U.S. radio.

"King Coal," examining how the coal industry permeates the culture of Appalachia.

"Live the Stream: The Story of Joe Humphreys" profiling 90-year-old central Pennsylvania fly fishing legend Joe Humphreys.

"Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie" a 2018 film examining the impact of the foot-high icon, featuring unprecedented access to the inner workings of toy giant Mattel. This film presaged the phenomenon of this summer's "Barbie," which combined with the likewise vastly successful "Oppenheimer" rejuvenated the movie industry, and gave us the year's top hashtag, #Barbenheimer.

For the full list of movies screening at The Lindsay's Documentary Week, or to buy tickets in advance, visit thelindsaytheater.org

Throughout the two-week event, audience members 21 and older can bring their own beer or bottled wine, with the Lindsay charging a $10 corkage fee with wristband authorization required.

Tobin time

James Tobin takes a refreshingly optimistic view on "Tenacity Trail," the Harmony Township singer-songwriter's new 17-song album streaming on major sites like YouTube.

With a folksy, inviting voice, Tobin originals like "You've Got to Groove," "Give Me a Highway" and "The Sun Will Rise" impart a message about progressing past life's petty annoyances to appreciate the beauty of nature and the stability of love.

Tobin's nimble guitar picking drives songs like the timely "Miss September" and "Take Some Time to Take it In" (lyric: "the autumn air is blowing in/soon the days will be short again/rising tides and flickering embers/there's just something about September.")

The sowing-wild-oats fun of "What Tomfoolery is This" (with an Eat'n Park reference) and "Roll Roll Roll" with Tobin's vocals taking on a Southern rock grit keep the mood upbeat.

"Just Join Hands" is a simple, heartfelt plea for neighbors to start shaking hands and sharing stories rather than enlisting as keyboard warriors.

I asked Tobin to share his inspirations and aspirations for the album:

"I would hope that folks give it a listen and enjoy it," he said. "I have a constant need to create, like the famous quote by Ray Charles, “Music to me is like breathing. I don't get tired of breathing; I don't get tired of music.'

"Some of the songs were written thinking about friends we’ve lost, who were terrific musicians and people who spread joy. We’ve played many of the songs at our shows and they’ve been well received. Some will have permeant spots in our set list. It’s my hope to spread joy as well."

Always busy playing gigs at breweries, festivals and night markets, catch Tobin with his full band, the Dewey Decimators, on Aug. 26 at Shakespeare’s in North Sewickley, and from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 16 at the St. Blaise Festival in Midland.

"We play on a roof at St. Blaise and always do a Beatles pose," Tobin said.

More: 'Mr. Las Vegas' Wayne Newton talks about tour that's headed here

'League' dropped

There'll be no resolution for fans of the Beaver County-made Amazon Prime series "A League of Their Own." Variety magazine reported the show's scheduled four-episode, season two conclusion has been scrapped; another casualty of the Hollywood writers/actor's strike. Loosely adapted from the Tom Hanks-Geena Davis film about women's professional baseball in the 1940s, the first season consisted of eight episodes, filmed significantly in Ambridge and Aliquippa.

Forestry Division stands tall

Forestry Division, the indie-rock band led by Franklin Township's Andre Costello, plays its album release show Sept. 2 at Thunderbird Music Hall in Lawrenceville.

The album single "Get a Loan," launched with a super shimmery guitar riff, has been getting regular spins on 91.3-WYEP's local music show airing at 9 p.m. Mondays. The previously named André Costello and the Cool Minors have been 'YEP favorites for years.

"This album started out as what was going to be the third André Costello and the Cool Minors album," Costello said. "We had a couple lineup changes -- new drummer, Sean Finn and we added a keyboard/guitarist Rich Stanley. We had started recording the record and the pandemic hit, so we had to hit pause on recording the record. After things started getting a little bit comfortable, we cautiously went into the studio and started tracking again. Once we sort of completed the recording, we were thinking about naming the album. I wanted to call it Forestry Division and Sean said, 'I wouldn't mind just changing the band name to that.' So, I went along with it and we did it."

The album's 11 originals bring imaginative textures and interesting melodies, with Costello branching out more from his previous style that drew from My Morning Jacket and Neil Young.

"Inspirations ended up inadvertently Spoon, War on Drugs, Radiohead, Zeppelin, but mostly André Costello and the Cool Minors," Costello said.

Costello's distinct, high-floating voice captivates, evoking a chill vibe set to jangly guitars. The rhythm section expertly leaves space that conjures hooks.

One of the most intriguing tracks is "Moraine," an unhurried song inspired by the nearby state park that's been a longtime destination and source of contemplation for the Costello family.

"After I named the song, our bassist, Matt (Fiorillo) said he liked the name, and he told me what Moraine actually is. Moraine is essentially what's left after a glacier is gone. It's all the rocks, boulders, sediment. The glacier has this massive unstoppable, constant impact and influence on everything around it. It changes the world around it. And then when it's gone, it's gone, and all you have is the space it used to occupy, and the things it left behind."

The mid-tempo, more poppy "Tides" and the slower "The More You Know" with heavy, enticing holds on guitar and piano notes are other album standouts.

"Aspirations for the album are for people to have access to it and be able to spend time with it," Costello said. "I would like to say high listenership on Spotify and for the record and the band to become a phenomenon of some kind, do a tour, sell records, ha ha, but really, we need a manager, booking agent, a record deal or at least a lot of industry friends for that to happen. For now, we're going to try and get as many people to come see the show at the Thunderbird as we can. We're putting a lot into that one and want to make it as special as possible."

He found two special opening acts, Pittsburgh songwriting aces Paul Luc and Chet Vincent, with his band the Music Industry, to open the 8 p.m. show. Tickets cost $15 at etix.com 

Come sing

*Adults who like to sing are invited to take part Aug. 28 in a special preview session for “Joy of Every Longing Heart,” this year’s Christmas concert by the Beaver Valley Choral Society. The 7 p.m. open rehearsal, inviting the public to join in, meets at New Brighton Methodist Church, 1033 Sixth Ave., New Brighton.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times. Reach him at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Cool documentaries will screen at The Lindsay Theater in Sewickley