Well-known bands with NE Ohio roots in the spotlight at Cleveland film festival

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CLEVELAND (WJW) – Plenty of big-time bands and musicians started their careers right here in Northeast Ohio. It’s something being celebrated with two documentaries at the 48th Cleveland International Film Festival next month.

One of those documentaries spotlights Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, two Akron natives who formed the popular rock duo The Black Keys.

The Black Keys
The Black Keys

According to the Cleveland International Film Festival’s website, the 90-minute film explores how Auerbach and Carney went from basement jamming sessions and touring in vans to sold-out stadiums and Grammy wins.

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“The average person might just be familiar with a couple of our hit songs and not know the story,” Carney told Variety earlier this month when asked about the documentary. “To be able to have a true document that shows all the work and things that went into that was interesting, so you have to tell the actual story.”

“This Is a Film About The Black Keys” is playing at KeyBank State Theatre at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, April 5.

Another documentary looks into the startup of new wave band DEVO, formed by art students Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale in Akron in 1972.

DEVO band
DEVO band

According to its description on the film festival’s website, the 93-minute documentary explores how the deeply political band was a response to the 1970 shootings at Kent State University.

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The film first premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January.

“DEVO” is playing at Connor Palace at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

Starting April 3, the 11-day festival will feature hundreds of films at five Playhouse Square theaters. Learn more about the festival here.

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