"Soulhat: Goldmine" (2000)
Produced by Stephen Barron

Goldmine
Big Backyard
Stranger Things
Space/Find the Time
Preacher Man
Neighbor
Prayin' for Rain
Big Nose
Wiggin'
Smile/Credits

QUICK REVIEW (5/1/01): A more detailed and thoughtful review
will be released in the next couple of weeks.

Stephen Barron's "Goldmine" is a 58-minute document of 10
live performances by Austin's Soulhat. The video covers the
earliest period of the band, from 1991-1993 and features the
band's original two-drummer lineup, as well as the scaled-back
four piece that became famous.

The video was well-produced, having used a variety of cameras
at each location -- primarily at La Zona Rosa during the first 
several Mother Earth's Day Festivals, and at the Black Cat
on Sixth Street on the first night of recording for the "Live
at the Black Cat" cassette.

The video quality is quite good and Stephen obviously spent
a great deal of time editing the vast amount of film he
had. Plenty of footage of each band member is interspersed 
with wide sweeps of the crowd, prompting our small audience
to "ooh" and "ahh" when someone we all knew was recognized in
much-younger form. 

And though the video gets a little too conceptual at points,
most of "the concept" works so well that who are we to complain?
Simply put, this is the best visual document of early 90s Austin
music we've ever seen (maybe the only one, too)?  If only someone
had thought to do this with Twang Twang Shock-a-Boom [sic]!

We were certainly impressed with the song selection, which
captured much of the band's early material (though how Stephen
could leave-out the crowd favorite and tribute to the band's
biggest fan, "Emily," is something we'll have to ask). 

And for anyone with "Live at the Black Cat" on their brain, the
middle section of this video will absolutely floor you. Stephen
synched the final mix of the "Black Cat" tape with footage from
the 8/29 taping for three songs, Find the Time, Preacher Man,
Neighbor. Imagine getting to see Kevin say "It's just like any
other night. Ain't no different." Now, for the first time in
ten years, you can.

We'll have to look at the video a couple more times before offering
a definitive review, but we'll end with a big thank you to Stephen...
for all your hard work on the Mother Earth's Day fesitvals and this
truly amazing video.

Stephen Barron's "Goldmine" aired on Austin's Channel 16, 
4/30/01 at 11 pm. The format was standard television, the audio
taken from both audience and soundboard sources.

submitted 5/1/01, 12:56 pm
updated 5/2/01, 7:56 am