“Hello Amelia, I usually don’t do things like these but since you want to make something beautiful, I’m in… Some great little films you have there… Let’s talk some more closer to the trip over there, and I’ll know more about my schedule, best, ttmoe.”

The Tallest Man on Earth: Where Do My Bluebird Fly

Finding pictures of Kris is pretty impossible. All that I knew about him I had gleaned from the few songs on his myspace and an enthusiastic rendition of I Won’t Be Found offered by my flatmate Max at the mention of his name. The sweet, throaty delivery of Kris’s songs is a memorable signature style that has him compared to the forefathers of Americana folk, but coming from this striking Swedish poet, the voice marks The Tallest Man On Earth as a performer who can hold his own with the best.

The Tallest Man On Earth: Stepstone (Traditional)

At the end of filming Stepstone a security guard came and asked us if we were professional filmmakers. I assured him we were not. Pointing to Kris the guard said, “but he’s so good, I thought this was for real, for television, are you sure this is not for real? Everyone back at the office is watching this.” Of course; filming in the city means being on camera at every turn. After lots of mutual smiling and head shaking, the guard seemed satisfied. He’d enjoyed the performance too and seemed glad that he didn’t have to let doing his job upset the moment.

That night we saw Kris perform to an eager throng of fans at a packed-out Hopetoun Hotel. In all honesty, I have never seen someone command a the attention of an audience the way Kris did that night. They were silenced. Armed with just a guitar, he paced the stage, stared us down and sang with such clear and pointed determination that you could not help being transported to the gardens, blizzards and streams of his imaginings.

If you like these videos, do what you can to see the man perform live.

- Shoot The Player

ps. The thank you credit in the film is for Evan who sent us an email asking if we would try to film Kris. Before this email, we’d never heard of The Tallest Man On Earth. We love hearing from people like Evan

www.thetallestmanonearth.se
www.myspace.com/thetallestmanonearth

Rachel Unthank & The Winterset: Blue Bleezin Blind Drunk

I was introduced to this band when I heard that Sarah Blasko was supporting “some British girls” at an Irish pub on a Tuesday night in Tempe. I was curious. They were different. Blown away, I bought my mother their cd.

Rachel Unthank & The Winterset: On A Monday Morning

There isn’t really another band on the indy circuit like this one. They’ve supported Sufjan Stevens and Joan as Police Woman, they’ve played at World Music Festivals and dingy little bars, you can’t really pigeon hole them and you can’t really “get it” without seeing them live; they’re cheeky, sisterly, warm and surprising. Watching them you’re just not sure whether to gawk and giggle at their clog dancing – or sway and punch their fists in the air in solidarity of their storytelling.

Ultimately, they are incredibly talented, beautifully spirited and moving.

-Amelia & Jonathan
www.myspace.com/rachelunthank