Director/producer Paul Levatino’s moving new documentary Bastards of Soul tells the story of a Texas soul band and the untimely passing of its talented and charismatic frontman, Chadwick Murray. The Dallas band offered an electrifying brand of classic soul à la Sam Cooke and Wilson Pickett, and the scenes in the film of their live performances are absolutely captivating.
Bastards of Soul’s career was fast on the rise, garnering rave reviews, selling out shows, and opening for acts like Austin duo Black Pumas, when Murray succumbed to a sudden and rare autoimmune disease. The bassist-turned-singer passed in 2021 at age 45 just days after his first child was born. The final scenes of the film, in which Murray’s wife Hannah and bandmates reflect on what a special person he was, are especially powerful. By their own on-film admission, the Bastards of Soul’s legacy can be summed up as “unfinished.”
Much of the film was shot in a studio where they recorded their third and final studio album, Give It Right Back, old-school style – live and direct to tape. It’s an intimate and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what goes down during a recording session, and the band’s sweet soul music never disappoints.
The 80-minute film made its world premiere at the Sun Valley Film Festival in February, and its homecoming premiere will take place Saturday, April 27 at the Dallas International Film Festival. Hopefully, Bastards of Soul eventually gets a theatrical run and hits streaming services. For fans of documentaries, retro soul music, or just a compelling story of loss and the healing power of music, Bastards of Soul comes highly recommended.
Learn more about Bastards of Soul on their site, bastardsofsoul.com
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